Mt. Ararat’s Aaron Thurlow runs alongside Lewiston’s Alex Rivet who controls the ball during the Wednesday afternoon lacrosse game held at Bates College.

LEWISTON — The Lewiston Blue Devils took not just one but two steps forward in their mission to becoming a lacrosse power. 

Alex Rivet, a junior attacker, was vital to that advancement, in every sense. Not only did he lead the team with 65 goals, he was the difference-maker in Lewiston’s biggest win of the season, which secured their first regional final berth since 2011. This earned him the Sun Journal All-Region boys’ lacrosse player of the year.

Although this is the second year in a row he has been so honored, he is quick to deflect the credit to his teammates and their off-season dedication.

“It was definitely an all-around effort,” he said. “The biggest thing was just our work ethic. We know that a lot of the great teams around the state play year-round, and so guys dedicated to going to the weight room after school (and) doing a winter league in Auburn that all of the guys went to. That helped us win close games and peak at the right time.”

The consummate power forward with a nose for the net, Rivet worked on his passing and getting his teammates involved when he draws the defense’s attention. With two talented linemates capable of putting the ball in the back of the net in Jayden Wilson and Gunnar Wade, he had no qualms about sharing.

“He was on the best attack line I have ever coached, with Jayden Wilson and Gunnar Wade,” Lewiston coach Ben Fournier said. “They each have the tools and skill that demanded teams respect them instead of just focusing on Alex. That enabled him to get free and score goals.

“I’ve been playing with them for three years and our chemistry is amazing,” Rivet said. 

Rivet knew when to defer to his linemates and when it was time for him to take over. He confronted such a situation in the regional semifinal against Messalonskee.

Playing the last game ever on Lewiston’s Don Roux Field, the Blue Devils took an early lead but had to hold off numerous charges by the pesky Eagles, who had split two regular-season games with them.

Messalonskee had pulled to within 10-8 by the start of the fourth quarter, a little too close for Rivet’s comfort. He dominated the fourth quarter, scoring three goals and assisting on another, as the Devils pulled away for an emotional 15-11 win.

“That was an up-and-down game, really close throughout, and we never stopped,” Rivet said. “If we stopped for even half of a quarter, we probably couldn’t have won. That fourth quarter was all thanks to Roman Dennis, our faceoff guy. He got us possession and we took it from there.”

Lewiston battled Brunswick in the regional final but fell to the eventual state champions, 14-8. Rivet takes pride not just in how far the Blue Devils got, but how they got there.

“We were more of a team that had to work hard for everything that we got. It wasn’t given to us,” he said. 

2017 Sun Journal All-Region Boys’ Lacrosse

First team

Alex Rivet A Jr. Lewiston

Tommy Bancroft D Fr. Oxford Hills

Drew Davis M Sr. Maranacook-Winthrop

Roman Dennis M Sr. Lewiston

Steven Gilbert A Sr. Oak Hill

Spencer Frahn M Jr. Edward Little

Will Hays G So. Maranacook-Winthrop

Thomas Jumper D Sr. Lewiston

Ganan Mancini A Sr. Edward Little

Jack Vickerson M Sr. Maranacook-Winthrop

Second team

Marcus Bailey M Sr. Oak Hill

Cameron Foss M Jr. Mt. Blue

Nate Marcotte G Fr. Oak Hill

Alex Nuce M So. Maranacook-Winthrop

Sam Smith A So. Mt. Blue

Logan Stanley D Sr. Maranacook-Winthrop

Terrell Thomas D Jr. Edward Little

Gunnar Wade A Jr. Lewiston

Reed Wells A Jr. Mt. Blue

Jayden Wilson A Jr. Lewiston

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