2024 girls lacrosse preview capsules

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Shaun McKinnon (fifth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 2-12
Returning athletes: Seniors — Piper Bonnefond (G), Ari Guay (D), Kaelyn Langlois (A), Hallye Thibodeau (D); Juniors — Izzy Hayes (A), Stella Smith (A), Gabby Gerry (A), Marina Morgan (A); Sophomores — Blake Hamel (D), Sydney Annear (D), Grace Beecher (A), Meredith Delehanty (A), Kaylie Heath (A).
Key losses: Korah Cunningham, Abby Faucher.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Micah Joler (D), Ava Kimball (A), Madison MacFawn (A); Junior — Serenity Mungin-Doyle (A/G); Sophomores — Mackenzie Joler (D), Aurora Martel (D), Maddie Ranger (A), Reagan Mulliner (D), Sydney Reed (D), Abby Whitmore (D); Freshmen — Avelynn Bowie (A), Maddie Hawley (D), Hannah Labbe (D), Hannah Sampson (D), Annabelle Lamontagne (D), Lexi Marconi (D), Evie McGuigan (D), Sophie Pickering (D), Destiny Sheppard (D), Madison Rivas (D), Evie Marshall (A).
Season outlook: McKinnon said he and assistants Richard Bruce, EB Ellis, Darcy Smyth and Marty Bressler have spent a lot of time with this year’s team, and they are thrilled by the “remarkable participation and unwavering dedication of the players who have wholeheartedly embraced the team’s message and culture.” The Red Eddies add a cohort of talented newcomers, and McKinnon said their “commitment to excellence and relentless drive for success infuses the team with grit.” Captains Izzy Hayes and Ari Guay and the leadership council are working to bring the team together, while everyone uses their athleticism to keep building on their lacrosse skills to find success this season.

GRAY NEW GLOUCESTER/POLAND 26ERS
Coach: Melissa Anderson (second year); Assistant: Mike Foster
Conference: WMC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 5-9
Returning athletes: Seniors — Olivia Moore (D), Malia Lewis (G) Abbigail Joyce (D), Christy Mason (M); Juniors — Isabel Humphrey (D), Amelia Foster (A), Sam Poulin (A), Laney Farrar (M), Hailey Carson (M).
Key losses: Jennah Lynch, Lexi Wallingford, Andrea Smith, Alexandra Bucci, Bri Wiers.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Errow Hinckley; Freshmen — Teagan Schultz, Lucy Pederson, Haylee Hanson, Vallorie Stetson.
Season outlook: The 26ers are a small team in numbers, but Anderson said they “make up for that with tenacity and players who are versatile and can play multiple roles successfully.” The core returning athletes will provide a solid base both for the team and the new players, as the 26ers look to continue the momentum they started to build last season.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Jeremy Finney (first year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 3-11
Returning athletes: Seniors — Ava Blanchette (A), Madeline Cote (A), Jasmine Connor-Shade (D/M), Savannah Connor-Shade (D/M), Olivia Crowley (D), Skylar Gaudette (D), Kaitlyn Shannon (A), Emily Trider (D), Gabriella Thomas (D); Juniors — Hayley Aloegnikou (A), Madison Langlais (A), Lauren Landry (M); Sophomores — Crew Langley (M), Gabrielle Roy (M), Lilly Beaulieu (M/D), Kadynce Bisson (G).
Key losses: Abigail Beaucage (M), Caitlin D’Andrea (A), Julia Perkins (A), Alyssa Marcoux (D).
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Isabella Brunetti (D/A), Calezia Dow (A); Juniors — Maia Langlois (D/M), Marissa Beaulieu (M); Sophomores — Anna Courtemanche (A), Ayanay Holoman (M/D); Freshmen — Charlotte Crowley (A), Ellasyn Trider (A), Hannah Burleigh (G).
Season outlook: Finney said there is a lot of excitement and energy surrounding the upcoming season as the core of the Blue Devils’ defense is returning. This year’s team is loaded with leadership and is dedicated and working hard to start the season off strong.

MARANACOOK/WINTHROP BLACK BEARS
Coach: Zach Stewart (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 9-5, reached the Class C quarterfinal.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Ashley Deshamp (A/M), Tilden Tinkham (D), Mavia Lenane (G); Junior — Emerson Davis (M); Sophomore — Hadley Farwell (M/D).
Key losses: Addi Watson, Lily Caban, Jordan Carr, Grace Drown.
Promising newcomers: Sophomores — Celia Bergdahl (M), Alice Ferran (M), Kate Parker (D), Mya St. Pierre (M), Alex Stewart (M); Freshmen — Cooper Davis (M), Stella Stewart (M), Eve Simcock (D).
Season outlook: The Maranacook/Winthrop co-op is geared up for an exciting season, despite, Stewart said, being “a youthful team under fresh coaching.” The Black Bears’ key focus is maintaining intensity throughout every game. While the team lacks upperclassmen, the skill and leadership of the experienced players are invaluable assets. Stewart said the Black Bears’ objective this season is to “forge a strong sense of unity and cohesion on the field to propel the team to new heights as they expect to compete fiercely within the MVC conference.”

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Liz LeClair (fourth year), Kat Zachary (third year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 8-7, reached B North quarterfinal.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Alissa Butterfield (A/M), Chloe Roberts (A), Evangeline Hutchins (G); Juniors — Giselle Couillard (D), Bree Griffin (D), Maya Kellett (M), Summer Sawyer (D), Alaya Smith (A/M); Sophomores — Nina Bogar (M), Addison Decker (M), Lily Huntley (A), Kali Judkins (M/G), Maddy Goodwin (D), Ivey Rackliff (A), Avery Tinker (A).
Key losses: Emma Dunn (M), Callahan Towle (D), Talia Kidder (A).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Allie Casavant (D), Abbi Donald (A); Sophomore — Grace Allen (M); Freshman — Reese Nye (D).
Season outlook: The Cougars graduated nine seniors last year, so LeClair said the program is looking to grow the depth to complement its versatile players and capitalize on the solid attacking lineup. The team is also looking to develop the junior leadership on the defensive end and to see the younger midfielders grow throughout the season. The Cougars are one of the younger programs in the KVAC conference, and LeClair said they are “happy to be a part of the growing attention to lacrosse and its talented young female athletes.”

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Jenna Durgin (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A.
Last year’s results: 9-5, reached Class A preliminary round.
Returning athletes: Seniors — McKinley Soehren (A), Saige Winslow (A/D), Bayleigh Young (M) Julia Hanson (D), Kaya Joseph (D); Juniors — Gracie Hart (A/M), Abby Marcotte (A/M), Lily Hammond (M).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Abby Toohey (D), Graycee Richardson (M); Sophomores — Mallory Kennagh (A), Braylin Gordon (D), Autumn Palmer (G); Freshmen — Kerrigan Watson(D), Chloe Grover (M), Ellie Winslow (M), Lydia Goyette (M).
Season outlook: This team has a healthy balance of returning varsity players and newcomers, which Durgin said shows the amount of growth the program and sport have had in the area. The key to Oxford Hills’ success this season will be learning the balance of experienced players and introducing the newcomers to the high school level. Durgin said the team has never lacked drive and passion, and those traits will continue to be the foundation of the Vikings’ year-over-year program growth.

ST. DOM’S/OAK HILL SAINTS
Coach: Denis D’Auteuil (first year)
Conference: WMC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 9-5, reached Class A preliminary round (St. Dom’s in co-op with Oxford Hills).
Returning athletes: Seniors — Emma Smith, Eva Sallee; Juniors — Anna Theriault, Leah Herrick, Natalee Lemay.
Promising newcomers: Freshmen — Abby Titus (G), Lily Bonney (M), Madalynne Stratman (M), Ava Martin (A), Jocelyn Davis (D), Jayda Smith (A), Chloe Laprell (D), Aubrey Fortin (D).
Season outlook: The new co-op is a young team with a wide range of experience, and D’Auteuil said the keys to success will be “strong communication on the field with an emphasis on team work.” The Saints are looking forward to the season and are building on all of their hard work while also remaining highly motivated and athletic.