2024 boys lacrosse preview capsules

EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Tyler Haskell (second year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s record: 3-11
Returning athletes: Seniors — Cam Dufour (A), Evan O’Donnell (A), Joe Martel (D), Jack Pepin (M), Garrett Hedges (A), Garrett Pray (M); Juniors — Andrew Clements (M/FO), Mayson Larochelle (D), Andrew Baker (D), Dexter Morin (M), Kai Thistle (DM), Bjorn Sandberg (D), Connor Dufour (D); Sophomores — Caiden Strout (A), Orrin Slover (A).
Key losses: Jonah Guay (LSM), Austin Sellinger (M), Jack Thompson (M).
Promising newcomers: Sophomores — Ryan Mileikis (M), Ben Poulin (M), Camden Roy (LSM/D); Freshmen — Logan Billings (G), Landon Nagy (A), Carter Hill (LSM), Casey Mileikis (M), Jack Caron (M).
Season outlook: Haskell said the Red Eddies are a “young team with a high motor that will not back down to competition, but will invite it.”

GRAY NEW GLOUCESTER/POLAND 26ERS
Coach: Tyler DeMoore-Gonzalez (third year)
Conference: WMC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 7-9, reached Class C quarterfinal.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Noah Schaeffer (M), Caden Ouellette (A), Kyle Plummer (G), Talen Langevin (FO), Aries Plourde (M), Zach Fecteau (M), Gracen Golebiewski (D), Ben Powell (A), Andrew Nadeau (D); Juniors — Liam Fifield (D), Breck Langevin (M), Ashten Golebiweski (M), Charlie Gilbert (A); Sophomore — Tucker Nelson (M).
Key losses: Jack Hardiman, Brady Martin, Aidan Loignon, Will Gwinn, Miles Post, Brody Simpson, Nicholas Shevchenko, Nick Bouchard.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Griffin Spurr (D), Trevor Griffin (M), Jacob Randall (FO); Sophomores — Conner Boulay (A), Isaiah Portas (LSM), Alex Baker (LSM), Aaron Wante (G), Miguel Cyr (M), Cedric Lambert (D), Nick Humphries (FO).
Season outlook: The Gray-NG/Poland co-op had a good season last year, showcasing growth and resilience throughout the season, DeMoore-Gonzalez said. The keys to success in 2024 lie in the 26ers’ teamwork, offensive and defensive principles of play and the team standards that the players create. With a roster boasting a nice mixture of experienced and young players, the co-op team hopes to grow throughout the season, while refining its ride and clears, defense and offensive efficiency. DeMoore-Gonzalez said the primary objectives include honing the players’ skills further, fostering camaraderie and winning competitive games. The 26ers’ returning players already committed to college programs — Noah Schaeffer (St. Joe’s), Kyle Plummer (Husson) and Zach Fecteau (Thomas) — are all looking to make big impacts in their finals seasons before playing at the next level.

LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Ben Fournier (11th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 10-5, lost in Class A preliminary round.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Cody Dionne (M), Daven Langelier (M), Aiden St. George (A); Juniors — Jackson Bement (M), Braiden Blais (D), Colton Daniels (M), Brock Rancourt (G), Lucas Bragdon (M).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Dylan Whitlow (D), Adam Zeininger (M), Ben Junkins (M); Freshmen — Tom Cooper (D), Nick Beaucage (A), Collin Michaud (A).
Season outlook: The Blue Devils are an energetic group that has a well-rounded base of returners ready to guide the team to success in the 2024 season, according to Fournier. Lewiston returns a seasoned defensive group led by goalie Brock Rancourt, as well as a mix of veterans and rookies at the offensive end of the field. Fournier said that it should be an exciting year for Lewiston lacrosse.

MARANACOOK/WINTHROP HAWKS
Coach: Daniel Brannigan (first year)
Conference: MVC; Class: C
Last year’s results: 8-7, reached Class C quarterfinals.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Owen Lyons (A), Bennett Ross (M), Owen Dunn (M), Zach Chapman (D), Max Cheng (M); Juniors — Cobey Dunn (M), Parker Douin (LSM), Adam Ellis (G), Lucas Woodruff (G); Sophomores — Caleb Morgan (A), Ethan Chilton (A/M), Ryan Bourque (D).
Promising newcomers: Junior — Lucas Drillen (D/LSM); Freshman — Jacob Lyons (M/A).
Season outlook: This season is Brannigan’s first leading the Maranacook/Winthrop co-op after past stints at Oak Hill, Lawrence, Messalonskee and Thomas College. The Hawks did not graduate any players from last year’s team, therefore the entire starting lineup is back. Offensively, Brannigan said leading scorers Bennett Ross — one of four players from Winthrop — and Owen Lyons will be key, while other players are looking to make an impact. On the midfield line, Ethan Chilton and Caleb Morgan will be a threat on the field, alongside Owen and Cobey Dunn, especially on transition scoring. Defensively, the Bears have three options in the net with a defensive corps that looks to create turnovers and get upfield for a fast-break scoring opportunities. The other three Winthrop players are Zach Chapman, Max Cheng and Lucas Woodruff. Brannigan said the team is ready to make some noise in Class C, and plan to be playing deep into June during playoffs.

MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coach: Matt Reynolds (sixth year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: B
Last year’s results: 9-6, lost in preliminary round.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Chase Ranger (M, captain), Levi Bogar (LSM, captain), Finley Ward (D), Charles Stevens (D), Cole McCourt (D), Kasey Burgess (M), Mason Willett (M, captain), Noah Prescott (D/M); Juniors — Bode Markham (M/F), Eli Bartlett (M), Trey Bailey (A), Brody Farmer (G), Tyler Abell (A); Sophomores —Julian Reynolds (A), Cam Ranger (A), Kooper Keller (M), Tyler Beach (M), Tanner Allumbaugh (D), Levi Austin (LSM), Luke Doscinski (M), Micheal Hall (M), Chandler Hiscock (D), Nick Overton (A), Trent Harris (D).
Key loss: Dustyn Hickley (A).
Promising newcomers: Stevie Davis (M), Luc Walker (M), Finn Morton (M).
Season outlook: The Cougars have a solid returning defensive lineup, which will be the foundation for winning games, Reynolds said. Offensive production will be spread out among multiple players, allowing Mt. Blue to be more creative and high-energy. Given the development of the returning players, the Cougars expect to be in contention for conference championships while making a deeper run into playoffs.

OAK HILL/MONMOUTH/LISBON/ST. DOM’S RAIDERS
Coach: David Snyder (first year)
Class: C
Last year’s results: 9-7, reached Class C semifinals.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Lukas Bergeron (M), Adam Hinkley (A); Juniors — Kaiden Delano (M), Nate Dillman (M), Aiden Belanger (M), Gage Spier (A), Colton Davis (D), Luke Davidson (D); Sophomores — Matt Fecteau (A), PJ Smith (D).
Key losses: Nick Michaud (G), Alex Hinkley (D), Dominic Trott (LSM), Liam Holland (A).
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Brody Edmond (M), Mason Dubois (D), Michaela Pontbriand (D), Brady Boone (A); Sophomores — Levi Marks (A), Isaac Graham (M).
Season outlook: The Raiders have a good mixture of youth and experience this year, Snyder said, and are working to develop a strong defense after losing key players from last season’s squad. The midfield is returning three starters, and Snyder said the leadership from those three will be key to the Raiders’ success. The attack line is also returning two starters, and has looked strong in the preseason.

OXFORD HILLS VIKINGS
Coach: Hunter Rowell (11th year)
Conference: KVAC; Class: A
Last year’s results: 6-8
Returning athletes: Seniors — Jack Bessette (M), Tyler Britton (A), Nolan Hafner (M), Owen Marr (A), Kadan Neureuther (M), Cam Sherbinski (LSM), Finn Winning (D); Juniors — Cooper Beaudoin (D), Xander Biehl (A), Brycen Burnham (A), Connor Doyle (M), Chase Edmunds (G), Neil Heath (M), Shaun Kyllonen (M), Preston Newcomb (M), Elliot Porter (D), Riley Robinson (M), Dean Rudman (M); Sophomores — Hunter Campbell (D), Cooper Carman (M), Quincy Edson (M), Curtis Fogg (D), Garrett Wooster (M), Chris Levesque (D).
Key losses: Dante Allen (M/A), Derrick Brooks (A), Logan Campbell (M/A), Lucas Clark (D), Troy Edmunds (G), Carter Hart (A), Zach Louvat (D), Silas Timm (M), Kole Tripp (A).
Promising newcomers: Senior — Myles Wooster (D); Sophomores — Jayden Mason (G), James Terry (M/A), Eli Young (M/A); Freshmen — Tristan Atwell (M/A), Reid Bennett (M/A), Carter Berry (M/A), Daymien Goyette (M/A), Addison Landers (M/A), Evan McAllister (D), Clayton McGinnis (M/A), Grady Miller (M/A), Kirby Vaughn (M/A), Kaleb Yates (D), Gryphen Hodsdon (M/A).
Season outlook: Rowell said the Vikings have fairly even represented from each grade, which shows how lacrosse has grown in the community over the past decade. The players are looking forward to continuing to fine tune their fundamentals and build off of the momentum of preseason, with the hope of a playoff run in June.