Mt. Blue senior captain Chase Ranger capped his prolific high school career with a goal on a behind-the-back shot against Gray-New Gloucester/Poland.

That was his 65th goal of the season, which ranks second in program history. Earlier in the season, he set the school record for goals in a game when he scored 11 against Maine Central Institute.

Ranger led the Cougars in goals and assists (19) this season. He finishes his career with 203 career points.  According to coach Matt Reynolds, Ranger ranks second in program history for career goals (153), and in the top five for assists.

After the season, Ranger was named the KVAC Small School player of the year. He also has been selected as the 2024 Sun Journal All-Region Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year.

“I had a pretty good season, it was fun,” Ranger said. “We won some big games against Bangor and Hampden. We went to the playoffs in the sixth spot, which was pretty good for the amount of Heal points we were able to get towards the end of the season.”

Although his high school career is over, his lacrosse career isn’t. Ranger has committed to play NCAA Division III lacrosse at St. Joseph’s College this fall, along with another recent Mt. Blue graduate, Finley Ward.

The choice to play for the Monks was easy because Ranger wanted to stay in-state and was familiar with the coaching staff.

“I actually committed to St. Joe’s early last summer. I was the first commit they had,” Ranger said. “I picked St. Joe’s because of the coaching. I love the coaching there. I played for the Maine Mussels Select (team), and my first year playing for the Mussels, one of the St. Joe’s coaches was my coach.”

Lacrosse has always been Ranger’s main sport. He said he started playing in second grade, and continued to do so wherever he could until middle school when teams became more official through the recreational leagues. Ranger also played football from eighth grade until his sophomore year, soccer when he was young and again his junior and senior years, and golf.

“I’ve never been a huge fan of soccer, I kind of just did it to stay in shape for lacrosse, to play fall lacrosse and winter lacrosse, but golf is my second sport. I tell people all the time, I’m not very good at it,” Ranger said.

Ranger was selected to play in the Maine All-Star Showcase following his junior and senior lacrosse seasons, and was one of two $500 Steele Chase Memorial scholarship recipients this year. He also played travel lacrosse for the Maine Mussels and in premier leagues.

Reynolds said Ranger has made an impact on lacrosse beyond the team at Mt. Blue. Ranger volunteers with the middle school recreational program and helps with winter and summer recreational leagues, referees lacrosse games and is always promoting the sport and encouraging others to join.

“He took that leadership role on from his sophomore, junior and even to his senior year, on and off the field; recruiting kids, getting kids to play in the offseason, and just very determined to what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go,” Reynolds said. “He just made the steps necessary to make that happen.”

Reynolds added that this year’s roster had 40 players, a growth he attributes to Ranger’s ability to recruit and uplift.

“Sometimes you get the kid that is a pure athlete, and that’s all they care about,” Reynolds said. “That’s not the case with Chase. He’s determined and driven about everything he does.”

As a freshman, Ranger was a varsity starter and put up 19 goals on attack. Reynolds switched him to midfield after seeing the Cougars struggle to get the ball up the field in transition.

“His athleticism, his ability to play offense, his ability to play defense and read the field — I think it opened up a lot more possibilities for him other than, ‘I have to score, I have to score,’” Reynolds said. “His transition game is really good.”

Reynolds said that Ranger’s position change helped him grow as an athlete. This season, his biggest growth was with his shot — specifically with power and placement.

“The last few years, but especially this year, (Reynolds) gave me the opportunity to go out and score,” Ranger said. “He wanted me to get as many goals as I could. He wanted me to lead the offense, and there were really no restraints. I’d say that was probably the best thing, he just told me to go out there and do my thing.”

Reynolds added that he sees a lot of alumnus Keegan Roberts’ influence in Ranger. Roberts graduated in 2021, when Ranger was a freshman.

Reynolds also said that Ranger’s leadership, particularly by example, goes beyond what can be seen on the field.

Ranger often chops up film in Hudl after games and generates a scouting report on future competitors before Reynolds has gotten to it. He also puts an extra 15-20 hours a week into becoming a better athlete and player, which is something the team will have a tough time replacing, Reynolds said.

“I think a lot of credit goes to Chase in terms of his athleticism,” Reynolds said. “I think a lot of people think he’s super athletic and just leave it at that. But when you break it down even further, it’s the stuff he does outside on his own personal time, on top of everything else, to get prepared to be ready that other people don’t.”

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