AUBURN —  What was likely a loss to the Edward Little football program has proved to be a gain for Red Eddies soccer.

There was a time that Lew Jensen played football. He had grown up as a soccer goalie but in eighth grade, he turned in his shin guards and goalie gloves for football pads and a helmet.

The multi-sport athlete was adding to his resume but ultimately chose soccer as his fall sport of choice.

“I wanted to make sure I was fine for basketball in the winter,” Jensen said. “I thought I’d have a better chance of that with soccer and I like soccer. It’s a great group of kids to play with.”

What might have been a little bit of self-preservation at first became an avenue in which Jensen could excel. He showed signs of being a gifted goalie last year for EL and has been a force in goal as the Red Eddies have emerged as one of the top teams in Eastern A. EL is currently 7-3-2 and fifth in Eastern A.

“Once I started playing, I stuck with it,” Jensen said. “I figured at this point, I couldn’t really drop it to play football again.”

When Matt Andreasen took over the EL boys’ program last year, he got his first look at Jensen during the summer season. During a late summer tourney against some top-notch competition, Jensen caught his eye.

“We gave him a shot in goal,” Andreasen said. “He shut Cheverus out. He was really raw, but you could tell the length and athleticism he had. We could tell he had an upside. He’s still a little bit raw. I think with proper training and enough time, he can be a really special goalkeeper.”

Jensen has been working with a goalie coach in recent seasons and feels his game is getting better. After showing promise as a sophomore, he came into this fall with a greater grasp of his job.

“I felt like last year, I got that first year of varsity out of the way,” Jensen said. “This year I came at it more confident and knowing these guys, I wasn’t afraid of telling them what to do. It’s been a lot easier.”

EL has challenged some of the top squads in the KVAC, losing to Lewiston 1-0 on a late goal in regulation and tying Mt. Ararat 0-0. Jensen had only allowed five goals all season before the Red Eddies were overwhelmed by Bangor in a 4-0 loss last weekend. He posted his fifth shutout against Messalonskee last week but watched Hampden score two goals Friday in a 2-0 win. They were the first goals EL had allowed at home this season.

As talented, athletic and skillful as he might be, Andreasen says Jensen’s greatest asset is his personality. He’s a moral and driven person that holds himself accountable. He strives to improve himself  and make the team around him better.

“He’s such an impressive kid,” Andreasen said. “He’s one of those rare types of kids who holds himself to such a high standard. He gives up a goal and he questions himself about what he could do better. That’s a rare quality to see in a young adult like that. It isn’t  ‘What did theses kids do or what did the coach do wrong, it’s what could I have done to prevent that from happening?’  That’s just so impressive in a kid.”

Though Jensen isn’t a captain this season, he wears the badge of leadership well, helping senior captains Brady Pleau and Michael Hammond. He’s taken that part of his role upon himself and is a driving force behind the team.

“He is a leader,” Andreasen said. “If kids are going through the motions at practice, he’s one of the few that will be like ‘Let’s go guys. Let’s pick it up.'”

He gets plenty of support from the defense in front of him. EL is a solid club in back. Though Bangor exploited some things, the Red Eddies defense has been pretty stingy all year otherwise.

“We’re not the most physically imposing team but we’re pretty intelligent,” Andreasen said.

Jensen has the support of defenders like  Pleau, Kaleb Main, Ben Steele and Evan Raymond in the back. They’ve been the backbone of a team that has only average two goals per game offensively.

His performance in the soccer goal has made him start thinking more about his college career. Being a basketball and baseball player, Jensen likely will have his choice at the next level.

“I’m starting to look at that now,” Jensen said. “I think I might play a little more soccer this winter and try to give myself a chance to play college soccer. I love all three sports. So it’s kind of hard to decide.”

Whatever his choice, Andreasen says Jensen has all the tools to succeed,  as a student and as an athlete.

“He’s an impressive kid,” Andreasen said. “He does well in all facets of life. He’s the type of kid you want to build a program around. He does well in anything and he pushes himself to be excellent.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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