LEWISTON — Lewiston got timely goals and timely saves in its 6-2 win over Oak Hill/Lisbon/Monmouth/St. Dom’s in both boys lacrosse teams’ regular season finale Wednesday on Don Roux Field at Lewiston High School.
Kyle Graves scored twice and Brock Rancourt stopped 10 shots in net for the Blue Devils, who improve to 10-4.
“They all had a job to do, and they all executed,” Lewiston coach Ben Fournier said. “I was just telling them in the huddle … I could look around and point to every player and pick something they did today to help us win. It was a solid team win with everyone pitching in.”
The win is the first for the Blue Devils’ (10-4) seniors over the Raiders (8-6). Though separated by classification — Lewiston is Class A and Oak Hill/Lisbon/Monmouth/St. Dom’s is in Class C — the close proximity and players’ familiarity have created a rivalry between the squads.
“We play in this winter league with these guys,” Graves, one of Lewiston’s six seniors, said. “A lot of Lewiston kids, a lot of Oak Hill kids, some EL kids, so we know a lot of the guys on that team. That rivalry has been building up all four years.”
Oak Hill coach Joe Hinkley said the Raiders struggled to get their offense going.
“We didn’t play the team ball that we are used to playing,” Hinkley said. “Obviously, it’s hot out for both teams, so that’s not an excuse there, but the kids weren’t ready to play and we made a few mistakes.”
The Raiders got off to a quick start, taking a 1-0 lead when Lukas Bergeron’s shot about 15 yards out beat Rancourt.
Graves cut to the crease and scored for the Blue Devils to tie the game midway through the first quarter.
Cody Dionne, who assisted on Graves’ first goal, gave Lewiston its first lead with a shot from 20 yards away that beat Raiders goalie Nic Michaud in the final minute of the opening quarter.
Scoring was even more scarce in the second quarter. The Raiders struggled to turn their opportunities into shots on goal, but Michaud did his job at the other end of the field for the Oak Hill co-op by stopping the first five shots he faced in the period.
The Blue Devils finally got one past him nearly 10 minutes into the second, as Eli Bigalow one-bounced a shot into the goal to stretch Lewiston’s lead to 3-1.
Both goalies remained stout early in the third quarter. Michaud stopped the first two shots he saw, while Rancourt made four straight stops.
“It’s fun; I love seeing those shots, especially a team like this,” Rancourt,” said. “I am friends with a lot of guys on that team. It was a great experience. Overall, they are a great team.”
The Raiders also hit a post, but shortly after that, Dylan Spier scored to cut the deficit to 3-2 nearly nine minutes into the third.
“That shot by Dylan was a nice one,” Hinkley said. “I thought for sure that was going to be the turning point, then Lewiston added two more.”
Lewiston answered with back-to-back goals to cap the third-quarter scoring. Jackson Bement fired a shot through Michaud’s legs and Graves scored his second of the game, giving the Blue Devils a 5-2 lead.
Graves said it was important for Lewiston not to let up when Oak Hill got within striking distance.
“It’s never over until the last whistle, the last buzzer,” Graves said. “We tried to keep putting it in.”
Dionne picked up his third assist early in the fourth quarter when he made a cross-field pass to Aidan St. George, who was all alone on the weak side of the field. St. George ran in all alone and fired a shot past Michaud for a 6-2 advantage.
“Cody has been a do-it-all midfielder for us, an old-school two-way middy,” Fournier said. “He can play (offense) and he can play (defense) and he does all the little things right that don’t get your name in the paper.”
Michaud finished with 10 saves.
“Their goalie is amazing; he’s going to St. Joe’s for a reason,” Rancourt said. “I was definitely expecting great goaltending from him.”
The Blue Devils and Raiders will now prepare for the postseason, which begins next week. Both teams should avoid preliminary round games, which means their next games likely will be either next Friday or Saturday.
Hinkley said the Raiders are ready for the Class C playoffs next week after playing a schedule with nine teams from Class A or B.
“Obviously, losing is no fun, but it’s a lot better competition-wise,” Hinkley said. “I like the tough schedule and I think the kids do, too. We get to battle every game.”
The Blue Devils are also turning their focus to the postseason.
“The kids are hyped up, as always,” Fournier said. “Playoff lacrosse has a different feel to it, and we are looking forward to playing on that bigger stage.”
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