EDWARD LITTLE RED EDDIES
Coach: Shaun McKinnon (fourth year)
Class: A; Conference: KVAC
Last year’s results: 2-11, lost in preliminary round of A North playoffs.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Korah Cunningham (M), Abigail Faucher (D), Najma Bore (D); Juniors — Ariana Guay (D), Kaelyn Langlois (M); Sophomores — Isabel Hayes (M), Marina Morgan (M), Stella Smith (A).
Key loss: Megan Lachance (KVAC second team).
Promising newcomers: Junior — Piper Bonnefond; Sophomore — Gabby Gerry; Freshmen — Sydney Annear, Grace Beecher, Kaylie Heath, Meredith Delehanty, Blake Hamel.
What to expect: New and returning players have shown a lot of promise in preseason practices and share a positive outlook, according to coach Shaun McKinnon. He said that he is working with all players, regardless of skill level, to teach the fundamentals and build a foundation for success.
GRAY-NEW GLOUCESTER/POLAND 26ERS
Coach: Melissa Bowie (first year)
Class: C; Conference: WMC
Last year’s results: 3-10, lost in first round.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Andrea Smith (M), Lexi Wallingford (M); Juniors — Olivia Moore (D), Ellie Steele (M).
Promising newcomers: Mya Page (G), Samantha Poulin (A), Alexandra Bucci (D/M).
What to expect: The 26ers are looking to build upon their strengths while making some changes with players and positions under first-year coach Melissa Bowie. The strengths of the team are in the midfield and at the attack positions. Bowie said the defense is going to get better as the season goes along.
LEWISTON BLUE DEVILS
Coach: Tracey Blaisdell (fifth year)
Class: A; Conference: KVAC
Last year’s results: 3-10, reached A North quarterfinals.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Alyssa Marcoux (D), Caitlin D’Andrea (D), Julia Perkins (A); Juniors — Kaitlyn Shannon (M), Olivia Crowly (D), Emily Trider (D), Gabby Thomas (D).
Key losses: Mya Grant (KVAC first team/Sun Journal Player of the Year), Cece Miller (KVAC second team), Lilly Gish (KVAC first team), Rebecca Lussier (Sun Journal first team).
What to expect: Blaisdell said the heart of the defense is returning and that chemistry is yielding positive results. The offense is working in new players that should make an impact once the season begins. Blaisdell said that the Blue Devils are working hard during the preseason and she hopes that pays off through regular season wins.
MARANACOOK/WINTHROP BLACK BEARS
Coach: Sarah Caban (second year)
Class: C; Conference: KVAC
Last year’s results: 11-2, reached state quarterfinals.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Lily Caban (M), Eliza Pattershall (M), Addie Watson (M), Jordan Carr (D), Stella Pattershall (D), Rhyan Sawlivich (D), Stella Lauter (G), Elli Aube (A/D); Juniors — Ashley Deschamp (A), Tilden Tinkham (M/A); Sophomores — Xanthe Sawlivich (A), Emerson Davis (A), Eve Ariskin (A), Caroline Corgan (M/D), Sienna Beauchesne (A/D).
Key losses: Ella Schmidt (KVAC player of the year), Anna Erb (KVAC first team), Ella Delisle (KVAC second team).
What to expect: While the Black Bears lost some key players, they return eight starters, including goalie Stella Lauter, from last year’s team that earned the No. 1 seed in the Class C playoffs. The co-op program has a large freshman class of 14 players, most of whom have several years of experience from the middle school program and club teams such as the Kennebec Cannons. Coach Sarah Caban said the Black Bears are starting to benefit from all the communities’ efforts to develop girls lacrosse in central Maine.
MT. BLUE COUGARS
Coaches: Liz LeClair (third year), Kaya Backman (third year), Kat Zachary (second year)
Class: B; Conference: KVAC
Last year’s results: 9-5, reached state quarterfinals.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Emma Dunn (M), Callahan Towle (D), Molly Kearing (D), Talia Kidder (A), Rachel Maxim (A), Amelia Tierney (A), Madeline Hutchinson (M), Rosabelle Armstrong (D); Juniors — Alissa Butterfield (M), Brielle Hill (A), Chloe Roberts (A); Sophomores — Giselle Couillard (M), Summer Sawyer (M), Brianna Griffin (D), Maya Kellett (D).
Key losses: Eryn Parlin (KVAC first team), Michelle Seaberg.
Promising newcomers: Seniors — Meren Zeliger (M), Teagan Daley (M); Juniors — Evangeline Hutchins (A), Nila Kraft (A), Madelyn Keller (G); Sophomore — Alaya Smith (M); Freshmen — Nina Bogar (M), Lily Huntley (A), Maddy Goodwin (M), Kali Judkins (M), Ivey Rackliff (A), Avery Tinker (A), Addison Decker (A), Abbie Packard (D).
Season outlook: Mt. Blue wants to continue building itself into a competitive program in its third year of existence. The Cougars are already filling the gaps as they adjust to the losses of Eryn Parlin and goaltender Michelle Seaberg. Coaches Liz LeClair, Kat Zachary and Kaya Backman are confident in the team’s growing depth and they hope the Cougars can surprise some of their opponents this season.
OXFORD HILLS/ST. DOMINIC VIKINGS
Coach: Jenna Durgin (first year)
Class: A; Conference: KVAC
Last year’s results: 7-6, reached A North quarterfinals.
Returning athletes: Seniors — Delany Stone (G), Zaya Vollmar (G), Lizzie Hallee (D), Lily Pierce (D), Allison Slicer (M), Mallory Kennison (A), Kelsey Bennett (A); Juniors — Julia Hanson (D), Saige Winslow (M), McKinley Soehren (A); Sophomore — Gracie Hart (M).
Key losses: Katie Hallee, Ashley Farrar.
Promising newcomers: Juniors — Bayleigh Young (M), Kaya Joseph (D); Freshman — Mallory Kennagh (A).
What to expect: The Vikings have put in a lot of work in the offseason, according to first-year coach Jenna Durgin. The squad has a mix of veterans and newcomers, the latter including players from St. Dom’s, which is joining Oxford Hills as a co-op this season. Durgin, Oxford Hills’ JV coach last season, said the team is off to a stronger start than in past years, which she says is a direct correlation to the efforts put into developing the youth programs and out-of-season programs. The Vikings hope this spring will set the tone for future seasons.
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