WATERVILLE — The Messalonskee High School boys lacrosse team stewed over its early season loss at Lewiston for almost a month.
“We were really upset about how we played down there,” junior captain Dylan Burton said. “We kind of wanted redemption.”
Redemption came for the Eagles on Wednesday afternoon. Messalonskee played one of its best all-around games of the season and defeated the Blue Devils 11-2 at Thomas College.
Messalonskee improved to 6-3 with three games to play in the regular season. Lewiston is 8-2.
“That was a gritty effort. We did a nice job,” Messalonskee coach Tom Sheridan said. “It wasn’t really our strongest effort when we played Lewiston at Bates (College). That’s a game we really wish we could have back.”
Lewiston scored first, just 59 seconds into the game, when Jayden Wilson fired a one-hopper past Messalonskee goalie Elija Tuell. The Eagles answered with 7:26 left in the first quarter on Burton’s first of three goals. With 10:50 to play in the second quarter, Austin Pelletier scored on a pass from Dylan Jones to give Messalonksee a 2-1 lead, which it never relinquished.
Tuell made nine saves for the win, playing behind a strong defense that never allowed the Blue Devils to gain momentum.
“We paid more attention to off-ball defense,” Sheridan said. “Defensively, we worked hard in transition. Elija played strong today.”
Burton said the Eagles focused on cutting down on turnovers.
“We settled down on offense, and the goals started coming,” Burton said. “I’d say we won the majority of ground balls. When you do that, you get more possessions.”
Connor Smith’s goal with 7:59 left in the second quarter gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Messalonskee made it 4-1 late in the first half, when Pelletier stole a Lewiston pass near midfield, spun past a defender, and sprinted in to fire a hard shot past Blue Devils goalie Bryan Wagg (14 saves).
Lewiston’s second goal came with 4:56 left in the third quarter off the stick of Roman Dennis, cutting Messalonskee’s lead to 6-2. The Eagles pulled away in the fourth quarter, scoring five goals. Smith scored two of his three goals in the final six minutes.
Messalonskee now closes the regular season with three road games, beginning next Wednesday at undefeated Brunswick.
“This was a good warmup game for that,” Sheridan said.
Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242
Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM
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