2023 lacrosse wrap-up: Messalonskee boys, Cony girls soared high

Messalonskee’s Walter Fegel, right, tries to out maneuver York’s Jim Neal during the Class B lacrosse state championship game on June 16 in Portland. Ben McCanna/Portland Press Herald

Messalonskee boys lacrosse coach Tom Sheridan can rattle off Bryce Crowell’s accomplishments the way some people can list the names of their grandchildren.

Central Maine lacrosse all-stars

BOYS

Bryce Crowell, Messalonskee: The senior face-off specialist was named KVAC Large School Player of the Year as the Eagles reached the first state final in program history.

Brady Brunelle, Messalonskee: The junior midfielder surpassed the 50-goal mark and was a KVAC first-team selection.

Elijah Beland, Cony: The senior goalie was a first-team all-KVAC selection, playing heroically for a 1-win team.

Cole Brann, Gardiner: The senior midfielder earned a KVAC first-team nod as the Tigers reached the Class C tournament.

Levi Bogar, Mt. Blue: The junior defender and KVAC all-star helped the Eagles hold opponents to single-digit scoring in all but two games.

GIRLS

Madi Doody, Messalonskee: The senior attack was a KVAC all-star and among the Eagles’ leading scorers.

Shea Cassani, Messalonskee: The senior goalie was named KVAC Large School Player of the Year in helping the Eagles to the Class B semifinals.

Dinah Wadleigh, Cony: The senior defender was the KVAC Small School Player of the Year, and also was a force on offense with 30 goals.

Callahan Towle, Mt. Blue: The senior was a force on defense for the third-year program, which returned to the Class B playoffs.

Abby Morrill, Cony: The sophomore midfielder led the Rams in goals, assists, draw controls and ground balls.

USA Lacrosse All-American. Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year. All-KVAC first team face-off specialist. Maine Lacrosse Senior All-Star Game MVP.

“He’s one kid that not easily replaceable,” Sheridan said.

Crowell’s effort was just part of a historic Messalonskee season in which the Eagles (11-6) made history by reaching a state final for the first time in program history. While Messalonskee lost to York 12-10 in the Class B championship game, Sheridan said the ending shouldn’t put a damper on a great campaign.

“It was an unfortunate result, but I’m really happy with how the kids played all year long and how they approached the game,” the 28th-year coach said. “Hopefully, going forward, they started something with our program the kids will live up to for years to come.”

Crowell was far from the only star Messalonskee fielded this spring. Junior midfielder Brady Brunelle surpassed the 50-goal mark, while senior attackers Will Durkee and Walter Fegel, as well as junior attack Cooper LeClair, reached 40 goals. Colby Chavarie was an all-KVAC first-team defender and long-stick midfielder Landon White earned a second-team nod.

The Eagles lose seven players to graduation, including Crowell (Maine Maritime Academy), Durkee (Wheaton) and Fegel (BYU club team), who all intend to play in college. But with a deep feeder program at hand, Sheridan anticipates about 40 players to come out for next year’s team.

“It’s just unfortunate when it’s over,” Sheridan said, “but I’m looking forward to next season with the guys we’ve got got back and they guys who are going on to play in college.”

Messalonskee wasn’t the only central Maine program to turn in a strong season. The Mt. Blue boys went 9-6 and reached the Class B tournament as juniors Chase Ranger (midfield) and Levi Bogar (defender) were named KVAC first-team all-stars. After an 0-2 start, the Cougars reeled off six straight wins.

The Oak Hill/Monmouth/Lisbon/St. Dominic co-op went 9-7 and reached the Class C semis, where it lost to eventual champion Waynflete.

Gardiner (8-7) won four of its last five games to reach the Class C playoffs, where it lost to Greely 11-9 in a back-and-forth preliminary round game. Coach KC Johnson was named KVAC Small School Coach of the Year, while senior Cole Brann (midfield) and junior Cody Dingwell (attack) were first-team all-stars.

Erskine (6-9) also reached the Class C tournament, where it lost to Gray-New Gloucester/Poland in the prelim round, 9-8. Senior midfielder Casey Kirkpatrick, senior long-stick midfielder Timber Parlin and Keith Redonis (face-off specialist) were named KVAC Small School all-stars.

Winthrop/Maranacook/Spruce Mountain (8-7) reached the Class C quarterfinals, where it fell to the Oak Hill co-op. Junior attack Owen Lyons earned a KVAC Small School all-star nod.

Don’t let Cony’s 1-13 record fool you. Facing a barrage of shots each time out, goalie Elijiah Beland performed well enough to earn a KVAC Small School first-team nod.

Cony’s Dinah Wadleigh feels the heat from Lewiston’s Crew Langley during Monday’s girls lacrosse game in Lewiston. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

• • •

On the girls side, Cony made some history of their own, putting up the best regular-season record in program history (12-2; 13-3 overall), with the only losses coming to Camden Hills and Brunswick (twice, including a 12-7 decision in the Class B semifinals).

Five Rams were named KVAC Small School all-stars, including senior defender Dinah Wadleigh, who was named the league’s player of the year. Wadleigh had 30 goals and eight assists during the regular season, forced a team-high 33 turnovers from the opposition and was second on the team with 77 ground balls. Junior midfielder Maci Freeman, also a first-team all-star, scored 31 goals to go with 62 draw controls, 72 ground balls, and 32 caused turnovers. Senior goalie Madison Chavarie (115 saves, 93 goals against) was the Rams’ third first-team selection, while senior Azabell Assaf (28 goals, 32 caused turnovers) and sophomore Abby Morrill were second-team picks. Morrill led the Rams in goals (36), assists (13), draw controls (49) and ground balls (78).

Cony loses seven seniors to graduation, but coach Gretchen Livingston — the KVAC Coach of the Year — looks to add about 14 freshmen to next year’s roster, which will welcome back Freeman and Morrill.

Elsewhere. Messalonskee (9-7) reached the Class B semis, where it fell to eventual state champ Greely. Eagles senior goalie Shea Cassani, who made 12 saves in the semifinal loss, was named KVAC Large School Player of the Year. Senior midfielder Julia Wade joined Cassani on the KVAC all-star team.

Mt. Blue — one of the newer girls programs in Maine — won its first four games and finished 8-7 to earn a Class B playoff spot. Senior defender Callahan Towle was named a first-team KVAC all-star.

Maranacook/Winthrop lost its first three games then won six straight and finished 9-5. Senior midfielder Lily Caban and junior attack Ashley Deschamp earned KVAC first-team honors.

Erskine (5-9) reached the Class C prelims, and senior midfielder Reese Sullivan was named to the all-KVAC second team.

Despite missing the Class B playoffs, Gardiner (6-8) placed senior attack Lilly Diversi and senior defender Lizzy Gruber on the KVAC Small-School all-star team.