The Mt. Blue girls soccer team ended September with a three-game losing streak. The Cougars didn’t score a goal in those three games and allowed 14.

Since, the Cougars (7-5-1) have rattled off four straight wins, including three shutouts, to secure an Eastern A playoff spot.

“As a team and as individuals we are much more focused now,” Mt. Blue girls coach Fred Conlogue said. “Personally each player has become much more accountable for their actions.”

Mt. Blue doesn’t have depth but has played a number of players to allow them to gain experience.

“We are using more players, moving players into new positions and everyone has been playing well in their roles,” Conlogue said. “It started after the loss to Lawrence. The players became more focused on the game, then we lost to Mt. Ararat and Brunswick, but we felt good about the way we played.”

The Cougars now are waiting for the final Heal point standings to see where they will play. Positions six through eight in Eastern A were close entering Tuesday’s final day of games. Mt. Blue could play a prelim Friday or jump into the quarterfinals next week.

“Those three losses proved to be a turning point for us,” Conlogue said. “Now we will have to see where it takes us.”

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Ryan Hurley has enjoyed success in each of his coaching jobs, both learning the job as an assistant and as a head coach. The former Winslow boys coach is now at the helm of one of the top programs in Maine at Camden Hills.

The Windjammers are ranked No. 1 in the Eastern B Heal points and are undefeated in Hurley’s second season. Camden Hills reached the regional final last fall, losing to Ellsworth 3-2.

“I think I’m lucky to have worked with a lot of good people,” said Hurley, who served as an assistant coach at both Yarmouth and Maranacook. “Our successs and failures in the playoffs have contributed to how I look at things.

Camden Hills has received plenty of praise from opposing coaches.

“We played one of our best games against them,” Mt. View coach Chris Hink said. “We lost 3-0. They are a very good team and deserve to be unbeaten.”

Added Winslow coach Carrie Larrabee: “I haven’t seen anyone any better than Camden. They are very deep and have one of the best teams in the state.”

Camden Hills has recorded 12 shutouts this season. The only time the Windjammers have been scored upon was in a 6-2 win over MCI.

“We are a pretty balanced team,” Hurley said. “Everyone can play offense, everybody can play defense and we are possessing the ball really, really well this year.”

Hurley will meet his former team (Winslow) in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B title game in Augusta.

“Winslow is a very good team, and Carrie has done a great job coaching,” Hurley said. “They have some great players up the middle that will give us a tough game.”

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The Lawrence boys are a team to watch in the playoffs. The 8-6-0 Bulldogs have been in every game this season and recently beat defending Class A state champion Bangor 3-1.

“We have been playing well all season,” Lawrence coach Bob Towne said. “Sometimes we just haven’t gotten the results.”

The Bulldogs have played exceptional soccer against the top three teams in Eastern A. They lost to top-ranked Lewiston 2-1 and to No. 2 Mt. Ararat 2-1. Lawrence split with No. 3 Hampden Academy. Bangor is ranked No. 4.

“The Eastern A tournament is pretty wide open,” Towne said. “Whoever shows up to play can win the whole thing. We feel like we can play with any team.”

Towne’s coaching philosophy of improving each day and each time players step on the practice field certainly has paid dividends this season. Proof of that improvement was the win over Bangor, a team the Bulldogs lost to, 1-0, in the opening game of the regular season.

“We are still trying to improve on some areas,” Towne said. “If we show up and play, we will be OK.”