The Maranacook/Winthrop co-op boys lacrosse team appears to be heading down a similar path to the one it took a season ago.

The Hawks (10-1) have not lost since suffering a 5-3 defeat against North Yarmouth Academy in their season opener and are in good shape to claim the top seed in the Eastern B playoffs. Maranacook/Winthrop was in the same position last spring after an undefeated regular season, but fell short of making the regional championship game after it fell to Yarmouth 10-7 in the semifinals.

That is where the Hawks, however, will be looking to change the narrative this year in their quest to make their first regional title game since entering the league in 2011.

“We’ve got Messalonskee (Tuesday) and then hopefully we’ll see Gardiner in the KVACs,” Hawks midfielder Zach Lacasse said. “We’ve just got to finish our season strong like we always have, and we’ve just got to focus and push through the playoffs.”

Both Lacasse and Maranacook/Winthrop coach Zach Stewart noted after Friday’s 13-3 win over Gardiner that they felt playing Class A Messalonskee (7-4) would be a good test for the team with playoffs fast approaching. The Hawks have won each of their previous 10 contests by at least six goals and have not played nearly as tough of a schedule as second-place Yarmouth (8-3).

“Yarmouth is a really tough team,” Stewart said. “We don’t get to see the competition that Yarmouth gets to see game in and game out, so it’s really hard for us to step in toe to toe with Yarmouth but our kids want it so bad.”

Messalonskee, meanwhile, is tuning up for a playoff run of its own. The Eagles are currently third in the standings in Class A East behind Brunswick (11-0) and Lewiston (9-2).

“We can’t wait to play (Maranacook/Winthrop),” Messalonskee coach Tom Sheridan said. “We have a pretty good report together. We play together during the summer at Sukee (Arena) and a lot of kids play travel lacrosse together. Last year we didn’t play our best game so we’re looking forward to it.

“…It’s a prefect game to get ready for the playoffs.”

• • •

While Messalonskee will be playing into June, Cony (5-7) is waiting to see if its 12-5 win over Oxford Hills Friday was its final game of the season.

As of Monday evening the Rams were in the eighth and final playoff spot in Class B East, but were less than three-tenths of a Heal point ahead of Deering (4-7) in the standings. Deering’s last game is Tuesday against Western A Westbrook (8-3).

“We’ll just kind of see what happens and go from there,” Cony coach Chad Foye said. “We had a couple games we didn’t take control of that we were capable of taking control of. We’ve earned this.”

Even if Cony does not make its way into the playoffs, it has still enjoyed a solid season. Foye said he has received strong contributions from players like Brett Sproul, Joel Bennett, Liam Stokes and Cam Gallant throughout the season, while freshman Logan Leadbetter has stepped up as well.

• • •

The Winslow girls will be playoff bound in their first season as a varsity program, but will likely be making their postseason debut on the road.

“I’m looking forward to us going to the playoffs,” Black Raiders coach Shawn Carey said. “We’ll be ready for them.”

Winslow (6-5) closes the regular season Wednesday at Erskine, and depending on how the final standings shake out could end up at either Oceanside (9-1), Yarmouth (6-4), Morse (7-4) or Freeport (6-4) for a quarterfinal playoff game.

Fortunately for the Black Raiders, it appears no matter who they play they will be doing so at full strength. Winslow has been battling injuries throughout the season and were without starters Alyssa Wright and Sarah Stevens for Saturday’s 9-7 loss to Lake Region.

“Our roster is not the deepest,” Carey said, “so we make due with what we’ve got.”

Evan Crawley — 621-5640

ecrawley@mainetoday.com

Twitter: @Evan_Crawley

Copy the Story Link