OAKLAND — Given the turnover the Messalonskee girls lacrosse team experienced from last season, junior captain Nathalie St. Pierre knew she and her fellow returners would need to take on a larger role with the Eagles this spring.
“We had a lot of great players last year,” St. Pierre said. “All the juniors knew we had to step it up and be leaders this year.”
Kennebec journal/morning sentinel all-stars
GK: Lizzy Dennison, Cony
D: Haley Lowell, Messalonskee
D: Emma Hickey, Gardiner
D: Calla Balboni, Messalonskee
M: Nickyia Lovely, Gardiner
M: Nathalie St. Pierre, Messalonskee
M: Ally Turner, Messalonskee
M: Lydia Dexter, Messalonskee
A: India Languet, Messalonskee
A: Cassidy Roderick, Winslow
A: Becca Conniff, Cony
Honorable mention: Winslow: Mackenzie Winslow, Heather Kervin, Harley Fitch, Sabrina Jandreau. Messalonskee: Sydni Collier, Lauren Pickett. Cony: Katelyn Bilodeau. Gardiner: Bryce Smith, Kelsi Thibeau. Erskine: Malorie Weaver.
St. Pierre, along with fellow captains junior India Languet and senior Calla Balboni, helped lead a young, yet talented Eagles team to new heights this season. Messalonskee won its first Eastern Class A championship in program history thanks to an 11-8 win over Portland on June 17.
Throughout the season St. Pierre often took on a starring role for the Eagles. She finished with a team-high 50 goals and also had 13 assists, 55 ground balls and 35 draw controls. For her efforts, St. Pierre has been named the 2015 Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel Girls Lacrosse Player of the Year. Languet, as well as Gardiner’s Emma Hickey were also considered for the honor.
“(St. Pierre) is just one of those players that is very reliable and consistent,” Messalonskee girls lacrosse coach Ashley Pullen said. “While we were very fortunate to find players who could score for us, play offense and defense, (St. Pierre) is just the kind of player you know is going to show up every game. She doesn’t have off days. Beyond her skill, she really brings this calm, poised, confident energy to the team.”
St. Pierre and the Eagles went 14-2 this season, ultimately falling in their final game, 13-5, to Marshwood in the Class A state championship at Fitzpatrick Stadium. On a number of occasions this spring, Messalonskee found itself in tight games, but each time seemingly found a way to win. The Eagles were 4-0 in overtime games, something St. Pierre attributes to the overall competitiveness of the team.
“A lot of the players on the team play a lot of sports and we’re all very competitive in practice,” St. Pierre said. “We would work harder when we were put on teams against each other.
“We had the competitive edge and we just didn’t want to lose.”
Part of that can be attributed to the influx of talent the Eagles saw this season in their freshman and sophomore classes. Freshmen Ally Turner, Haley Lowell, Lauren Pickett, Jenna Nash and sophomore Lydia Dexter were each starters for Messalonskee, and each kept the upperclassmen sharp throughout the season.
“They pushed us really hard, they worked just as hard as any of the upperclassmen and they’re a really athletic group,” St. Pierre said. “It definitely keeps everyone trying harder, especially knowing that there could be someone who could potentially replace you.”
That youth and talent already has St. Pierre excited for next season. The Eagles only lost two senior starters from this past season’s team, midfielder Brooke Quirion and Balboni, a defender.
“Right after the state game we were planing out and saying who’s going to step up next year, who’s going to fill the spots,” St. Pierre said. “We’re always planning how we’re going to get better.”
Evan Crawley — 621-5640
ecrawley@mainetoday.com
Twitter: @Evan_Crawley
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