Parker Douin plays in scrimmage during Maranacook/Winthrop boys lacrosse practice Tuesday in Readfield. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

Since Class C boys lacrosse debuted in 2018, private schools have dominated the landscape. Waynflete won four of a possible five state titles between 2018-23, and North Yarmouth Academy won in 2019.

Last year, the window finally opened, as two public schools squared off in the state final. Wells took home the trophy by beating Maranacook/Winthrop, 14-9.

Entering this season, public school programs are again poised to challenge for the state title. North Yarmouth Academy, which reached the state quarterfinals, returns with some strong players, but Waynflete will not field a varsity team this spring.

“My players asked me what the mantra was this year, and I said, ‘June 20,'” Maranacook/Winthrop coach Dan Brannigan said, referring to the date of the state final. “We return enough firepower this year, especially in Class C, that we should be a threat, no matter who we play.”

The Hawks finished last season 15-2 and made their second trip to a Class C final. They ran roughshod over the competition, averaging 15.6 goals per game. The majority of the team returns, though they did lose Owen Lyons, who scored 121 points last year and tallied his 100th career goal.

“It’s going to be a lot different than last year,” Brannigan said. “Last year, we just ran and ran and ran and ran. During the preseason, I’ve been preaching to my kids to slow it down, trying to win a game 13-4 instead of 22-4 like we did last year.”

Despite losing Lyons, there’s talent all over the field. Sophomore Jacob Lyons, Owen’s brother, is one of the top returning attackers, along with junior Ethan Chilton. As a freshman, Jacob Lyons scored 42 goals and had 29 assists. Chilton, then a sophomore, had 61 goals and 18 assists.

“We’ve got studs for attackmen, we have studs for deep pole,” Jacob Lyons said. “Our (long stick midfielder), I’d put him up against any LSM, really. He’s insane. It’s amazing (what we’re doing), but I feel we belong right now. I don’t see us at any other place than the top of the field. With all the guys we have, there’s no reason we can’t be No. 1 in the class.”

Senior Parker Douin is the long-stick midfielder, while senior Lucas Drillen and junior Ryan Bourque are the top returning defensemen. Senior Lucas Woodruff returns as the goaltender.

“(Returning to states) is our biggest driving factor,” said Drillen. “Obviously, there are other threats out there, like NYA and Wells. Those southern teams will be just as competitive. But we’re not looking to shy away from that; that’s our biggest driving factor, getting back to (states), because we know we can. … When someone looks at a team like Maranacook, and we’re out here practicing on mud patches, (people) think we aren’t going to do anything. But we made it to that state game, and showed what we can do on will power and determination.”

Oak Hill, which also features players from St. Dominic Academy, Monmouth Academy and Lisbon, returns to Class C this season. The Raiders graduated key seniors Dylan Spier, Adam Hinkley and Lukas Bergeron. That trio accounted for the majority of the Raiders’ goals scored. Senior midfielder Kaiden Delano acknowledged there isn’t much depth on the attacking line.

“We have some (guys) transferring from a different position, we have Gage (Spier), obviously he’s been here for a while, and it’s good that he can work with them,” Delano said. “We got a few very new people, some sophomores and freshman cycling in that position, which they’re obviously doing great, and we have some older guys that can work with them, but it’s by far our lowest position in the depth chart.”

Other key players include Colton Davis on defense, Matthew Fecteau in the midfield, Nathan Dillman on attack and Carter Austin in net.

“Our goalie, Carter Austin, had an incredible summer, and he’s come back the best that I’ve seen him,” Oak Hill senior Gage Spier said.

Kaiden Delano, left, and Gage Spier are two of the key returning players for the Oak Hill/Monmouth/Lisbon/St. Dom’s boys lacrosse co-op team. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Spier said while the Raiders have a lot of new players, and returning players in new places, he thinks they’ll adapt quickly and he’s looking forward to matching up against tough opponents, such as Maranacook and Wells. Oak Hill lost to Wells, the eventual state champion, in the Class C state semifinal last season, 13-10.

“I think last year’s loss shouldn’t have been a loss (against Wells),” Spier said. “We definitely had a terrible day, and Wells probably had their best, so to compare us to Wells really makes sense, because they are a really great program.”

Delano, who has committed to play lacrosse at Division II Southern New Hampshire University, said Wells is the team to beat. For the Raiders to beat the top teams this season, Delano said they’ll need to have better ball movement, take smarter shots and have more players touch the ball in the midfield.

“We’re implementing — it’s not a new offense, but something we haven’t worked (on) as much — so it takes some time,” Delano said “We have to go slow, we have to work through it, take pauses when we need to and fix corrections. Slowing it down is one of the most important things — if we’re always rushing, we’re going to make silly mistakes and end up losing the ball.”