Football

Coach: Jason Simmons

Last year’s record: 1-8

Key players: Tristen Lacey, senior, WB/S; Adam Shane, senior, G/LB; Zach Simmons, senior, FB/LB; Jake Anderson, junior, OLB; Jamie Anderson, junior, OLB; Cody Gibbons, freshman, WB/CB; Jonah Simmons, freshman, WB/CB

Key games: Gray-New Gloucester, Cape Elizabeth

Season outlook: The struggles continue for the Lakers as they opened the 2010 season with a 45-6 loss to Class B powerhouse Mountain Valley on Sept. 3. However, the Lakers have some winnable games on their schedule, and with many experienced players returning, they could challenge for a playoff berth this season.

Boys soccer

Coach: Don White

Last year’s record: 4-7-3

Key players: “Robert Davis-White will move up to forward this year with the hopes of putting the ball in the back of the net,” White said. “Jack Tragert looks to control the midfield for the second year in a row. He has become a skillful playmaker and will be a major part of our offense. Morgan Brown will shore up the middle of the defense by shutting down the opponent’s forwards. Dakota Bush takes over in goal for us this year. He has done a great job (in the preseason) and has given the team the confidence it needs to compete in the Western Maine Conference.”

Key games this season: “Our two games against our rival Fryeburg Academy will be a key factor in our chances for making the playoffs,” White said. “Another important game is with Gray-New Gloucester. For the past three years, these games have been very close with the winner making the playoffs.”

Season outlook: “The players have worked extremely hard (in the preseason), which should really pay off in the second half of close games,” White said. “This year has been a huge transition with a lot on new players and most of the returning players moving to new positions. Even though we have had many changes, the team looks like they have been playing together for a while. We need to maintain our confidence when possessing the ball. If we focus on playing quick with a purpose instead of rushed and out of control we will have a successful season.”

Girls soccer

Coach: Lynne Harrison

Key players: Junior forward Rachel Martin, “fast with great finishing ability,” Harrison said. Senior forward Doe Leckie, “always known as a speedy forward, Doe will split her time between forward and midfield this year as her passing ability has improved,” the coach said. Senior back Sarah Bonneson, “after sitting out much of last season with injuries, she should provide leadership on defense this year,” said Harrison

Key games this season: “Winning well-established rivalries with Fryeburg, Poland and Freeport are key,” said Harrison. “Knocking off one of the perennial favorites like Cape or York could secure a playoff spot.”

Season outlook: “The team lost nine seniors last year. Filling those spots with young and eager newcomers will be challenging and exciting,” said Harrison. “Junior goalie Emily Bartlett will have to step up as she fills the shoes of Chelsea Meyers, who graduated last year and is now the starting goalie for the University of Houston.”

Field hockey

Coach: Dagny Leland

Key players: “I have many key players this year to watch,” Leland said. “My forwards are working hard getting the ball in the net. The mids are all doing a great job getting the ball up the field, and the halfbacks are working together keeping the ball out of the circle. There is no one or two people this year, truly it’s a team effort. All players, including the goalie, are going to be the key to our success.

Season outlook: So far I have seen that the girls have that knowledge of what to do with the ball with confidence,” the coach said. “(They are) supporting each other on the field and off. I am pleased with the way the girls have started taking ownership of the game.

Boys and girls cross country

Coach: Dan Dors – Coach

Key athletes: Boys: Dillon Knudsen junior, Mark MacDougall sophomore, T.J. Leach junior, David Tucci sophomore, Andrew Carlson, senior.

Girls: Hannah Flagg senior, Kari Eldridge sophomore, Maude Meeker sophomore, Marissa DiMaria junior and Savannah DeVoe, sophomore.

Key meets this season: “Every meet is important, though we have a couple of big ones,” Dors said. York is a big one, there are four or five teams there. We also go to Cape Elizabeth, and they have a very, very good team like York. Falmouth and Yarmouth will be there as well.”

Season outlook: “I think we’ll be decent,” Dors said. “I expect that the girls will be much improved from last year, and I hope the boys will be.”

The Lake Region High School golf preview was not available as of the Lakes Region Weekly’s deadline