The MPA lacrosse tournament gets started this week with quarterfinal action with the Morse, Brunswick, Freeport and Mt. Ararat boys and girls slated for action.

For a Cinderella story look no further than the 3-9 Freeport boys, who are seeded eighth in Eastern Maine Class B and are headed to No. 1 Gardiner (12-0).

Offensive leaders are Clayton Morrison with 28 goals, five assists, Sam Wogan (25-6), Galen Simmons (19-7), Ramsey Dodge (5-6) and Sam Farrar (5-3).

“Defensively, we are led by Ryan Camp, Tucker Troast and Jared Polley,” said Freeport coach Geoff Arris. “All three have really come a long way since the beginning of the season and have been doing a great job taking the ball away and clearing it. Their communication has come far as well and I think they are tournament ready!”

“Our goalie Zac Wogan has been doing a great job for us in the cage. He has a 66 percent save average, which is saying quite a bit considering he is a first-year goalie and a freshman. Zac has really come into himself the second half of the season and I think after our first win against Windham, his confidence level went up and he really began taking charge of the defense. He has kept many of our games close by coming up with big saves when we need them.”

Though the Falcons have nine losses, they are 3-2 down the homestretch.

“The season ended far better than it began,” said Arris. “We haven’t been to the tournament since 2010 when our seniors were freshmen. We lost in overtime to St. Dom’s and the seniors remember that feeling. We started off 0- 7, but we never put our heads down. Instead we dug deep and worked harder all around the field. We ended the second half of the season winning three out of five games and it got us in the tournament.

“The team is very deserving of this and I’m very pleased and happy for the seniors to make it back to the tournament and for the younger guys to see what it’s like to play in such a big game!”

Taking on an undefeated team always present unique challenges.

“We don’t really know anything about Gardiner other than what the papers have said,” offered Arris. “They haven’t let in too many goals. That much we know. Being a 3-9 team going against a 12-0 team could be very nerveracking, but I think they are ready for this challenge and are excited to take it on. More often than not Freeport has been in a situation where we are the underdogs and seem to sneak under the radar. I love that more than anything. I know our team is ready to take on Gardiner and I expect good results.’

And, really, it all comes down to simply playing your game, the game that got you this far.

“I think what we need to do to win and move on is just play our game,” said Arris. “We have worked so hard and often times we end up playing the other team’s game. If we run our offense the way we know how and our defense is strong in their communication, then we should see some good results and be a competitive team that I’m not sure Gardiner will be expecting.”

In other boys action, No. 3 Mt. Ararat (9-3) hosted No. 6 Deering (6-6) in Eastern Maine Class A on Tuesday and No. 5 Morse (9-3) heads to No. 4 Maranacook/Winthrop (10-2) today.

Offensive leaders for Morse have been Matt Buczkowski, Alexander Paulus, Oliver Kruze, Alec Beveridge and Perry Chase, along with Otto Werwaiss and Dylan Crowell. “So the distribution of guns is there,” said head coach Jay Paulus.

“Defensively, James Laser and Kyle Perry are two strong poles,” said Paulus. “Jay Saunders has been out the entire season with a broken thumb, but has returned and looking very strong the last two games. Kevin Tolan at long-stick midfielder plays a huge role.

“Kevin Thibodeau saves on average eight goals per game and his eye hand coordination has kept us in many games.”

The regular season didn’t go as planned, according to Paulus.

“On paper, I thought we would be an 11-1 team. Our early Gardiner game, in my opinion, was our true loss (18- 10). However, penalties in the second Gardiner game alone, with 11 minutes in the box, killed us. You can’t win games with those numbers in the box.

“But, 9-3 is a great season for us, and we’re focusing on the semifinals as well without hesitation.

“This is a great match up with Maranacook. They’re a well-coached team, great kids, should be an all-around fun game. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.”

Morse fell to Maranacook 11- 8 in the regular season.

“We feel that man for man, we have more shooters and strong ball-handlers to make for a total different outcome. Without showing our cards, we feel comfortable playing anyone in our conference just as long as we stay out of the penalty box.”

Mt. Ararat/Deering

The two teams met on Tuesday in Topsham.

Mt. Ararat offensive leaders have been Jeremy Williams (26 goals, seven assists), Nick Dow (16-6) and Kyle Lussier (14-3).

No other player is in double digits, but everyone on the roster has multiple goals and assists,” said head coach Matt Haskell. “With this team, anyone can contribute on any day. This is one of the most unselfish teams I have ever coached, the only stat they care about is the one the goes in the ‘W’ column.

Defensive leaders are Zach Greene, Devin Monteiro (LSM), Kevin Nolan and Chandler Field, while goaltender Ed McGuire has posted a 4.91 goals-against average.

“After losing eight starters to graduation, we had to turn to our younger players and ask them to step up,” said Haskell of the standout regular season. “I knew that we would improve dramatically from game to game and my boys have met and exceeded all of my expectations this season. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments and we are looking forward to the playoffs.”

The Brunswick boys are the top-ranked Eastern A team at 11-1 and will host a semifinal game Saturday against the winner of No. 4 Lewiston (8-4) and No. 5 Messalonskee (8-4).

Girls have four

The defending Eastern Class B champion Freeport girls are off until Friday when the second-seeded Falcons (6-6) host a semifinal game with No. 3 Yarmouth (5- 7).

“Freeport offensive leaders have been Jocelyn Davee (32 goals, two assists), Meredith Broderick (29-5) and Aubrey Pennell (16-20).

Leading on groundballs and draw controls are Emily Johnson (43 groundballs, 30 draw controls) and Davee (35 groundballs, 28 draw controls), while defensive standouts include Megan Peacock, Emily Sturtevant and Shelby Sawyer.

Goaltender Molly Lane has a 52 percent save-percentage through 11 games.

“Molly is also picking up groundballs and getting interceptions,” said head coach Karin Kurry. “The season went as expected. We won the games we were expected to win. Freeport showed moments of greatness in all the games. The girls on the team have great heart. We were leading in the Cape (13-4 loss) and Waynflete (13-7 loss) games. I think we are the only team to lead over Waynflete … even briefly.

“I know Yarmouth has two girls who played on the Maine Team with Molly that went to the National tournament in Pennsylvania. Yarmouth is a young team that has moments of greatness. They beat Cape and Scarborough.”

Kurry knows what it takes to move on in the postseason.

“To advance we have to show up ready to play the entire game,” said the coach. “We need to get the draw control and the loose balls. Of course, we can not give up!”

Camden at Morse

In another Eastern B contest, No. 5 Camden Hills (6-6) visits No. 4 Morse (7-5) in a quarterfinal clash this afternoon.

The two met twice in the regular season, each posting road wins, with Camden taking a 12-10 decision earlier in the season and the Shipbuilders prevailing 17-15 on May 23.

“Offensively, even though senior captain Sadia Crosby (43), and sophomores Ruth Nadeau (38) and Sophie Sreden (22) have most of the goals, we had 12 different players score over the season,” said Morse coach Linda Levesque. “Sophomores Sreden (11) and Bronwyn Morissette (10) and senior Monica Frempong (9) led in assists, but others chipped in also. Juniors Grace Koslosky and Zoe Simard, and sophomore Shira Gersh are tough off the bench, with frosh Maddy Olsen showing a nose for the goal.

“We try very hard as a unit to run a balanced attack when settled. If we have a fastbreak and a shooting lane opens up that player should challenge for goal.

“The key to our game plan is our midfield play led by junior Paige Martin, Nadeau and freshman Isabelle Paulus, with freshmen Asia Derosby and Madison Savary providing valuable minutes. We go as they go: on the clear, the ride and in transition.

Morse has allowed an average of 10 goals a game.

“Defensively, we are led by captain Hannah Rossetti, who has helped mold a totally rookie unit into a force to be dealt with,” lauded Levesque. “Low defenders and first-year varsity players Anita Doughty, Julia Hart, Emma Rossetti and super sub Kaylee Walker have gelled and are working very well together in a helping defense.

“First-year goalkeepers sophomore Cat Sener and back up senior Sadie St. Pierre have been solid, at times spectacular in goal, and perhaps our most pleasant surprise.”

Levesque enjoys working with this group.

“Our goal from day one was to get better everyday,” she said. “We have done that with very few exceptions. They are a very coachable bunch and lots of fun to be around. They are hungry to learn and are looking to mark their place in Shipbuilder lacrosse history.

“We look forward to hosting the Windjammers in the ‘rubber game’ of our season’s series, each team winning on the other’s home turf. Our challenge will be to play our game, transitioning the ball quickly through midfield, running a fastbreak when we can and being patient on offense if we have to settle. We must all play defense the length and width of the field and pressure the ball with poise and intensity. We must limit their shots on goal and not give them any open looks.”

Mt. Ararat (6-6) heads to No. 2 Cheverus (9-3) in a Class A East clash.

In the Eagles’ offense, Carly Raymond leads with 24 goals and 12 assists, followed by Sierra Gilley (24-9), Rebecca Schuman (24-3), Katie Labbay (16-7), Alyssa Curit (7-3), Erin Tome (6- 1) and Alison Nolan (4-3).

Defensive leaders include Sydni Clark (6-2), Sonja Robert, Lauren Williams and Connie Hodge, while goaltender Bailey Sullivan has a 53 percent save percentage.

“We lost some games that I thought we would do better in but overall, I knew we had a young team coming in after a large graduating class of last season,” said head coach Sam Chard. “Cheverus has some good players and their goalie is strong. Their defense is also good, but I think we have a good chance of doing well against them. When our offense is on, we’re tough to defend.”

Chard also knows what the Eagles must do to advance.

“We need to work on our defense,” he offered. “We’ve been giving up a lot of easy goals and we need to stop the transition of the opponent at midfield. Our goaltending has to be on as well so we’ll be working on shots from all angles. We’ll also have to work on draws. We’ve struggled with tough teams on winning them. We’re facing a tough team, but we’re going into it with an open mind and high hopes!”