The Massabesic High School girls lacrosse program has put together an incredible run over the last few years — including a state championship and three straight trips to the Class A finals — and a big part of the Mustangs’ success has been the play and leadership of Madi Drain.
Drain put on a show in her senior campaign as she scored 36 goals, dished out 37 assists and won 52 draws to help the Mustangs make a run to the Class A state final.
“It was kind of like a bittersweet thing going into it,” said Drain of her senior season. “We did everything hard and competitive knowing that it was our last year and our last time to leave everything on the field.”
Drain was part of the most successful class in program history along with Hallie Benton, Logan Champlin, Morgan Pike, Kaylee St. Laurent and Lydia Wasina.
“(Our bond was) incredible, to be honest. We all pretty much were key players at a young age so we all connected in that way and I think senior year just definitely (made us closer),” said Drain, who also picked up 51 grounds balls and had 11 interceptions this year.
The 2018 Journal Tribune Most Valuable Player credits head coach Brooks Bowen and assistant coach Jason Tremblay with building a family atmosphere at Massabesic.
“(Coach) Bowen kind of really fell in love with this senior class at a very young age and he pretty much grew us as a family,” said Drain. “(Bowen and Tremblay) are pretty much our family. (Bowen) treats us just like his kids. He loves us just like his kids. He would do anything and everything for us.”
Drain, who was also the Journal Tribune’s MVP in 2017, hopes the success the Class of 2018 has had will prove to be an inspiration for future Mustangs.
“It wasn’t the way we wanted it to end, but definitely getting back there and going to three state (finals) was still an amazing thing to do,” said Drain. “We just wanted to leave that legacy for the (underclassmen) like Skylar Renaud and all of them coming up … giving them something to go off next year was pretty much our goal.”
The Massabesic standout was thrilled to be named the Journal Tribune MVP for the second time — especially with players like Kennebunk’s Hallie Schwartzman and Biddeford’s Paige Laverriere also in the running for the award.
“It’s crazy to think of. I honestly wasn’t really thinking I was going to get it this year because there’s a lot of outstanding players … just a bunch of girls that definitely deserve it the same way,” said Drain. “Knowing that I won it again is just humbling and gives you a good feeling … gives you something great to end on.”
Drain will continue her playing career in Rhode Island next year when she attends Roger Williams University.
“It was a pretty difficult choice. I was very late in the process of picking a school I wanted to go to.  Roger Williams was one that really stood out to me,” said Drain. “Knowing that they were (Division III in lacrosse) kind of really set me back, but honestly overall their academics was something I wanted to go for. The lacrosse team is amazing. The family is amazing and knowing that there are some people that I know there helped my choice.”
While Drain will start a new journey in the fall, the two-time MVP will leave Massabesic with memories that will last a lifetime.
“Definitely the support system — the parents, the fans, the (youth) program and definitely just the coaching staff,” said Drain on what she will remember most from Massabesic. “Overall, Massabesic is just a great place and a great area to grow up in and to play lacrosse.”
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.