Biddeford High boys’ lacrosse coach Jason Martel strategizes with Nick McSorley (46), Joe Morrison (14) and Matthew Martel at halftime of the Tigers game against Thornton Academy during the season. The Tigers will look to win the first playoff game in program history tonight against Mt. Ararat at Waterhouse Field. (ANTHONY LOMBARDI/JOURNAL TRIBUNE)

A local athletic program is on the verge of history.

If the Biddeford boys’ lacrosse team defeats Mt. Ararat in a first-round matchup in the MPA Class B tournament this evening at Waterhouse Field, it will be the Tigers’ first playoff win since the program’s inception in 2005.

So what’s the message before such a significant match? Well, it’s the same as it’s been all year.

“One game at a time – work hard,” said Biddeford coach Jason Martel. “I tell (my players), ‘No one is going to work harder than you.’”

The Tigers had never achieved a winning season prior to Martel’s first year as varsity head coach in 2017. Biddeford, who was still in Class A at the time, finished 7-5 that year before losing to Gorham in the first round of the postseason. The 2017 team, Martel said, accomplished one of the two goals they’d established: finishing above .500. The objective that wasn’t reached: winning a playoff game.

Martel didn’t coach in 2018 due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, he said, and the Tigers’ fortunes reversed to the tune of a 2-10 record. When the longtime Biddeford youth lacrosse coach got another chance to lead the high school squad, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

“I wanted to come back to try and help the program because there’s a lot of great kids and a lot of great athletes,” Martel said. “I’ve been a part of this school, this town, … I just felt like I could get through to them and connect.”

Martel admits “it was pretty awesome” coming in as a head coach in 2017 and helping guide the Tigers to their first winning season, and he also admits this year has been a challenge. The 2017 team had approximately 45 players on its roster. This year’s version has 20.  

Having fewer numbers than the majority, if not all, of their opponents has put the Tigers at a disadvantage from a stamina aspect down the stretch of games at times, but Martel knows nobody feels sorry for Biddeford. To combat dealing with fewer reinforcements, the players on the roster run – a lot – at practice.

Martel chuckles as he recounts stories of running overload throughout the season. Run, run and run some more. When you’re done running, let’s sprint.

“This is a program. This isn’t just some sport to go play,” he said. “This is a program that we want to build because we want to be successful year after year. It’s got to start somewhere. These guys are doing it.”

In addition to its small roster, the Biddeford boys’ lacrosse team also played a demanding schedule that included seven Class A opponents out of the Tigers’ 12 games. While Biddeford (5-7) managed just a 2-5 mark against the higher-classed teams, the Tigers were competitive in most of the matches, including losing to Bonny Eagle on a last-second save by the Scots goalie.

“Jason is a great coach who cares a great deal about the game, and more importantly, about the kids and Biddeford High School,” said Biddeford Athletic Director Dennis Walton. “He wants to do things right and believes that doing things right will result in team accomplishments.”

Martel wouldn’t have it any other way as he steers the Tigers into the unknown. Finishing with a winning season was like a badge of honor for the 2017 team, he said. A playoff win – now, that’s a confidence builder. Martel’s just glad he’s a part of the ride.

“I’m very fortunate to be back,” he said. “I’m Biddeford-born, Biddeford-bred. I love the game of lacrosse … These guys are doing fantastic this season. But now the challenge is to build (the program) back up.”