SACO — If you see a successful high school team — whether it’s basketball, football or lacrosse — there will most likely be a solid youth program working as a feeder system down below.
The Thornton Academy boys lacrosse team is certainly benefiting from a strong youth program as most of the current Golden Trojans — who will play for a Class A state championship tonight — started their lacrosse careers together in the Saco Bay Lacrosse Club when they were third-and-fourth graders.
“It helps more than anybody can put into words. I started playing lacrosse in the third grade and we all started together,” said TA junior Tom Levasseur of the Saco Bay Lacrosse Club.
Senior Jack Webb echoed that sentiment.
“I think almost everyone on the team (played Saco Bay Lacrosse),” said Webb. “I think it’s huge. We’ve all grown up playing with each other … every lacrosse season we have the same core group of guys for the past 10 years it seems like.”
When players know each other as well as the TA varsity team does it makes playing the game easier, according to Webb.
“I know from experience, on the field this year, you kind of know where some of those other guys are going to be before they even get there for passes,” Webb said.
The Trojans punched their ticket to the state championship game with an impressive 15-5 win over Cape Elizabeth in Wednesday’s regional final.
“I mean I think that was by far my favorite game that I’ve ever been a part of in any sport,” said Levasseur of Wednesday’s game, which was played in front of a large and raucous TA crowd. “The crowd, the intensity on the field, it all just came together and it made us feel like professional athletes. I know that’s weird coming from a high school player but the whole atmosphere was amazing.”
CJ LaBreck believes the Trojans’ close relationships on and off the field have helped them get to the state final for the first time in school history.
“I think we’ve had the best bond we’ve had in years. Everyone loves each other, there’s no beef with anyone and I think the fact that we all work together and love each other just makes us want to win even more,” said LaBreck, who is a junior midfielder.
Thornton Academy head coach Ryan Hersey points to the leadership of guys like Webb and fellow senior Wyatt LeBlanc as a reason why the Trojans are competing for gold.
“That has been equally as important as our athleticism. I think these guys have really led the way character-wise over the last couple of years and that has really led to our success,” said Hersey. “I think most importantly they hold themselves to high standards and then they are able to show others that it can be done and others have gladly followed along.”
The Trojans will face Class A North champion Falmouth today at 6 p.m. in a rematch of a regular-season game. Thornton Academy rolled to a 12-5 win over Falmouth on May 29, but Hersey knows the Yachtsmen will come ready to play this time around.
“They are going to come hard. They have some really good athletes, they’ve got some really good lacrosse players and I think they are going to be a little bit more ready for us than they were the first time and throw a few new things at us … I’m sure we have a few new things for them and it’s really about making those in-game adjustments,” Hersey said.
The Trojans gained some confidence from their big win over Falmouth, but they are also trying to put that victory behind them.
“We’re trying not to think too much about that last game. We’re obviously looking at scouting reports and stuff like that, like any team would, but we’re trying not to think about that last game too much because then we’ll start to have preconceptions and then it will turn against us,” said Levasseur.
When the Trojans take the field tonight in Portland they are expecting to see a large crowd on their side of the field.
“I think it’s kind of going to be the same type of turnout there. I remember the last time I was at Fitzpatrick (Stadium) for a state championship game was my sophomore year in football and that was a pretty big crowd. We’re hoping to get close to that,” said Webb.
“It’s going to be really packed. It’s our first state game, so we expect everyone there,” added LaBreck.
— 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.