LEWISTON — Before his day had barely begun, it changed drastically.

Shuaib Naji woke up and was having a carefree breakfast Wednesday morning when he got a phone call. He had been promoted. He was going to be the varsity goalie for the boys’ soccer team in the team’s biggest game of the season.

“I couldn’t even concentrate during class today,” said Naji, who had only played part of one varsity game in goal this season. “All I could do was think about, ‘I’ve got to play.’ We havent’ been this far in a long time.”

Naji and his teammates rallied around the cause and still managed to earn a 3-2 win over Mt. Blue in their Eastern Class A quarterfinal. The top-ranked Blue Devils advance to Saturday’s 5 p.m. semifinal against Hampden. It is the first time Lewiston has been in the semifinals since 1996.

“We did this for coach and for our goalie, who was missing today,” said junior forward Mohamed Ali, who had two goals for the Blue Devils.

Regular keeper Eric Soucy was out of the lineup after going to the hospital Wednesday for an appendectomy. Coach Mike McGraw got the word by 8 a.m. that Soucy was going to be unavailable.

“He found out this morning,” said McGraw of Naji. “He didn’t have time to get nervous.”

And if that wasn’t stressful enough, Lewiston had to shake off a challenge by a game Mt. Blue club. The Cougars battled back twice to tie the Blue Devils (12-2-1). Both goals were aided by Naji’s inexperience. Still, Lewiston responded. The Blue Devils got a late goal from Ali and some solid defense down the stretch. Naji came up with a critical save that preserved the lead.

“There’s no quit in these guys,” said McGraw. “They proved they could come back and proved they could get the job done.”

Mt. Blue (9-6-1) tied the game with 15:35 left. Blake Hart kicked the ball from the midfield and watched it sail into the net as Naji misjudged it by the left post.

“When they scored again, I felt heartbreak,” said Ali. “I felt like we weren’t going to make it.”

Lewiston didn’t feel that way for long. Less than a minute later, the Blue Devils answered and had a 3-2 lead with 14:37 left. Benji Saban dished a pass to the right wing. Ali was on the move and saw keeper Matt Crowley coming out.

“When Benji passed it to me, I scored because I saw the goalie coming out,” said Ali.

Lewiston had a chance to add to the lead with 12:35 left with a penalty kick. Saban took the shot but hit the left post.  Numerous Blue Devils had a chance at the rebound but missed.

Mt. Blue tried to mount a third comeback but couldn’t get the equalizer. Colton Hall had the best chance. He had a loose ball in front and put it on net but Naji was able to make the stop with 5:20 left.

“I just saw that ball,” said Naji. “All I could think was, ‘Get in front of it.’ I got in front of it. I didn’t catch it. It just hit me in the stomach. Once I had it secured, I was like, ‘Thank God.'”

Lewiston’s defense did a nice job down the stretch supporting its new keeper. The Blue Devils got back defensively and did a nice job blocking shots or clearing loose balls.

“A lot of the guys helped me during the game,” said Naji. “They’d be like, ‘You’re doing good.’ That helped me out.”

Lewiston came out flying in the opening minutes and had numerous opportunities. It wasn’t until 22:13 remained in the half that Ali scored his first goal, finishing off a Abdibaari Hersi pass.

“We came out with a certain renewed vigor because they had to cover for Shu’s inexperience,” said McGraw.

Mt. Blue tied the game at 10:52. Naji got caught out of the net and Akira Teruya put it home.

Lewiston made it 2-1 at 6:13 of the second half when Yusuf Yama controlled a loose ball and ripped a high shot under the crossbar. Mt. Blue got that back with Hart’s shot from midfeild.

“I feel great,” said a relieved Naji, who recieved cheers from his teammates and hugs from a half dozen female friends after the victory. “I can actually do homework now.”

kmills@sunjournal.com