Lewiston High School’s field hockey goalie may have been a bit tentative a year ago. Only a sophomore on a team laced with seniors, and playing for a program still searching for that one, breakthrough season, can have that effect on even the most confident of young athletes.

In a year’s time, Labonte has become the team’s field general, coordinating defensive coverage from the goal mouth and consistently communicating with her teammates while becoming a mentor to younger players on the squad.

“I definitely think this year it got easier being a junior,” Labonte said. ” Last year, being a sophomore, it was tougher because some of the upperclassmen didn’t want to listen to me. This year, I’m working a lot closer with my defense.”

“She probably is one of the most improved players on the team overall,” Lewiston coach Randy Richardson said. “To have your goalie be one of the most improved, season to season, game to game, that’s where it all begins. The cliche is that the attack begins with the goalie save. She’s absolutely proving that to be true.”

Labonte’s first win of the season was a 1-0 shutout of Brunswick on Monday, during which she faced 10 shots and stared down as many penalty corners.

“I can’t sit back, I have to proactive with those,” Labonte said of facing one of the more dangerous situations in the game. “I have to receive the shot, and I have to be in the best position I can to do that.”

Labonte began playing the position in seventh grade, progressing to the varsity level a year ago as a sophomore. Being a vocal leader on the field wasn’t a first instinct for her, but, “it came,” she said. “I’ve been in goal since the seventh grade, so it’s just progressed over the years.”

It’s paid off in terms of intra-team communication and trust among teammates, particularly the defenders with whom she works closely.

“There is another defensive player who’s as key to her confidence and success as any other player,” Richardson said. “That’s the center back, Caila Coady. Kayla has eight saves of her own in three games. She’s the goalie behind the goalie.

“Obviously it’s all Kaylynn, ultimately, but without defensive help, it’s much harder,” Richardson added.

“The willingness to work together as a team,” Labonte said. That’s huge this year. I have to communicate more with the defense, helping to position them better. Definitely that’s going to be big this season.”

Having a solid goalie also helps the forward and midfield lines, giving them more freedom to take a risk every now and then, and be more aggressive on offense.

“She absolutely gives us confidence, Kaylynn is a very good goalie, and she’s only going to get better,” Kasey Talarico, who scored the lone goal for the Blue Devils on Monday, said.

Another role Labonte has assumed this year is that of mentor, particularly for junior varsity goalie Isho Mohamed. It’s a role Labonte likes, and Richardson is enamored by the team dynamic.

“Isho is a prime example of that,” Richardson said. “She stopped a penalty stroke at Lawrence. She did it brilliantly, and I asked her, ‘Was it luck? You can tell me.’ She said, ‘I was watching her feet and the angle of the stick.’ I said, ‘Where’s you get that from?'”

Mohamed’s response made Richardson smile.

“She said, ‘Oh, Kaylynn told me,'” Richardson recalled. “That’s exactly what we want. That was great.”

Even better for Richardson and the Blue Devils? Labonte, as a junior, still has nearly two seasons with the team.

“Let’s hope so,” Richardson said. “Goalies, I am convinced are born, they are not made. They’re qualitatively different in terms of their interest in the position. Kaylynn is a goalie, and she has the potential to be a very good one.”