Winning can be the ultimate positive reinforcement, so a 3-0 start could be just the right kind of confidence-builder for a young Lisbon boys’ soccer team.

The Greyhounds have opened the season with three straight victories, beating Oak Hill, Telstar and Winthrop. That kind of start is coveted by any team, but this Lisbon club has just one senior.

“You hope to get the wins early so you can build some momentum, especially being a young team,” said Lisbon coach Dan Sylvester.

This year’s Greyhounds are one of the youngest squads Sylvester has had in his seven years as coach. Johnny Yim is the only returning senior. There’s only a handful of juniors back as well, including Nate Bergeron, Austin Bedford, Nick Huston and Austin Fournier. Most of the squad is underclassmen, led by a promising group of sophomores that return — Josh Huston, Jacob Fusaro, Ryley Austin, Nick Lerette, Bradley Boulet and Troy Galarneau.

Most of those sophomores help anchor the defense and midfield. That’s been a key for the Greyhounds so far. Lisbon hasn’t allowed a goal yet this fall.

“We’ve struggled to finish a little bit, but we haven’t been scored on yet,” Sylvester said. “The defense is young. We’re trying to put the pieces together and see how they react to different situations.”

The 3-0 start has come despite the loss of a number of key players. Lisbon graduated a good group of veterans while the Greyhounds have also been hurt by injury. It has been a great struggle for a young team.

“The good thing is we’ve found some kids that belong in the right spots, where we have them now,” Sylvester said.

The Greyhounds will get tested this week. They play at Dirigo Monday and host Wiscasset Friday and Monmouth Saturday.

“There’s a lot of potential with this group,” Sylvester said. “Sometimes we get stale in our play, but maybe that’s just because we’re getting opportunities and we’re not finishing. For as young as we are, we’re right where we need to be.”

On a mission

It has been awhile since the Mountain Valley girls’ soccer team has been a factor in the MVC and in the playoffs, but the Falcons hope to change that this fall.

“We’re hoping. We’re looking for that,” said Mountain Valley coach Lynn Gould. “We want more wins than in the past and hopefully get into a playoff spot. Mountain Valley socccer hasn’t been up there in the standings. That’s one of our goals, to be up there and be recognized as a team that can be a contender.”

The Falcons have started the year 1-2 but are coming off a strong effort against St. Dom’s. Mountain Valley lost 3-1 but gave the Saints all they could handle. The Falcons also lost to unbeaten Monmouth 3-1 and blanked Mt. Abram 2-0.

“One of our big things is to work together as a team and come together as a team,” Gould said. “That’s been our big focus. They’ve been working really well together. It’s going to come together. We’re young. We’re only three games into the season. There’s still a long ways to go.”

The Falcons only won three games last fall but return 13 players from that team. That includes a solid group of upperclassmen that give the Falcons a solid defense and a balanced group on offense. Abby Parent and Samantha Higley are seniors anchoring the back while Adelle Oswald, Taylor Smart and Michele Hale are returning to the midfield.

Sarah Klein is a senior up front. Juniors Sydney Petrie and Jordyn Turner are also experienced on defense in front of junior keeper Karen Flaherty. Sophomores Ashley Russell and Abby Mazza are returning starters on the forward line. Junior Kellie Trenoweth and sophomore Grace Briggs are returning players as well.  Junior LeAnne McNally is new but helps fuel the offense, while Hannah Koch is another new starter in the midfield.

The Falcons are showing great potential and great determination in making this season a great one.

“They’re looking forward to it,” Gould said. “They really want to win. They’re really want to step it up. They know what they can do. They just have to bring it.”

Cougars win big one

The Mt. Blue girls remained unbeaten in a big way Saturday. The Cougars beat Mt. Ararat 1-0 in Topsham. It was the first time Mt. Blue have ever topped the Eagles on their home field.

“The win was big in our confidence department and a step towards making the playoffs,” said Mt. Blue coach Fred Conlogue. “I was able to play 19 girls in the game, so the majority of the team contributed to our success on the day.”

Eryn Doiron scored for the Cougars just 7:52 into the game. She weaved around a host of defenders for her seventh goal in three games for Mt. Blue (2-0-1).

From there, the Cougars defense did the job. Moesha Harrington, Sierra Hoes, Sarrah Cummings and Addie Brinkman were solid in the back, while Addie Schanz made 13 saves for the shutout.

“It was that the players were able to make adjustments to their strengths and work hard as a team to give our goalie the best possible chance to make the save,” said Conlogue. “Our goalie came up big all day long. Although we were outshot in the game, our passing and movement improved from the first start of the game until the end. I felt that we made great decisions in protecting the lead in the second half.”

Mt. Blue had last beaten Mt. Ararat at home in 2012. That was the first-ever win over the Eagles. The Cougars finished fifth in the Class A East standings that year. Mt. Blue is currently second in Eastern A with the win.