RICHMOND — The only traveling the Buckfield boys’ soccer team wants to be doing this tournament season is on a trek to Presque Isle.

The Bucks have earned the top seed in the Class D South standings with a 13-1 record, meaning they will host all their regional playoff games. If they have the good fortune of reaching the state finals, then they hit the road for Presque Isle. This is the first time Buckfield has been the top seed since going 13-1 in 1991.

“I know we’re very tough to beat at home,” Buckfield coach Kyle Rines said. “I’m very excited that for the first time in a long time, we’ll get the chance to play three games at home and hopefully play for a championship.”

The Bucks reached the regional final last fall, but lost at Richmond. If there’s a rematch, the Bucks have the comforts of home this time around. Buckfield completed a regular-season sweep of the Bobcats, a perennial power in Class D and the defending state champions.

Buckfield has been trying to close the gap between itself and Richmond. This year, the Bucks went a step further.

“It’s a credit to the kids,” said Rines, whose team opens the playoffs with a quarterfinal game against the prelim winner between Rangeley and Pine Tree. “They’ve worked every summer since I started coaching. They’ve put the work in. They’ve committed themselves. It pays off. One of our things is that if you put in the work, you get results. If you increase your effort, you increase your results.”

Eighth-ranked Rangeley (3-7-1) lost to Pine Tree in the regular season, 4-1.

Another local top seed is no stranger to the top ranking. After going 13-0-1 last year and earning the top spot in Eastern A, the Lewiston boys’ went 14-0 this year. The Blue Devils have been on a mission since losing to Cheverus in the state game last fall.

“They can’t wait to get started,” Lewiston coach Mike McGraw said. “We’ve been playing almost every other day the whole season. Now we have to wait a week before we play. So they’re itching to play.”

Lewiston’s seniors have posted a four-year mark of 49-2-5 while winning 39 consecutive regular-season games. They’ve been a driving force behind a team that scored 100 goals in 14 games.

“They went as far as they could last year and didn’t accomplish the goal by beating Cheverus and bringing home the Gold Ball,” McGraw said. “They’re good. They work well together. They see what’s out there. They’ve been there and been denied. So I think there’s a huge focus to play really well.”

Lewiston could end up hosting Edward Little in the quarterfinals. The Red Eddies (4-6-4) host Mt. Ararat in a prelim Saturday. EL tied the Eagles 0-0 to open the regular season. Lewiston swept the regular season games with EL, 6-0 and 6-1.

In Class B South, Mountain Valley (12-2) produced another strong season but now tests its mettle against a B field full of Western Maine Conference powers. The Falcons, who lost in the MVC championship game to Hall-Dale 1-0,  lost in the Western C semifinals last fall. The Falcons will host the winner of the Gray-New Gloucester (8-5-1) and Lincoln Academy prelim. The Patriots lost three of their last four games but still could be a contender.

Also in the B prelims, Leavitt (4-8-2) will play at sixth-ranked York.

In Class C South, St. Dom’s won six straight to end the regular season. The Saints (11-2-1) finished third behind Hall-Dale and Waynflete. St. Dom’s draws Sacopee Valley in the quarterfinals.

Monmouth (11-3) finished fourth overall and will host a tough quarterfinal against North Yarmouth Academy.

In a prelim game this weekend, Lisbon (8-6) hosts Traip on Saturday. Mt. Abram (4-9-1) earned the final playoff spot and lost at Carrabec on Thursday.

Girls

In Class A North, local teams claimed three of the final four spots, including defending Class A North champion Edward Little (6-5-3), which will host Lewiston (5-8-1) in a preliminary game Friday. EL finished the regular season strong, going 4-1-1 in its final six games, including last week’s win over the Blue Devils. It will be the sixth time in two years the two rivals have met.

“We seem to be peaking at just the right time and with all aspects of our game being improved from the start of the season,” said EL girls’ coach Craig Latuscha, whose team started the year 1-4-1 but finished 5-2-1 while scoring 23 goals and allowing just seven with four shutouts. “Our last game against Brewer, a 5-0 win against a team that was 8-5, was one of the best efforts of the season.  The girls are excited and ready for the challenge against a team that is full of seniors who play with a lot of energy.”

Seventh-ranked EL and the 10th-seeded Blue Devils split in the regular season. EL edged the Blue Devils in an overtime quarterfinal win last fall. Lewiston won the previous meeting this year, beating the Red Eddies in overtime in Auburn.

On Saturday, Mt. Blue (7-6-1) plays at Brewer (8-6) in a prelim. The Witches beat the Cougars in the regular season, 3-1. Mt. Blue finished the regular season with three straight wins, including a 2-1 thriller over Messalonskee.

In Class B South, four local teams reached the tournament. Oak Hill (9-5) finished fifth while Mountain Valley (8-5-1) and Leavitt (6-4-4) followed in sixth and seventh. All three face prelim tests Friday before the challenge of Western Maine Conference teams in the quarterfinals. The Raiders host Fryeburg while Mountain Valley hosts Gray-New Gloucester (6-6-2). Leavitt hosts Lake Region.

In Class C South, St. Dom’s and Monmouth were among the top teams all season. The Saints, coming off a win in the MVC championship game, landed third at 11-2-1 while Monmouth finished fourth (10-2-2). That means tough matchups for both squads.  The Saints will host their old rivals from Waynflete, while Monmouth hosts Hall-Dale, which beat the Mustangs in overtime late in the regular season.

Lisbon (8-6) finished the season with some momentum, winning four of its last six games. Those included wins over Madison and St. Dom’s. The Greyhounds will have to get past Carrabec in a prelim first. The Greyhounds beat the Cobras 4-2 in the regular season.

“We were able to beat two of the top teams in our conference,” Lisbon coach Jake Gentle said. “It’s good motivation for the girls, knowing that if we show up and play the best way we can, we have a chance.”

In another prelim, Mt. Abram (4-7-3) hosts Traip.

In Class D South, Rangeley finished strong, winning four straight and seven of its final eight, to land the second seed behind Richmond. The 8-3 Lakers will host Pine Tree in the quarterfinals. Rangeley blanked Pine Tree in the regular season, 5-0.

Buckfield (10-4) finished as the third seed. The Bucks host Greenville in the quarterfinals.

kmills@sunjournal.com