Athletic directors at high schools throughout southern Maine are taking advantage of the region’s artificial turf fields to make sure their boys’ and girls’ lacrosse teams stay on schedule during an extremely wet spring.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to be working with (athletic directors) who understand the situation,” said Joe Kilmartin, athletic director of McAuley High. “We’re all doing the best we can to play on the most playable field possible.”

Last Tuesday, the Lions were supposed to host Sanford on their Portland campus field. Instead, the game was rescheduled for 7:15 p.m. today on the turf at Memorial Field at nearby Deering.

During the past week, the use of turf fields by a wide variety of high school teams has resulted in some unusual locales for some home games.

“When we run into these situations, and we’ve all been there, we’re there to help each other out,” Cape Elizabeth Athletic Director Jeff Thoreck said.

Last Friday, Gorham hosted Scarborough in a girls’ lacrosse game on the turf at Hannaford Field in Cape Elizabeth.

Cape’s home field was available because its boys’ team played a game against NYA on a turf field in Yarmouth and the girls’ squad practiced on natural grass to prepare for a game at Fryeburg Academy last Saturday.

“People in athletics all realize the same boat we are in, and they help each other out,” Thornton Academy Athletic Director Gary Stevens said.

Last week, Thornton Academy hosted South Portland in a boys’ game and Massabesic in a girls’ game on the new turf field at the University of New England in Biddeford. Monday, the Trojans hosted Cheverus in a girls’ game at Memorial Field.

Lacrosse teams from Wells and Bonny Eagle also have played recent lacrosse games at the UNE facility.

Last Thursday night, Waynflete moved its home game to the turf field at Falmouth in order to play a girls’ lacrosse game against the Yachtsmen.

Last Friday, Cheverus moved its home game against Windham to Memorial Field as part of a boys’ lacrosse doubleheader also featuring a game between crosstown rivals Portland and Deering.

In the southern part of the state, turf fields that can host boys’ and girls’ lacrosse games are located at the University of New England and Bowdoin College, Fitzpatrick Stadium and Memorial Field in Portland, at North Yarmouth Academy and at high schools in Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Scarborough and Yarmouth.

And help is on the way. Work is under way on the installation of a synthetic surface at Hill Stadium at Thornton Academy in Saco.

“Next year, we won’t be in this rental mode,” Stevens said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to help out other schools.”

 

DESPITE ITS 8-7 overtime loss to Cape Elizabeth last week, Falmouth still leads the Maine high school boys’ lacrosse ratings.

Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Lewiston, Deering, Messalonskee, Portland, Yarmouth, Kennebunk and St. Dom’s of Auburn round out the top 10.

 

BEST BETS: The top three girls’ lacrosse teams in Western Class A will battle it out for the region’s top spot in the Heal points.

Tonight, No. 3 Scarborough visits No. 2 Kennebunk. Thursday, Kennebunk visits top-ranked Gorham.

In boys’ lacrosse, Cape Elizabeth visits Yarmouth in a key Class B game Friday night.

Staff Writer Paul Betit can be contacted at 791-6424 or at:

pbetit@pressherald.com

Twitter: PaulBetit