BRUNSWICK — Lewiston got an early jump on Brunswick and cruised to a season-opening 12-8 victory in a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference girls’ lacrosse game Thursday.

The Blue Devils won eight of the first 11 midfield draws to open an 8-3 halftime lead.

“Kristina Blais and Morgan Eliasen are both really adept at the draw,” Lewiston Coach Skip Capone said. “That’s key, and at one stretch it allowed us to run off three or four goals in a row. It’s a lot easier to play from (out) front than from behind.”

“It took us a little bit to figure out what their style was in draw controls,” Brunswick Coach Alex Sullivan said.

Play was just about even in the second half when Brunswick won five of the 10 draws, but the Dragons were never able to get closer than four goals.

“Brunswick is a pretty good team,” said Capone, a former Lewiston football coach in his second season as the girls’ lacrosse coach. “They’re definitely in the playoff hunt, and it’s a good step for us to start the (season) on a real positive note.”

Both teams qualified for the Eastern Class A tourney last year but lost in the first round.

“We’ve been working so hard for the past four weeks and the girls were ready for this game,” said Sullivan, in her first season as coach at her alma mater. “The girls were jazzed up and the effort was 100 percent.”

Emily Brochu scored five goals for Lewiston. Blais added three goals and an assist, and Eliasen and Dacia Dall each scored twice for the Blue Devils, who held a 30-15 edge in shots.

Anna MacMillan led the Dragons with four goals. Angelica Boyle contributed two goals and an assist, Sarah Judd had a goal and an assist, and Sydney Anderson added a goal.

Paige Fontaine, a senior who was an all-state hockey goalie, made seven saves in her first start as a lacrosse goalie for Lewiston.

“She did a very good job for her first time,” Capone said. “We’re very, very happy with her.”

The Devils reeled off four straight goals to take a 4-1 lead after less than seven minutes.

Brunswick went nearly eight minutes without a shot before Boyle converted Sarah Judd’s feed midway through the half.

“On defense we did a real good job of keeping the ball outside the (8-yard line),” Capone said.

The two teams will meet again Tuesday night at Lewiston.

“We know their style of play now so we’re going to alter ours and match it,” Sullivan said.

The Dragons missed several players because of injuries and family vacations.

“We’re down at least three of our starters,” Sullivan said. “We’re missing some players, especially on defense.”

Sullivan expects Brunswick will be at full strength the next time the teams play.