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COLLEGE CONNECTIONS

Jolicoeur making up for late start

Standout at Messalonskee in her first season at Thomas

By Matt DiFilippo mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Kiley Jolicoeur says she is aggressive, both as a lacrosse player and a person.

"I'm pretty outspoken," Jolicoeur said. "I grew up with boys. Aggressive. Outspoken. I say what's on my mind. I guess that translates to playing in the field."

Jolicoeur says the right thing often enough that she was voted captain of the Thomas College women's lacrosse team this season. That's nothing notable, except that Jolicoeur, an Oakland native and junior at Thomas, is in her first season on the team.

"I was working, and I kind of took that over lacrosse," Jolicoeur said. "This year, I really missed it, so I decided to come back."

Thomas still has a young program, so coach Andrea Thebarge estimates half the players on the team didn't play lacrosse in high school. This means that Jolicoeur, a standout at Messalonskee High School, is not only a go-to player on the field, but is also a go-to player for instruction.

"I think she's a great role model for the younger players," Thebarge said. "She helped out a lot in preseason, for the kids who didn't quite understand the game or have the skill, just trying to get them up to par, even on her own time."

Through nine games, Jolicoeur had scored 29 of the Terriers' 64 goals. She's had seven goals in a game twice and six goals in another. In a recent game against the University of Maine at Farmington, she fired in two free position shots before the goalie could react.

"She has the ability to go coast-to-coast, playing defense, come up with the ball, and beat everybody down the field and put it in," Thebarge said. "And she has speed. She can cradle and get through traffic without losing it."

Thomas had a 2-7 record entering the weekend and was 0-4 in the North Atlantic Conference. What Jolicoeur sees is a young team that is learning to play together.

"I didn't play last year, but I know that we've gotten so much better and improved so much," Jolicoeur said. "I think that's really important, because everyone's been working together really well."

The lacrosse season is a short one in Maine, and Thomas will play its last regular season game Tuesday at home against UMF. The 12-game season goes too quickly, and Jolicoeur admits she regrets not being there for it the last two years.

"I kind of wish that I did play freshman and sophomore year, but nothing I can do about it now," Jolicoeur said. "I'm really glad I'm playing this year. I'm definitely going to play next year."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com