Lewiston, Maine, Celebrates the Blue Devils’ Amazing Championship Overtime Win

It's just what Lewiston needed – something to celebrate.

Let's set the stage. Deering vs the Blue Devils for the Class A boys soccer state championship on Saturday at Messalonskee High School. It's all tied up 2-2. With just over a minute left in overtime, Tegra Mbele gets his second and most important goal of the game: the winning goal.

He told the Sun Journal,

It’s very happy for me to score two goals. It brings me joy to score in a final like this.

He had the help of his teammate and translator Aristarque Meli to express himself. There was no need for a translator for the joy that the win brought. Not just to a team that picked up their 4th state championship, but for a city that had its core shaken just a couple of weeks ago.

Lewiston's goalie Payson Goyette told the Sun Journal,

We have been saying the past few weeks, ‘Do it for the city.'” It feels great to win for the city and bring some good to the city.

It's so true! I know that it's a hard loss for Deering. Getting to the championships and leaving empty-handed is never a good feeling. But this wasn't just a state championship, it was a win a hurting city needed. While the Blue Devils were securing their place in Maine for soccer, the Sexiest Man Alive, Patrick Dempsey, was raising money for his home state in a ball field nearby.

As we continue to mourn the loss of 18 Mainers whose lives were taken in the most horrific way, we look to the community to hold Lewiston and help it through. That's the silver lining in all of this awfulness. The community is doing just that. From fundraisers to blood donations to softball games to celebrating any win, Lewiston knows we've got its back.

Congratulations, Blue Devils, for an amazing win! Thanks for letting us smile and celebrate with you!