Maineiax Coaching Staff

Maineiax takes great pride in giving you the best coaching possible. We have multiple college coaches, elite high school coaches and college players on staff to help you grow your game throughout the year. We are the premier club program in Maine ensuring that you or your daughter are receiving the top coaching in the state while meeting new friends and having a blast! Meet our coaches below. 

BRETT ALLEN

CO-OWNER/BOYS DIRECTOR 
TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAMS

A 1996 graduate of St. Lawrence University, Brett has a master’s degree in kinesiology with a focus in athletic administration/coaching from James Madison University.

Brett was the head women’s lacrosse coach at Bates College from 2006-2021 after serving as the team’s assistant coach during the 2005 season and earning an appointment as Bates’ head volleyball coach in the summer of 2004. Brett was directly involved in the women’s lacrosse team’s recruiting efforts as well as implementing practice plans and developing and adjusting team strategy throughout the season. Prior to arriving at Bates, Brett was an assistant women’s lacrosse and volleyball coach at Washington and Lee University in Virginia for two years.

He has led the Bates program to seven appearances in the NESCAC Championships while also leading them to a Division III Top 20 ranking in each of those years. He was named the 2016 NESCAC Coach of the Year. He has coached six All-Americans, including the 2015 and 2016 Division III Goalie of the Year, and each of his teams has been honored as an IWLCA Honor Squad (team GPA above 3.0). He has served as the Division III National All-American Committee Chair and on the NCAA Division III Championship Committee.

In 2010, Brett became Co-Founder of collEdge Camps, while also becoming a Co-Owner of Maineiax Lacrosse Club in 2014, the premier girl’s lacrosse club in Maine. Brett and his wife, Heidi, also own two athletic facilities, the Maine Athletic Complex (the MAC) in Portland and All Pro Sports Center in Waterville. They live in Cumberland with their three sons. 

PETER LASAGNA

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAMS

Peter Lasagna is currently an assistant coach at Colby College. He was previously the head coach at Bates college for 18 years. He is a three-time NESCAC Coach of the Year award-winner and was named New England Coach of the Year in 2015. After leading his team to a 14-0 start in 2017 (including a perfect 10-0 mark in NESCAC), the Bobcats were ranked No. 1 in Division III for two weeks. Coach Lasagna has led Bates to seven appearances in the NESCAC Championships and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. He was named the “Walter Alessi Man of the Year” by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association in 2017 and also earned NEILA’s Division III Co-Coach of the Year award. He has coached eight Bates players who were named USILA All-Americans and one player who currently plays for the Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse.

Coach Lasagna graduated from Brown University where he spent 18 years of coaching before coming to Bates, including eight as head coach. At Brown, he led the Bears to three NCAA Division I championship tournaments, including an appearance in the national semifinals in 1994 and the quarterfinals in 1995. He was named Division I Coach of the Year by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association in 1994 and by the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association in both 1994 and 1995.

In 2002, Coach Lasagna was inducted into the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame, and in 2011 he was inducted into the Greater Rochester (N.Y.) Lacrosse Hall of Fame. Coach Lasagna is also a well-known voice in the collegiate lacrosse community, as he has also been the back-page columnist for the award-winning magazine Inside Lacrosse since 2001. (Archive of Peter Lasagna columns)

RALPH NELSON

TRAVEL COACH, SKILLS PROGRAMS & SOCIAL MEDIA

Ralph Nelson is currently the Varsity Assistant and Physical Education teacher at the Waynflete School in Portland. In Ralphs 4 seasons as offensive coordinator Waynflete has outscored their opponents 665-311 and has won 3 consecutive state championships (21,22,23) and has graduated 2 All Americans, and 5 1st team all conf. offensive players. Coach Nelson spent the 2017-2019 seasons with the University of Southern Maine men’s lacrosse program, serving as the assistant coach focusing on the attackmen and offense. In 2018 USM made it to the LEC Semi finals for the first time in 9 years, losing to Eastern Connecticut State University by 1 goal. Prior to joining the USM coaching staff, he spent two seasons as the head Boys Lacrosse Coach at Saint Dominic Academy (Lewiston, Maine). From 2013-2015, Coach Nelson served as a varsity assistant and JV coach for Yarmouth High School (Yarmouth, Maine) making two trips to the state championships in 2014, and 2015, as well as being an assistant lacrosse coach at St. Joseph’s College (Standish, Maine). He has coached high school club lacrosse with Team DIRIGO as well as True Lacrosse National and regional teams in Maryland, California, Delaware, Florida, and Utah.

Ralph is a 2007 graduate of Cheverus High School and graduated from The University of Maine in 2013 with a degree in Kinesiology and Physical Education. While at Maine Ralph was the President and Captain of the Mens Lacrosse team being named an MCLA PCLL All conference attackman in 2012, and 2013. Ralph resides in Westbrook with his wife Megan and 4yo daughter Greta.

DAVE BERIAU

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS COACH

A 2009 graduate of Elmira College, Dave was a four year contributor at multiple positions, conference sportsmanship award winner and team captain. After college he was an assistant coach at Falmouth Academy (MA) where they won the conference title for the first time in 8 years. He started his college coaching career as an assistant at Colby College and then moved to UMass Dartmouth for two seasons where he helped lead the Corsairs to their first playoff win in 8 years. He was named head coach at Saint Joseph’s College in 2013 where he led the Monks for three seasons and also worked in the admissions office.
 
In addition to coaching at the college level he was assistant director and coach with Cape Cod Lacrosse and coached with Houlagans Lacrosse, IAS Lacrosse & Coacheco Youth Lacrosse in Dover, NH.
 
Dave is now the Vice President at Back Bay Youth Lacrosse where he coaches and focuses on growing enrollment. In 2022, he won a USA Lacrosse grant for 60 lacrosse sticks and to participate in the USA Lacrosse Pick Up & Play event. Since this event he has organized events to introduce lacrosse to hundreds of kids through clinics and while volunteering at various Portland schools. 

In addition, Coach Beriau has coached with several club organizations, Cape Cod Lacrosse, Houlagans Lacrosse, IAS Lacrosse & Cocheco Youth Lacrosse in Dover, NH.

DAVE BARTON

TRAVEL COACH 

Dave works in our skills clinics and our Travel programs. Dave is the head coach at Falmouth High School. In Daves time at Falmouth he has been to 3 state Championships in Class A and has coached numerous All Americans and All Conf. players. 

He grew up in Massachusetts, attending Boston College High School. Dave played four years of Division 1 lacrosse at the University of Vermont, where he was a three year starter and all-conference goalie for the Catamounts.

GAVIN BEGONIA

TRAVEL COACH

Gavin is is from Gorham, Maine and graduated from Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA. He is a rising sophomore midfielder for The Ohio State and is in his first year coaching with Travel and our Maine Elite Boys teams. 

CONNER BLAIR

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAMS

Connor is in his second season with Maineiax currently coaching our travel programs. Connor is a 2018 Graduate from Thomas University where he played Close defense. A Native of North Hartland, VT, Connor registered 104 GB’s in his three years a as a starting close defenseman and in addition 65 CTO. 

NICK JAMES

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAMS

Nick James is from Portland, Maine and is a 2017 Graduate from Deering High School. Nick currently plays for the University of Southern Maine and is also in his second season with the Maine Northmen box lacrosse club of the IBLL.

Lacrosse has been Nicks passion since he started playing and has spent countless hours playing for teams, practicing on his own and trying to learn from every player and coach he has worked with. Nicks goal is to pass his wealth of knowledge to the next generation of players in Maine.  

ANDREW JAMES

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAM

Andrew James is a rising Junior at University of Southern Maine and was named the Offensive player of the year in 2023 season. During the 2023 season, Andrew scored 16 goals and had eight assists for 24 total points. He recorded multiple points in six games with four multi-goal games  including scoring six goals and two assists in a win over Husson. 

Andrew coaches our 2027 team and has coached our skills clinics and programming at the MAC. 

SAM LANE

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAMS

Sam Lane is currently the director and head development coach for Windham Youth Lacrosse. Originally from Fairfield, CT, Sam has been playing and coaching lacrosse for over 25 years. Since moving to Maine in 2011 am has coached with multiple town rec programs, multiple club programs, founded the Lax Pros indoor box program, owned and directed Team DIRIGO, directed multiple town lacrosse rec camps, was the head head Mens lacrosse coach and winningest lacrosse coach at USM for 8 years, and played with various regional Mens teams as well as the Maine Northmen indoor lacrosse team.

Growing up Sam was fortunate to have been coached by some of the best coaches and players in the world, which has helped develop Sams coaching style: engaging and outgoing with high expectations, all while having as much fun as possible. 

Sam graduated from Washington College in 2006 and resides in Windham with his wife and four sons.

KILLIAN LATHROP

TRAVEL COACH

Killian is in his second summer with Maineiax coaching the travel programs and Maine Elite teams. Killian Lathrop is a rising senior and a midfielder for Bryant University Mens Lacrosse. He is a finance  major with a concentration in entrepreneurship and a minor in communications. He graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School in 2020, where he played soccer, lacrosse and alpine skiing. At Cape, Killian was captain of the soccer, lacrosse, and ski team his senior year.

TIERNAN LATHROP

SKILLS COACH

Tiernan is in his first season as a Travel coach and Maine Elite coach for Maineiax. Tiernan is a Graduate of Cape Elizabeth High School and is a 3x State Champion and 2x All American. He is currently a rising redshirt sophomore for Bryant University. 

ZION MERCADO

TRAVEL COACH

Zion is in his second season coaching Maineiax Travel teams. Zion hails from Massabesic High School and is a graduate of Anna Maria College. While at Anna Maria, Zion tallied 27 pts in 44 games as midfielder.  

DAVID PHELPS

TRAVEL COACH

COMING SOON

SAM SHAW

TRAVEL COACH

Sam Shaw is a Graduate from Portland High School and is in his first season coaching travel with the Maineiax. Sam played lacrosse at Elmira University as an attack/middy and was Rookie of the Year for the Soaring Eagles in 2019. 

KADE STROUT

TRAVEL COACH

Kade is in his second year with Maineiax travel. A 2018 graduate from Thomas College within sport management, Kade is almost complete with his MBA as well. 
 
Kade Has been the Head Coach for the NYA Middle School Program for the past 2 seasons. Prior to coaching, Kade was a 4 year player at Thomas College, where he was a captain for his last 2 seasons totaling 27 pts in 48 games played with the Terriers. 
 

JACKSON WILLIAMS

TRAVEL COACH & SKILLS PROGRAMS

Jackson Williams was a  faceoff/midfielder on the Bates College Men’s Lacrosse team graduating in 2023 where he studied economics and anthropology. He graduated from Greely High School in 2019 where he was a four-year letterman in football, hockey, and lacrosse, as well as a member of the Athletic Advisory Board. At Greely, Jackson captained the hockey and lacrosse teams his junior and senior year, as well as the football team his senior year. He led the hockey team to a state championship in 2019, and the lacrosse teams to the state championship game in 2018 and 2019.

In high school, Jackson was a decorate student-athlete and during his senior season was chosen as the Portland Forcaster’s Greely male winter and spring athlete of the year, a member of the Portland Press Herald’s All-State team and a Top 15 player to watch. On the field, Jackson was named an All-American (2019), 1st team all-conference (2018,2019), an underclassmen all-star (2018), and a senior all-star (2019). Jackson played club lacrosse for Team DIRIGO and the Maine Mussels.