Figuring out how to unite the community through cultural and religious differences was not an easy process, but at the heart of it all was soccer. Over a 10-year span, Lewiston became home to nearly 7,000 African immigrants - a massive shift that wasn’t necessarily welcomed by all of its residents. The team’s journey is chronicled by Amy Bass in her book One Goal, which was recently reissued in a paperback edition and was also optioned by Netflix for an upcoming project.

This success did not come without adversity and finally came to a head during the 2015 season, when the Blue Devils won their first-ever state championship. Largely made up of African immigrants, the Lewiston Blue Devils have won three out of the last four state championships, uniting a chasmed blue collar community in the process. Its sheer power is highlighted in communities across the globe, including the small town of Lewiston, Maine - where the local high school soccer team has made an impact beyond the chalk lines of the pitch. Soccer is a worldwide phenomenon for a reason. We sit down with the Emmy-winning writer to discuss the fascinating stories behind the book’s characters and soccer’s natural healing properties. Chronicling the ups and downs of the refugee-led Lewiston High School soccer team’s run to a state championship, Amy Bass’ One Goal has been lauded by critics and sports fanatics alike as a masterful work of storytelling.

One Goal by Amy Bass