ORONO, Maine — Boston University senior field hockey back Katie Bernatchez from Belgrade had been looking forward to Monday’s game against the University of Maine.
The former Messalonskee High School of Oakland standout was not only returning to her home state, she was also renewing a rivalry against the Maine trio of Jessica Skillings, Nicole Sevey and Adriana Martineau, who played for Skowhegan High School.
Messalonskee was never able to wrest an Eastern Maine Class A championship from Skowhegan but Bernatchez is 2-0 against Maine in her career at Boston University after a 2-1 overtime victory on Monday.
“It was like playing in high school again,” Bernatchez said after Monday’s triumph. “It was so much fun.”
The Terriers, their parents and coaches were treated to a lobster bake at the Bernatchez household on Belgrade Lake on Sunday and had the opportunity to enjoy the lake on a hot day.
Boston University had beaten Hofstra (N.Y.) 6-3 in Orono on Saturday after Maine had topped Hofstra 3-2 on Friday.
“It was a big week for me,” said Bernatchez, who played club field hockey for the Waterville-based Maine Majestix, which was founded by her parents, Brian and Amy, in 2006. “I know all of the Maine girls through Majestix. And I got a lot of friends to come to the game through Facebook.”
Skillings, Sevey and Martineau all played for the Majestix, as did other Black Bear players Madison Cummings of Belfast, Marissa Shaw of Plymouth, Lynnae Luettich from Belgrade and Hayley Marshall from Wales.
The former Majestix players often work out with the current Majestix players when they are on break from college and Bernatchez and some of the Black Bears played together this summer.
“I played with her this summer and it was good to see her again and play against her today,” said UMaine’s Skillings.
Amy (Corbett) Bernatchez, who played field hockey for the Black Bears and graduated from Maine in 1991, said she and her husband obviously wanted BU to win, but added that “it was so much fun to see all the kids [from UMaine] who played for us at Majestix.”
She also noted that there were a lot of current Majestix players at the game and that the college players who previously played for the club serve as role models to them.
Bernatchez played in her 50th game for BU on Monday.
“Katie has been awesome,” said BU coach Sally Starr. “She is a great kid and a great leader. She is a solid hockey player from a wonderful family.”
“My four years at BU have been awesome,” Bernatchez said. “It has gone by so fast. I can’t believe I just played my last game at Maine. It has been a great experience. I’ve played a lot of different roles and I’ve learned so much.”
Her sister, Kristy Bernatchez, plays left back for No. 2 North Carolina.