The Waterville-based Maine Majestix Under-16 field hockey team will return to the National Club Championships in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, next month.
The Majestix, who finished 11th last year, are among 16 teams in the event. They earned an at-large berth after finishing third at the Region 1-4 Tournament held two weekends ago in Providence, Rhode Island.
Head coach Amy Bernatchez, who is assisted by Husson University coach Maddie Hoeppner, said that the top two teams from each regional earn spots in the nationals. She successfully pleaded her case to USA Field Hockey for an at-large slot.
“I thought we were deserving,” said Bernatchez, whose team went 5-1 in the Region 1-4 Tournament but lost to Lasting Legacy of New York 1-0 in the semifinals.
They had beaten Lasting Legacy in pool play.
Maine beat the Wizards of Massachusetts 3-1 in the third-place game. The Majestix outscored their opponents 18-4 in six games.
“We exceeded expectations because we weren’t able to practice as a full group. It was so hard this spring because a lot of the girls play lacrosse or softball or run track. They’re all so busy,” said Bernatchez.
She said she was concerned about her team because they often scrimmaged the Majestix Under-19 team, and the “best Under-19 team we’ve ever had” shut them down.
“I was getting discouraged because we couldn’t move the ball through the middle,” said Bernatchez, who was consoled by her husband, Brian, who is the founder and president of the Majestix.
“He said we were going to be good and we were,” said Bernatchez. “The girls rose to the occasion. They had great chemistry with each other. … They had a lot of fun.”
Bernatchez said her team received balanced scoring from five or six players. Messalonskee of Oakland’s Kaitlyn Smith had a hat trick against the Wizards and led the way, according to Bernatchez.
Oakland’s Josie Varney, who played as a freshman at St. Paul’s School in Concord, New Hampshire, was their most influential midfielder.
Bernatchez said Messalonskee midfielder Autumn Littlefield had an exceptional tournament, Mt. Blue of Farmington’s Rebecca Harmon made a smooth transition from midfield to defense and was the cornerstone of the back line, and eighth-graders Lexi Lewis of Lawrence High School of Fairfield and Brooke Richards of Belfast shone.
Lewis was a forward and scored a few goals, and Richards was the goalie.
Midfielders Weslee Littlefield of Winslow and Mo Hajduk of Winthrop and defender Amy Gaiero of Belfast headlined a quality supporting cast.
Bernatchez said Autumn Littlefield and Varney were chosen among the nation’s top 50 field hockey players in the class of 2019 by Max Field Hockey. They were among those who played on last year’s U-16 National Club Championship team along with Gaiero, Smith, Hajduk and Kelsey Mehuren of Belfast.
The first-year players include Richards, Lewis, Weslee Littlefield, Skowhegan’s Lizzie York, Mackenzie McConnell and Julia Steeves; Makenzie Handley and Macie Larouche of Lawrence; Cony High of Augusta’s Sophie Whitney; Erin Lachance of Lewiston; Mt. Blue’s Harmon and Brooke Bolduc and Winthrop’s Katie Perkins.
They will practice twice per week beginning next week.
Bernatchez said the most important thing for the tournament is for the girls “to show pride for Maine field hockey, show well and showcase what they can do without being intimidated.”