Last year, Skowhegan lost both regular-season games to Messalonskee of Oakland but beat the Eagles 2-1 in overtime in the Class A North championship game to claim their 15th consecutive regional crown.
The Indians went on to top Thornton Academy of Saco 3-1 for their 13th state title in 15 years.
Maine Sports Hall of Fame coach Paula Doughty’s Indians (12-3-1) lost two regular-season games to Mt. Blue of Farmington this fall but ousted the undefeated and top-seeded Cougars 1-0 in Monday’s semifinals to earn yet another matchup with Messalonskee (14-2) in Wednesday’s 3:30 p.m. regional final at Hampden Academy.
Third seed Belfast (15-1) and No. 4 Lawrence of Fairfield (12-4) meet in the Class B final at 7:30 p.m. and the Class C championship game will pit defending state champ Maine Central Institute of Pittsfield (14-2), the top seed, against No. 3 Winthrop (13-2-1) at 5:30 p.m.
Doughty said earning playoff wins over Oxford Hills of South Paris (4-0) and Mt. Blue is an “achievement in itself. This was not an easy ride. I’m super proud of our girls.”
The Indians used a Maliea Kelso goal and penalty stroke save from Leah Savage to upend Mt. Blue.
Doughty acknowledged that her teams always seem to peak in the playoffs.
“Our kids play better in the tournament. They dig in. The players, coaches and our field hockey community, including our alums, raise it up a notch during the tournaments,” she said.
Doughty said her team doesn’t have any superstars, but they “really work hard and support each other.”
Co-captains Rylie Mullin and Haley Thebarge are the reliable mainstays in the back and the scoring can come from any number of players including sophomores Kelso, Mariah Dunbar and Lizzie York and freshman Alexis Michonski.
Katie McLaughlin’s Messalonskee team features four players who have committed to Division I schools in seniors Ally Corbett (St. Joseph’s) and Lydia Dexter (University of Maine), junior Haley Lowell (Boston University) and sophomore Autumn Littlefield (Boston College).
In Class B, Jan (Holmes) Jackson’s Belfast Lions look to win their first regional title since 2012 against a resilient Lawrence team that has been outshot by a sizeable margin but still won its two playoff games in double overtime, including a shocking 1-0 triumph over top seed and previously undefeated Foxcroft Academy.
Lawrence has never won a regional field hockey title.
Belfast bested Lawrence 3-0 on Oct. 4 but Jackson said, “we know we can’t look by them.”
Lawrence has allowed only one goal in its two playoff wins and sophomore goalie Marian Zawistowski is coming off a 19-save effort against Foxcroft.
The Lions have Miss Maine Field Hockey finalist Kylie Nelson, who has scored 35 goals and assisted on 12 this season and owns the school career record with 94 goals to go with 38 assists.
“She has tremendous speed along with her stickwork,” said Jackson. “That’s what makes her so good.”
Junior Kelsey Mehuren is a talented multi-purpose midfielder who anchors the defense and can also put the ball in the cage.
Five sophomores start for Belfast including Jackson’s daughter, Cassie. Plenty of others can score including seniors Anna Baiungo and Victoria Curtis. Senior Morgan Fernald is a two-year starter in goal.
For Lawrence, Macie Larouche had the OT winner against Old Town and the assist on Lexi Lewis’ OT goal at Foxcroft.
In Class C, Nancy Hughes’ Huskies have overcome the loss of six starters to return to the Class C North title game.
“The girls put in a lot of time in the off-season, they all go to (field hockey) camps, they play in winter leagues and they show up three days a week in the summer to work out with our great strength and conditioning coach ( Woody Moore),” Hughes said.
Their cohesiveness is another key.
MCI has a balanced attack featuring forwards Addi Williams, a junior who had seven playoff goals last season, and sophomore Madisyn Hartley. Senior Keely Manzo and freshman Vivian Duncombe man the wings.
Hughes’ daughter Allison is an influential midfielder who marks the other team’s top scorer. She is joined there by two aggressive, athletic players in junior April McAlpine and sophomore Victoria Friend.
Junior Eva Bickford heads up the back line with sophomore Christa Carr and junior Madison Fitts complementing her. Junior Elspeth Taylor is a first-year starter in goal and has made dramatic strides according to Hughes.
“She put in a lot of hard work in the offseason. She has transformed herself athletically. She’s very quick and very smart,” said Hughes.
The Winthrop Ramblers of Jessica Merrill feature goal-producers Sarah Spahr, Moriah Hajduk, Emily Molino along with senior goalkeeper Corinna Coulton.