Taking over the reins from a multi-Hall-of-Fame coach can be a daunting task.
But Gina Davis has embraced the role of following her former mentor, Paula Doughty, as the head field hockey coach at Skowhegan High School.
And, in true Skowhegan fashion, her River Hawks are off to a 3-0 start and have yet to concede a goal.
In her 44 seasons as the Skowhegan head coach, Doughty guided the River Hawks to a 644-97-22 record, 20 state Class A championships, 22 consecutive Class A North championships during one stretch and a 78-game winning streak.
She has been inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame.
Doughty was not re-hired, and no reason was ever given for it by Skowhegan administrators or the school board.
Davis said it has been “fun” coaching the River Hawks, and she doesn’t feel added pressure replacing her former high school coach.
“It’s field hockey. It’s all the same skills,” said Davis, who went on to have a stellar career at Boston College and serve as a co-captain. “It’s a continuation of her legacy. I was one of her girls. She’s a big supporter and we have a great relationship.
“I have ongoing communication with her, and she has ongoing communication with some of my girls,” Davis added.
Senior forward Faith Pease, one of four River Hawk captains, said the transition has been “really good.”
“We’re just all working together to move forward as a team,” Pease said. “She played for Paula so it’s pretty much the same strategy.”
Junior midfielder Addie Lynch, another captain, called Davis a “younger version” of Doughty.
Senior midfielder and captain Charlotte Haynie concurred, saying “same philosophy, same everything and it’s working great. We love her. She’s doing great.”
“It’s gone really smoothly, no hiccups,” said senior center back and captain Lillian Smith.
The River Hawks have beaten Oxford Hills of South Paris, 7-0, Mt. Blue of Farmington 5-0 and previously undefeated Bangor 6-0 through their first three games as they look to win their 24th Class A North championship in 25 years and claim their first state title since 2022.
Cheverus of Portland has captured the last three state titles including a 3-2 victory over Skowhegan last fall.
“A lot of things happened at that game and they’re not going to happen this year,” said Smith.
The senior-laden River Hawks feel they have what it takes to end Cheverus’ reign.
“We’re good. We can be as good as we want to be,” said Haynie. “We’re going to hold together. We work together, and we’re all friends.”
In their convincing 6-0 victory over a youthful but vastly improved Bangor team, the River Hawks exhibited exceptional skill and athleticism at every position.
It is a veteran Skowhegan team with 10 seniors.
High-scoring sophomore forward Kaitlyn Dufour continued her exceptional start to the season with a hat trick. Pease had a goal and two assists, Haynie had a goal and an assist and senior forward Kayori Kenyon had the other goal.
Smith, a 2025 All-State selection, anchors a rock solid back line which also features senior Jaiden Dodge and juniors Makayla Quimby and Lauren Nunn. Nunn had an assist in the game.
Haynie, Lynch and freshman Avery Farnham patrol the dominant midfield and Dufour and Pease are a dynamic one-two punch up front with junior Sydney Perkins complementing them.
Sophomore Michelle Williams is the goalie and Davis said she is “phenomenal. She’s fun to watch.”
Kenyon and senior Wylee Brown supply depth up front and senior Emily Bruce and sophomore Maddi Provost are dependable midfielders.
“We have some talent, definitely, and we have quite a few upperclassmen,” Davis said. “We’re working to grow the numbers in the program because we only have 24. Our numbers are a bit low.”
Seniors Oliva White and Kaylea Quirion and Kate Howe, sophomores Jenna Bell and Provost and freshmen Clara Hill and Mariah Morin are listed on the roster as swing players who will see both varsity and junior-varsity minutes.