10/27/2007
Staff Writer
Usually at this time of year, a field hockey state championship game means preparing for the unknown. Coaches get what information they can, but invariably revert to focusing on making sure their team plays its game.
But two of today's state finals are a different story.
Skowhegan and Sanford, who will play in the Class A game at 10 a.m., met in preseason. Maranacook and Waterville, the opponents in the Class B game at 2 p.m., are in the same conference and played each other twice in the regular season.
Both games will be played at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland. The Class C game will match Foxcroft and Telstar at noon. Foxcroft is in its first season in Class C after previously competing in Class B.
Rain is expected for today in the Portland area, but Larry LaBrie, an assistant executive director with the Maine Principals' Association, said the MPA chose Fitzpatrick Stadium as the site because the turf field can handle the rain.
"Unless it's thunder and lightning or torrential downpour like it was last year, it won't be moved (to another day)," LaBrie said.
Five of the teams playing today were No. 1 seeds in their brackets. The exception is Waterville (12-5), the No. 4 seed in Eastern B, which knocked off the Nos. 1, 3 and 5 seeds in the tournament.
The Purple Panthers face a Maranacook team that is 15-2 and defeated Waterville by scores of 2-0 early in the season and 3-2 more recently.
Maranacook controlled the flow for the majority of both games and outshot the Panthers 27-10 in the second meeting, which was a 3-1 game until Waterville scored with six seconds left.
Still, there are many reasons to think this game will be more competitive. One is that Waterville junior Danielle Fossa missed the second game with an injury. Waterville also had a penalty stroke stopped in each game.
Also, the Panthers have quite possibly played their best field hockey during their last four games.
"They know (Waterville's) there for a reason," Maranacook coach Julie Schmidt said. "I think no matter who it is, my girls are going to play hard. They're not going to take anyone lightly. This team has more desire than any team I've (had), as a collective whole."
The turf at Fitzpatrick Stadium should make this matchup especially fun to watch, as both teams have fine speed and can pass well.
Schmidt said the Black Bears will get a chance to practice on the turf, and that her players have some experience with the surface in the offseason.
Skowhegan (16-1), which won the Eastern A title, has made an annual habit of playing at Fitzpatrick.
The Indians will be gunning for their seventh consecutive state title. No other team in Maine has ever won more than four in a row.
Sanford (17-0) is making its first state title appearance since losing to Skowhegan 3-0 in 2001. The Redskins are the last team to win a state title other than Skowhegan, winning in 1999 and 2000.
Skowhegan has outscored its opponents 72-3 this season and, while coach Paula Doughty had questions about the defense before the season, she can't quibble with the results so far.
"I think (assistant coaches) Tammy Veinotte and Fawn Haynie have done a phenomenal job with this defense," Doughty said. "I think this is one of the best defenses we've ever had."
Doughty was impressed by Sanford's skill and passing in preseason, and said she expects "a really close game." Skowhegan's goal differential is plus-69, which is a good sign a team hasn't played too many close games, but Doughty doesn't see that as a problem.
"I think the competition in central Maine is really good," she said. "I say this every year, but to me, the hardest part is getting there. You play to win, you hope to win, but you're there."
Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
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