To say field hockey runs through Nicole Sevey’s bloodlines would be an understatement.
A junior center midfielder at Skowhegan High, Sevey comes from a long line of talented field hockey players for Paula Doughty’s Indians. Sevey’s sister, Erin, graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer. Cousins Beth Sevey, Megan Sevey and Heather Lyons all won three state championships with the Indians.
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So it should come as no surprise that Nicole Sevey is pretty good. Better than that, actually.
She is considered by many to be the best player on the best team in the state. She is also the Maine Sunday Telegram’s field hockey MVP.
“She’s just got it all, that’s all I can say,” said Doughty, who has coached her share of All-Americans and future collegians. “She was born to play field hockey.”
Sevey, 16, actually started playing soccer first, but soon after older sister Erin began playing field hockey, Nicole turned her attention to that sport. Doughty saw her play and knew she had a future star.
“I looked at her when she was eight or nine,” said Doughty. “And she had all the moves then.”
Sevey has since refined her skills. She plays field hockey year-round and has competed at the national level in the Futures program and Junior Olympics.
“She is a dominant player,” said Cony High Coach Holly Daigle. “There are so many impact players on Skowhegan, but she was really dominant. She has great field control, she’s a smart player. She involves her teammates. She knows how to showcase the talents of her teammates.”
And that, said Doughty, is one of her greatest strengths.
“She really is the whole package,” said Doughty. “A lot of kids as good as she is might have big heads. Not her. She is the most unassuming person I’ve ever met in my life.”
For instance, before a big game this year, Doughty asked her who should take a penalty stroke if the Indians were awarded one. Without hesitation, Sevey, who has a great drive, told Doughty that Jessie Skillings was the best at it in practice all week and that she should take it.
“She is a natural leader,” said Doughty. “The kids look to her. I look to her.”
Sevey had 11 goals and 14 assists this year as the Indians reclaimed the Class A state championship they lost to Scarborough in 2009.
“(The championship) really meant a lot,” said Sevey, who has 31 goals and 29 assists in her career. “We worked really hard for it this year. Preseason was very tough. And everyone thought we had a young team and might not make it this year. But we did and it was awesome.
“We were all just really close friends and that made it special.”
She said that playing for Skowhegan, which won its ninth state title in 10 years, is an honor.
“Oh yeah, there’s pressure,” she said. “Especially as you get older and are a senior or elected a captain.
“Your freshman year, you don’t feel any pressure. You go out and give it your best shot. But as a senior, you want to end it with a championship.
“We take a lot of pride in our program.”
She started her career as a forward and has great versatility.
“She can play any position on the field,” said Doughty. “I could put her in goal and I bet she could do that, too. She has such a head for the game. She controls the flow of the game for us.”
Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or at:
mlowe@pressherald.com
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