WATERVILLE – The McNally Senior All-Star field hockey game has always been close and competitive. Eventually there was bound to be a game that wasn’t.
Saturday’s game at Colby College was well-played on both sides, but the East had far too much talent. Kristy Bernatchez of Messalonskee scored an early goal and the East cruised to a 3-0 victory.
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The East roster was so deep that its other goals came from unexpected places. The West kept Makaela Michonski of Skowhegan, Elise Tilton of John Bapst and Sarah Finnemore of Skowhegan — who combined for 106 goals last fall — scoreless.
But Monica Miles, who had seven goals and four assists as a senior at Foxcroft Academy, contributed a goal and an assist. Jenn Poulin of Winslow also scored.
Bernatchez, who was named Miss Maine Field Hockey last fall and will play at the University of North Carolina, dazzled with her stickhandling in the opening minutes. Her goal came on a penalty corner, when she faked two defenders at the top of the circle and drove a sizzling shot into the left corner of the cage.
Miles added an unassisted goal with about 17 minutes left in the half for a 2-0 lead. Poulin’s goal came when she deflected in a hard outside shot by Miles.
“It was a corner,” Poulin said. “She just took a big hit and I tipped it, and it went right in the corner.”
Julia Ward of Belfast, who will play at Lehigh this fall, got the shutout but didn’t have many chances to show her talent.
Patty Smith of Gorham gave up two goals in the first half but made seven saves. Ellen Bacchiocchi of Fryeburg Academy had a couple nice offensive rushes down the right side in the first half for the West.
Sarah Sparks of Falmouth was named the West MVP for her play in the backfield.
Bernatchez was the MVP for the East.
There was an emotional moment at halftime when Terry Kix, the former University of Maine field hockey coach, spoke to the crowd.
Krista Chase, past president of the Maine Field Hockey Association, announced before the game that proceeds were going to the Maine Cancer Foundation in honor of Kix, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 stomach cancer in November.
The event raised $2,500 for the Maine Cancer Foundation. After the MFHA president, Katie Thompson, thanked Kix for her service to Maine athletes and coaches, Kix also spoke.
“I personally challenge every one of you to go out and touch someone’s life who has cancer,” Kix said. “Whether it’s bringing them a nice meal, writing them an inspirational note, (or) going and visiting. Because if you give a cancer patient hope, anything’s possible.
“I stand before you with not a good diagnosis, but because of a lot of love, a lot of great people, a lot of courage and the will to live, anything is possible.”
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