Was there ever any doubt that Cheverus’ field hockey team would get the job done?
How can you doubt a team that lost just once (by one goal) in a four-year span and featured the finest player in state history?
Last week, two very good squads had an opportunity to deny the Stags their date with destiny, but neither Biddeford or Brewer could do so.
And ultimately, Cheverus brought home another piece of hardware.
Perhaps the sweetest one of all.
The Stags, who won their first championship in 2021, lost by a goal to Skowhegan in the Class A state game in 2022, then got back to the pinnacle on a late Lucy Johnson goal to beat Skowhegan a year ago, were the favorite this fall from the get-go and despite losing some talent to graduation (most notably 2023 Miss Maine Field Hockey winner Lily Johnson) and going through a coaching change, as Andrea Musante replaced Theresa Arsenault (now the head coach at St. Joseph’s College), they didn’t miss a beat.
Cheverus enjoyed its fourth straight undefeated regular season, but this time around, it did get pushed on multiple occasions.
Twice, the Stags got tested by Biddeford in the regular season but they prevailed on each occasion, 2-0. Cheverus also had to work to get by visiting Sanford in a 3-0 victory, then got its biggest scare at Gorham, but a Johnson goal in the second overtime produced a 1-0 win.
Cheverus, which outscored the opposition, 68-2, in the regular season, earned the top seed in Class A South for the fourth straight season, then struggled to survive the quarterfinal round, edging No. 8 Massabesic, 2-1. That close call awakened the Stags, who blanked No. 4 Thornton Academy, 5-0, in the semifinals.
Taming the Tigers
Last Wednesday at Falmouth High, Cheverus and No. 2 Biddeford did battle again in the regional final, where Johnson, the Stags’ singular sensation, who earlier in the day signed her National Letter of Intent to attend and play field hockey at Boston University with her sister, and her teammates finished off the Tigers once and for all.
Cheverus’ Joey Pompeo knocks down a pass during last Wednesday’s Class A South victory over Biddeford. Derek Davis / Portland Press Herald
Unlike the teams’ two regular season meetings, Cheverus wasn’t able to strike in the first quarter, but with 4:57 to go in the second, Johnson banged home a rebound and the Stags held a 1-0 halftime advantage.
Three minutes into the third period, Cheverus doubled its lead, as off a penalty corner, junior Jordan Drouin crossed the ball and senior Lillian Magda finished.
“That was really, really big,” Musante said. “The girls knew we needed another goal and they were right.”
The Stags were far from home free, however, as the second-seeded Tigers answered with 4:53 to go in the frame, off a corner of their own.
Biddeford had ample chances to even things up, but Cheverus’ defense and junior goalie Ellie Skolnekovich held firm.
“I go into every game thinking I’ll see shots,” Skolnekovich said. “I thank my defense every day. They played amazing. When I dove, they were there to stop the second shot.”
Then, with 7:15 to play, Johnson ripped home a backhanded blast off a corner to seemingly put it away.
“That was supposed to go from me to Joey (Pompeo), but it was bouncy from the insert, so I just pulled it and took it right away,” said Johnson. “I’m blessed it went in.”
But the Tigers refused to fold and with just 29.6 seconds remaining, they scored to make it a one-goal game yet again.
Musante called timeout to settle her team.
“It was definitely nerve-wracking, but Coach called timeout, which was smart, to make sure we were in the right head space,” Johnson said.
“I was confident,” Skolnekovich said. “We knew what we were doing out of the timeout. We just had to get it in the offensive zone.”
Biddeford was never able to get possession in the Stags’ end again, however, and for the fourth straight season, Cheverus captured the regional title, 3-2.
“I told everyone to play for the seniors tonight,” said Johnson. “We didn’t know what was going to happen.”
“It was a huge weight off my shoulders and I jumped as high as I could and celebrated with my closest friends,” said Skolnekovich. “It’s a feeling I’ll never forget. It felt absolutely amazing. We practiced how we were going to play. We had confidence in each other. Having tough games is a great experience. We’re confident in close games and we know we can hold it together.”
“It’s so gratifying,” added Musante. “Beating a team three times is really hard, especially Biddeford. We’re so well-matched. It took a lot of heart for us to win this game. The girls have just put it all together at the right time.”
Surprise, surprise
As the regional final came to a close, news broke that Skowhegan, Cheverus’ state game foe the past three seasons and the 22-time reigning Class A North champion, had been beaten by Brewer, meaning the Stags would have to prepare differently for the state game.
As it turned out, Cheverus was ready for anyone, as it started on fire and went on to fulfill its destiny.
Cheverus’ Zoey Radford prepares to take a shot during Saturday’s state game win over Brewer. Andree Kehn / Sun Journal
It took just 94 seconds for the Stags to go in front to stay, as Sydney Brunelle scored.
“I just tracked the ball and shot it right back in,” said Brunelle. “It (felt) so good, so rewarding. Our coach always says, ‘First two minutes, score, get in their heads,’ and that’s exactly what we did.”
Johnson then made it 2-0 a little over our minutes into the first period.
“Getting the first goal is probably the best thing we can do, because it just rattles the other team a little bit and gets us going,” Johnson said.
The Witches then pulled within one with a second period goal, just the sixth goal the Stags surrendered all year.
Cheverus wouldn’t be denied, however, as Johnson made it 3-1 with nine minutes to go in the third period.
The goal was her 34th of the season and the 152nd of Lucy Legend’s nonpareil career.
“It’s really nice,” said Johnson. “It’s a great personal accomplishment, for sure, but I couldn’t have done it without any of my teammates.”
Cheverus slammed the door from there and celebrated the program’s third championship, capping a mind-boggling 71-1 run over the past three seasons.
Cheverus celebrates with the championship trophy following Saturday’s win. Andree Kehn / Sun Journal
“It’s a great feeling,” Johnson said. “I can’t believe it happened again. I’m so proud of us. Our team chemistry was unbeatable and I feel like that’s a main reason we got the gold.”
“(It’s) amazing, honestly, such a big accomplishment,” said Magda. “I’m just so happy to be here with this team, as a family.”
“That was an amazing season,” Musante added. “The girls worked for it and today was just the icing on the cake.
“This experience has been amazing. I’ve inherited an amazing team and that’s not lost on me. Theresa set them up for success. My coaches have been amazing.”
The Stags now belong to the ages.
But they’re not done yet.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Musante. “I love these girls. They love each other. This senior class put Cheverus on the map. They’ve done huge things for field hockey in Maine and Cheverus specifically.”
Press Herald staff writer Drew Bonifant contributed to this story.
Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.
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