Regional Maine field hockey championships are on the line Wednesday
Jamie Emerson's Brewer High School field hockey team let it be known that it was going to contend for a Class A North championship in its opening game this season.
The Witches earned a stunning 3-2 victory over Skowhegan, the state's best field hockey program with 17 Class A state championships during its current run of 22 consecutive regional titles.
Skowhegan had gone 69-1 during the regular season over the previous five seasons.
The two teams will meet again on Wednesday and, this time, the A North championship will be on the line.
Top seed Skowhegan and No. 2 Brewer, both 14-2, will play at 5 p.m. at the Cony High School field in Augusta.
Brewer is seeking its first regional title and is just one year removed from its first winning season since 2014. The Witches went 10-3-1 during the regular season a year ago.
The three-game day at Cony begins at 3 p.m. with top seed Dexter/Central, 15-1, taking on rival and second seed Foxcroft Academy of Dover-Foxcroft, 13-2-1 in a rematch of last year's C North final won by Dexter 2-1.
Dexter/Central dealt Foxcroft its only two losses this season, 1-0 on Sept. 24 and 3-0 on Oct. 8.
The B final will conclude the day at 7 with No. 1 Belfast, 15-1, facing No. 3 Leavitt of Turner, 13-2-1.
Belfast won the regular season meeting in Belfast, 4-0, on Oct. 10.
The South Regionals will be held in Falmouth beginning at 3 p.m. with all three defending state champions involved.
The C final kicks things off with No. 1 seed Winthrop/Maranacook, 16-0 and the defending three-time state champ, taking on Hall-Dale/Monmouth Academy, 13-3.
Winthrop/Maranacook won the only regular season meeting, 4-0, in a mutual season-opener.
The A final starting at 5 p.m. will feature reigning state champs Cheverus of Portland, 16-0, against No. 2 Biddeford, 14-2.
Cheverus won both regular season games by 2-0 scores.
The B final will begin at 7 and defending state titlist Freeport, 16-0, will meet No. 2 Yarmouth, 15-1.
Freeport edged Yarmouth 2-1 in their regular season opener.
Brewer and Skowhegan each arrived at the regional final coming off hard-fought 1-0 victories in the semifinals.
Paige Oakes scored the game-winner for Brewer in their triumph over Messaslonskee of Oakland while Dasia Alberico produced the only goal in Skowhegan's win over Mt. Blue of Farmington.
Oakes had also scored the game-winner against Skowhegan with Allie Flagg notching a goal and an assist, Jordin Williams earning two assists and Bella Pierce scoring the other goal.
Brewer had reached the semis with a 3-0 quarterfinal win over Camden Hills of Rockport while Maine Sports Hall of Fame coach Paula Doughty's Skowhegan River Hawks also won their quarterfinal 3-0 over Lewiston.
Brewer has allowed only three goals in its last nine games, including the playoffs, and Skowhegan has surrendered just six during its current 10-game winning streak.
Belfast will be looking for its first regional title since 2016 while Leavitt won the 2021 state title with a 1-0 victory over Old Town when it was a B South school.
Belfast punched its ticket to the B North final with a 3-1 win over Erskine Academy of South China and 3-0 win over Gardiner while Leavitt bested Old Town 3-0 and defending regional champ Cony of Augusta 2-1.
Belfast has allowed just one goal in its last five games and Leavitt has given up one in its last four.
Dexter/Central beat Winslow 5-0 and Orono 1-0 to reach the final while Foxcroft Academy bested Stearns of Millinocket 5-0 and Dirigo of Dixfield 3-0.
Dexter/Central and Foxcroft Academy have teamed up for 25 shutouts with Dexter posting 14 including five in a row while Foxcroft Academy has 11 including five over the last six contests.
Dexter/Central lost to Winthrop 2-1 in last year's state title game and Foxcroft Academy is looking for its first regional title since 2019 when it also captured the state crown.
