As field hockey teams prepare for the playoffs, it can be dicey to be locked into a certain opponent for a scrimmage. But Skowhegan coach Paula Doughty is just fine with playing Winslow in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference championship game.

“That’s a really good thing for us to play a team like that,” Doughty said. “You want to go into tournaments playing your best game, and Winslow’s one of the best games in town.”

The high school field hockey quarterfinals are Tuesday and Wednesday. Skowhegan faces Winslow for the KVAC championship at 6:30 p.m., Friday, at Thomas College. Lawrence plays Gardiner in the runner-up game at 5 p.m. at Thomas.

Those games were originally scheduled for Thursday, but were postponed by rain. If they are not played Friday, they will not be made up.

Skowhegan is the No. 1 seed in Eastern A and hosts No. 8 Bangor. The game is scheduled for Wednesday, but Doughty said it might be moved to Tuesday. Skowhegan defeated the Rams, 5-0, during the regular season.

The No. 2 vs. No. 7 game in Eastern A is Lawrence vs. Edward Little on Tuesday. The Bulldogs blanked EL 6-0 at home on Sept. 18.

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Also Tuesday in Eastern A, No. 3 Messalonskee hosts No. 6 Oxford Hills. Messalonskee won the regular-season meeting by a 1-0 score on the road.

Skowhegan, Lawrence and Messalonskee all finished with 12-2 records. Although Messalonskee defeated Skowhegan twice, the Indians earned the top spot by winning twice against both No. 4 Mt. Blue and No. 5 Cony.

“It was right down to the wire this year,” Doughty said. “We knew the top three teams were going to be really close.”

Mt. Blue and Cony face off in Farmington on Wednesday. Mt. Blue edged Cony, 2-1, in double overtime on Sept. 16 in Augusta. Mt. Blue is 8-1 over its last nine games, while the Rams are coming off a 4-3 upset win over Lawrence.

Gardiner secured the No. 1 seed in Eastern B under first-year coach Sharon Gallant. The Tigers play host to Erskine at 3 p.m., Wednesday. Gallant said that will serve as Gardiner’s “senior day.”

When Erskine and Gardiner met on Sept. 25, Gardiner won 1-0 on a goal by Leah Weymouth. Gallant said the Tigers had a 15-3 advantage in penalty corners.

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“We couldn’t put it in the cage, so I’m hoping this time we’ll take care of that instead,” Gallant said.

Winslow is No. 1 in Eastern C and on Wednesday will host the winner of Saturday’s preliminary round game between Mattanawcook and Boothbay. At 13-0-1, the Black Raiders are one of only four unbeaten teams in the state, joining Oak Hill, Scarborough and York.

At 3:30 p.m., Wednesday, No. 5 Maine Central Institute is at No. 4 Mount View. The Mustangs have the higher seed and tied Gardiner and took Winslow to overtime this season, but MCI won 2-0 when the teams met in the regular season finale on Tuesday.

Winthrop is the No. 6 seed and will play at No. 3 Foxcroft on Tuesday. Winthrop lost to Hall-Dale, which finished 1-13, but also tied Oak Hill, which finished 13-0-1. The Ramblers were also 4-1-1 over their last six games.

Oak Hill is the top seed in Western C and also hosts a quarterfinal game on Wednesday. The Raiders will take on the winner of Saturday’s prelim between Mountain Valley and Wells. Oak Hill has outscored its opponents, 66-7, this fall.

Weather permitting, Oak Hill plays Lisbon in the Mountain Valley Conference championship game at 3:30 p.m., Friday, in Auburn.

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @Matt_DiFilippo


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