AUGUSTA — Skowhegan senior Nicole Sevey doesn’t say very much, but her reaction as she began her acceptance speech Sunday afternoon betrayed her emotion.

“Oh wow,” Sevey began, moments after being announced as this year’s winner of the Miss Maine Field Hockey Award. “This is a huge honor to be a recipient of this award. It means so much to me.”

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NICOLE SEVEY

The award is voted on by coaches and given annually to the top senior high school field hockey player in the state. Since the award’s inception in 1998, Sevey is only the second Skowhegan player to win the award, following Melissa Hancock in 2007.

Sevey scored 11 goals and added 19 assists as Skowhegan’s center midfielder this season, and will play for the University of Maine next year. Skowhegan’s Jessie Skillings, Messalonskee’s Katie Bernatchez, and Marissa Shaw of Nokomis were the other finalists.

“It’s very surprising,” Sevey said. “There was a lot of good players to be nominated for that award, so it could have gone to any one of us.”

In her speech, which lasted less than one minute, Sevey made a point to thank her parents and coaches.

“My parents have done so much for me, whether it was wash my stinky socks, or take me to California,” she said.

The Maine Field Hockey Association also inducted four new members into its Hall of Fame: Gretchen Livingston, a former Hall-Dale standout and now the Cony girls lacrosse coach, former Cony and University of Maine star Lynn Shostak, former official Sandi Hight, and former Gorham coach Susan Thurston, who won four Western Maine titles and a state title at Gorham.

Later, the coaches for the four Miss Maine finalists spoke about their players. Skowhegan coach Paula Doughty began and ended her speech by talking about Sevey and Skillings as a pair.

“Each in their own way, they’ve developed into outstanding players who represent Skowhegan and the state of Maine so well,” Doughty said.

Doughty then spoke about Skillings, who had 27 goals and 22 assists this season and finished her career with 70 goals and 42 assists. Skillings will graduate from Skowhegan this month and will also be playing at the University of Maine.

“She is an outstanding young woman, in the classroom and on the field,” Doughty said. “Her stickwork and speed are amazing, and it was so much fun to watch her offensive power as she disabled one defensive player after another.”

Moving on to Sevey, Doughty talked about how Sevey could dominate a game, even without picking up a goal or an assist.

“She has always had the maturity and nerves to play in the biggest games, even as a freshman,” Doughty said. “Colee’s been the rock on our team. She’s the player we turn to when things get tough. With all her awards and accolades, she is the most humble young woman I know.”

Wrapping up her speech, Doughty said to Sevey and Skillings, “I love you both very much, and I’ll miss my best friends.”

Messalonskee coach Katie Gorham, talked about Bernatchez, who had six goals and three assists as a back for the Eagles this season.

“Katie absolutely excels when she’s under pressure,” Gorham said. “The big games are where she really, truly shines. She’s a leader. She’s a very quiet leader, but she leads by example and support. She’s definitely highly respected, both in the classroom and throughout the community. Katie, you’re irreplaceable.”

In her speech, Nokomis coach Katie Thompson listed Shaw’s career statistics: 45 goals, 30 assists and eight defensive saves.

“I wanted to mention her stats,” Thompson said, “because one of the most admirable qualities about Marissa is that she doesn’t know them.

“We all believed, whatever challenge we faced, we could conquer it, because we had Marissa,” Thompson added. “She has been our hero.”

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com