SKOWHEGAN — Makaela Michonski doesn’t show much emotion when talking about how often she scored, or whether or not she made first-team all-Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference last year.

Then you ask Michonski about teaching younger players what she has learned, and she starts gushing.

“I love coaching the younger girls,” Michonski said. “I did it all offseason, right after our season ended. I coached from kindergarten up to seventh grade. I like seeing them catch on to things — the look in their eye when they finally get it, and they’re having so much fun. It reminds me of when I was little.”

Michonski, a senior at Skowhegan, isn’t the best known of the school’s field hockey stars in recent years. Nicole Sevey and Jessie Skillings were both Miss Maine Field Hockey finalists last year. This year, there’s Sarah Finnemore, who is on the Junior Indoor National Field Hockey team and will play at Harvard next fall.

But Michonski scored 33 goals last season, one of the best totals in the state. She has 62 in her career, and when the Indians open their season today at Mt. Ararat, she’ll start the year within range of Skowhegan’s all-time career goal-scoring record. Tara Bedard holds the record with 82.

Michonski has mastered the ability to tip the ball into the cage from her left wing position. She says that comes from her ice hockey experience. Michonski plays on a travel ice hockey team each winter.

“In ice hockey, I am a lefty,” Michonski said. “In field hockey, you can only use the one side of your stick. So I’m pretty good at reversing it.”

Michonski also scores in big games. In four meetings last season with Eastern A runner-up Messalonskee, Michonski had five goals. She then added two goals in the state championship game against Marshwood. Michonski didn’t make first-team all-KVAC (she was on the second team), but did make all-state.

Skowhegan coach Paula Doughty describes Michonski as a quiet leader and calming influence. The Skowhegan players got together at indoor sites like All Pro Sports Center and Sukee Arena over the offseason, and that’s where Michonski began teaching the junior high players about the difference between grass and indoor play.

“I went to All Pro one day this winter to watch them,” Doughty said. “She just coaches them. She does the same thing I do — probably better. Even here, some days I’ll see some people break down, and I’ll look over and she’ll have an arm around them and just be like, ‘Don’t worry. Tomorrow’s going to be better.’ She’s that kind of kid.”

Next year, Michonski plans to play at Husson University. Doughty feels she’ll be a standout at that level.

“I went there over the summer, and I really like the campus,” Michonski said. “I’m interested in the physical therapy program there, and I met the coach, and she’s wonderful.

“Originally, I looked at D-I schools, but when I finally chose what I wanted to major in, I wanted to focus on school. I want to play field hockey, because I love it so much, but I don’t want to be fully committed to that. I want to go to school for the school.”

Doughty also thinks Michonski could be an outstanding coach someday. That’s another thing Michonski will continue next year.

“I think it’d be fun to be a coach,” she said. “I know after I graduate and I’m no longer playing field hockey for the high school, I’m going to come back, and I’m going to help the little girls, still.”

Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
[email protected]