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WATERVILLE — You can define much of the post-pandemic era of Maine high school field hockey by the battles of Paula Doughty and Theresa Arsenault.

Doughty’s Skowhegan River Hawks and Arsenault’s Cheverus Stags met three times in the Class A title game from 2021-23. Cheverus won in 2021 and 2023 and Skowhegan prevailed in 2022. Arsenault is no longer the coach at Cheverus, but the two reunited Saturday afternoon at Thomas College.

“You’re competitors, but you’re not enemies,” Doughty said. “Moe McNally and I had something like 15 games against each other in the Eastern Maine final, but we’re the best of friends, and it’s the same with Theresa. It’s my goal to get a kid to play for her (at St. Joseph’s College) some day.”

Arsenault, now the coach at St. Joe’s, was one of many volunteers who returned to Maine high school field hockey for Saturday’s Victories over Violence tournament at Thomas. More players and coaches than ever were there to give back to the sport as officials for the 36 matches.

There’s very little Madeline Wagner didn’t accomplish at Winthrop High School. She won Class C state championships all four years with the Ramblers, who went 67-5 from 2021-24. She graduated last month as the No. 2 goal scorer in Maine high school field hockey history with 138 goals.

Wagner, who will play at Merrimack College, was one of the former players officiating Saturday as her old team was one of the 13 at the tournament. Sporting a whistle rather than a stick was a different feeling for Wagner, who felt nostalgia at a tournament she had grown quite accustomed to.

“It’s a big community that’s done so much for me, and this is the least I can do to support it,” Wagner said. “There’s a lot of different elements that you think you see when you’re a player that you don’t see when you’re a ref, so it’s interesting. I’m thankful to be coming back and trying this out.”

Recent Skowhegan graduates Ellie Quinn and Sydalia Savage were also among those officiating, as were ex-Mt. Blue players Kara Daggett, Summer Sawyer, Piper Wojcik and Katie Yeaton. Those players also played in Victories over Violence in the past, as did Gardiner’s Taryn Nichols.

Field hockey, Nichols said, gave her some of her greatest memories at Gardiner. Although she won’t be playing in college, officiating Saturday gave her a chance to see her old teammates (whom she also helped coach) and stay involved with the sport.

“I played in this tournament last year, and to be able to come back, help my old teammates and have a different experience, it’s really nice,” Nichols said. “Being a part of this day and the benefits of it, that’s something that’s really important.”

Arsenault wasn’t the only college coach from Maine officiating. She was joined by Dani Kogut of Bates. Doughty said University of Maine coach Josette Babineau and Colby coach Allison Whittemore also expressed interest but had prior commitments.

Seeing college field hockey coaches officiate their games, Doughty said, is a real treat for the players. Arsenault, whose Cheverus teams primarily played southern Maine opponents, appreciated the chance to see talented players from another part of the state.

“I really love being at the DIII level in Maine and getting to stay connected and talk to the players and coaches,” Arsenault said. “At Cheverus, you didn’t always get to see what some of the other programs around the state are doing, so it’s great to be invited and be able to do something for those kids.”

Victories over Violence raises money for various domestic violence projects in the central, western and Midcoast Maine areas. Last year’s tournament raised roughly $50,000, a figure organizers were optimistic would be met or exceeded thanks to increased fundraising efforts this year.

As for the refereeing side of things? Well, as Wagner said, it’s much different from being the one with a stick in your hands. For Nichols, this was her first time refereeing above the youth level — and one of her old teammates had a request for her.

“Taryn is one of my best friends, so it’s always great to see her,” said Gardiner rising senior Brynnlea Chaisson. “I hope she gives us some calls.”