No surprises at the top of the 1st Varsity Maine field hockey poll of 2026
Cheverus Stags Capture Third Straight Maine Field Hockey Title in Final‑Minute Thriller
Lewiston, Maine – In a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle, the Cheverus High School Stags defeated the Skowhegan High School River Hawks 3‑2 to win the Class A state championship. The victory, decided by a last‑minute goal from senior Jaylee Radford, gave Cheverus its third consecutive title and its fourth championship in five years.
The championship match was held at Lewiston High School’s field hockey arena on a crisp November afternoon. The Stags had been the dominant force in Maine field hockey for the past decade, and their 2025 team continued that trend. With a perfect record in the state tournament and an undefeated regular season, Cheverus entered the final as the clear favorite.
The game began with a tight defensive battle. The River Hawks, led by sophomore Jaiden Dodge, pressed hard from the start. Dodge’s powerful shot on the 20‑minute mark was intercepted by Radford, who quickly passed the ball to the Stags’ forward line. The Hawks answered with a goal of their own just before the half‑time break, keeping the contest within reach.
In the second half, the Stags built momentum. A series of precise passes and hard‑hit shots yielded a second score, putting Cheverus in the lead. Skowhegan responded with an efficient counterattack that tied the game at 2‑2 in the 48th minute, sending the crowd into a roar. The match remained deadlocked until the 58th minute, when Cheverus created a clear opportunity.
With less than two minutes remaining, Radford intercepted a loose pass and sprinted down the right flank. She faced the goalkeeper and delivered a precise shot that flew past the defending wall and into the net. The crowd erupted as the scoreboard changed to 3‑2. The Stags celebrated a hard‑earned win that would be the third in a row for their program.
Cheverus’ success is rooted in its strong coaching staff and a culture that has produced some of the state’s most celebrated players. Despite the graduation of several key seniors and a coaching change at the start of the season, the team maintained its winning streak, solidifying its position at the top of the sport in Maine.
Skowhegan, meanwhile, remains a perennial contender. With 17 state titles and 25 finals appearances in the 21st century, the River Hawks have been the main obstacle for the Stags. Their most recent championship win came in 2022, and they finished as runner‑up in 2025. The program is currently ranked second in the latest Varsity Maine field‑hockey poll, which reflects a season of strong performances and a coaching staff that is still building a new era.
The 2026 poll, released by the Varsity Maine staff after games played up to September 8, confirms Cheverus’ dominance. The Stags received all nine first‑place votes and topped the list with 90 points. Skowhegan followed in second place with 78 points, while Biddeford, Mt. Ararat, and Belfast rounded out the top five. The poll’s rankings underscore the competitive landscape of Maine field hockey, where teams like Biddeford and Mt. Ararat pose significant challenges to the top two programs.
The win secures Cheverus’ place in history as a powerhouse of Maine high‑school field hockey and sets the stage for another promising season. For Skowhegan, the loss will fuel their determination to reclaim the title in 2026, while the other ranked programs look forward to testing the Stags and River Hawks in the coming season.
