Stars to vie Friday night Past opponents to become teammates at UMaine

When Messalonskee’s Catherine Henrick and South Portland’s Kristi Knight face each other Friday in the Maine Field Hockey Association East-West Senior All-Star game, it will be the last time they meet as foes. The next time they meet will be as teammates at the University of Maine.

The West’s Henrick, who will attend UMaine on a partial scholarship, and the East’s Knight, who hopes to earn one as a freshman, are the only Orono-bound players in the fifth annual All-Star game. Many other future college players will be featured at Hoch Field in Gardiner.

The game starts at 7 p.m.

“Not all are Division I, most will play either Division II or III,” MFHA vice president and Skowhegan coach Paula Doughty said. “I think the last couple of years, we’ve gotten a higher quality of players. The first couple of years a lot who were nominated weren’t necessarily outstanding in terms of the whole state.”

The only time Henrick and Knight have met was when South Portland defeated Messalonskee of Oakland in the Class A state championship last fall. Each said Friday’s game won’t be nearly as meaningful as the state championships they each have been a part of – but it will be just as competitive.

“We won states my sophomore year and we went to states my senior year,” Knight said. “We played an unbelievable Western Maine final game. It went to double overtime. But I won’t forget [the All-Star game]. No matter how it goes. To play against great athletes in the state. They’re chosen out of so many.”

Since Knight started playing field hockey in sixth grade, she has grown increasingly more involved.

Knight just returned from the National Futures Tournament in College Park, Md., where she played against top recruits from around the country. In preparation for the tournament, she and other Maine players selected for the tournament worked through the winter and spring with UMaine coach Terry Kix and assistant coach and Olympian Diane Madl.

The experience has Knight confident she is ready to contribute at UMaine.

“I learned a lot mentally about the game. I was able to pick it up to play with some who are going on to top Division I schools,” Knight said. “Nothing is scratched in stone. I was recruited, but I have an opportunity to earn a scholarship. It all depends how hard I work this summer. If I don’t , it will make me work that much harder.”

Henrick has always wanted to play field hockey in college, ever since she started watching her sister, Margaret, play for the Black Bears in 1993.

“It’s always been a dream of mine. I’ve followed the Maine program. I’ve gone to all her games. It’s definitely not the reason I chose Maine, but it had something to do with it,” Henrick said.

What had more to do with Henrick’s college selection was Maine’s movement into the national spotlight over the last few years.

Both Hendrick and Knight said they think the new artificial turf at UMaine will help the Bears maintain their position as a Top 20 team.

“I think there is a lot of expectation. There is expectation that it will become more nationally ranked,” Henrick said. “That’s exciting. That’s what I hope for.”