Fourth-year Boothbay Region High School field hockey coach Donna Jordan, who coached many successful teams before taking the reins at BRHS, said the level of field hockey play in high school is at its “highest level since I’ve been coaching.” Jordan began coaching in the 1980s and won two state championships at Piscataquis Community High School in 1987 and 1992.

Assessing her 2017 team, Jordan said she is excited to have an experienced roster, with nine seniors, and some talented young players. Eighteen players will take to the field for Jordan when school starts, but because of work commitments and other factors, the whole squad has yet to practice or play together this preseason. During the preseason, the Seahawks have practiced and competed in a few scrimmages.

“At the Morse Invitational this week, we played two 25-minute periods each against Morse and Lewiston and scored 11 goals,” said Jordan, who added that starting goalie, senior Emily Amaral, only gave up two late goals in both scrimmages.

Amaral takes over for four-year starter Erica Eames, who graduated in June.

“Emily, who came to us from Cape Cod (Massachusetts), played in a few games last year and didn’t give up a goal. She is working hard to improve her skills,” said Jordan.

The BRHS field hockey program had its most successful year in 2016, finishing with a 9-6-1 record and advancing to the semifinal round of the Class C North playoffs, where they lost to Maine Central Institute (14-2), 6-2. MCI lost to Oak Hill, 2-0, in the Class C state championship game.

“Oak Hill was the only team we lost to twice last season,” said Jordan. “They will be OK but graduated six players and lost a senior to an injury this preseason. They will be younger, for sure.” Jordan said Mountain Valley, Winthrop and Lisbon will also be tough opponents this season.

Boothbay will have two-time all-state player Sydney Meader returning for her final season. She is the school record holder for goals in a season (24 in 2016) and goals in a career (48 in three years). She was a first-team Mountain Valley Conference all-star in 2016 and was named to the MVC second team in 2014 and 2015.

Besides Meader and Amaral, other returning seniors include Page Brown, Elizabeth Ham, Kayla Lewis, Sydney Mercier, Kylie Michael, Jo Anna Shaw and Lilly Sherburne. Returning juniors include Lexi Lane and Riley Sullivan. The team’s four sophomores, Chloe Arsenault, Hali Goodwin, Maddy Faulkingham and Josey Smith, all played quality minutes for Jordan last season as freshmen. Two freshmen, Kylie Brown and Cortney Meader, complete the preseason roster. Sophomore Jackie Steinmetz is expected to join the team once school starts. Returning as Jordan’s assistant is Lauren Brown, mother of senior Page and freshman Kylie.

“Chloe (Arsenault) attended camp with Sydney (Meader) this summer and played against other recruits at the University of Maine. She really shined and was named a camp all-star,” said Jordan.

The regular season will begin for the Seahawks at home on Perkins Field at BRHS on Friday, Sept. 1 at 4 p.m. against the Telstar Rebels.