Two Skowhegan High School players and one from Cheverus High School in Portland have been named the finalists for the Miss Maine Field Hockey Award which will be announced at the Maine Field Hockey Association banquet on Dec. 3 at the Augusta Civic Center.
Skowhegan’s Laney LeBlanc and Layla Conway and Cheverus’ Lily Johnson are the finalists and have led their respective teams to the top seed in the Class A North and South Heal Points standings, respectively.
The award goes to the top senior player in the state.
LeBlanc, a versatile midfielder who can also play forward or in the back, has scored 11 goals and notched 12 assists this season despite missing four games due to a concussion for the River Hawks.
“Laney sees the whole field, has a really high field hockey IQ and her stickwork is amazing,” said Skowhegan head coach and Maine Sports Hall of Famer Paula Doughty.
LeBlanc is a two-time MFHA All-State first team selection; a two-time Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year and three-time All-KVAC Class A first team choice.
LeBlanc, a River Hawk captain, has 50 goals and 60 assists for her career and will attend the University of New England in Biddeford next season.
Conway, a forward, has scored 23 goals and added 10 assists this fall.
She is a two-time KVAC first-teamer and was a MFHA all-state first-teamer last season.
“Layla is a finisher. She has a quick stick and a nose for the goal,” said Doughty who added that Conway is one of the top six all-time scorers at Skowhegan with her 88 goals and 31 assists.
She has verbally committed to attend Bentley University in Massachusetts.
Like LeBlanc, she is also a captain and Doughty said both of them have been “great leaders” who have been very involved in the community and in coaching youngsters.
Defending state champ Skowhegan, 14-1, will face fifth seed Edward Little of Auburn, 9-6, at Thomas College in Waterville on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in an A North semifinal.
Johnson, a midfielder, is the recipient of the 2023 Faith Littlefield Player of the Year Award in the Southwestern Maine Activities Association. She is a three-time All-SMAA first teamer and a two-time MFHA All-State choice.
Johnson has 12 goals and 13 assists this season for the undefeated Stags, who are 15-0 heading into a Tuesday A South semifinal against No. 4 Scarborough, 9-6.
Doughty, whose River Hawks have faced Cheverus in the last two state title games, said Johnson is an outstanding player.
“She has great stickwork and she’s a great passer,” said Doughty.
Johnson has committed to Boston University.