BY MATT DIFILIPPO

Staff Writer

Maranacook field hockey coach Julie Schmidt has never been on the sidelines for the McNally Senior All-Star Game. But Schmidt is still pretty sure she won't do much coaching.

"In an hour that we see them, they're great players, (so) we're not going to make a big difference in how they play," Schmidt said.

Schmidt will be coaching the West along with Sanford's Diana Walker and Telstar's Gail Wight. The game, featuring players who earned all-state status last fall, begins at 7:30 p.m. at Colby College in Waterville.

The McNally Game, named after longtime Gardiner coach Moe McNally, usually takes place in July. The date was moved to be in conjunction with the Maine Games high school field hockey competition, which will also be in Waterville today.

The annual alumni game, which is open to any former players who played in the senior all-star game, will start at 6 p.m. Profits from both the McNally and the alumni game will go to the Family Violence Project.

Skowhegan coach Paula Doughty will be coaching in her seventh consecutive McNally Game. Doughty will lead the East with Waterville's Amie Dubois and Foxcroft's Gene Philpot.

"I try to let everybody play and have a good time and hope to win," Doughty said. "For the Class A players, I know pretty much who plays where. For the B and C kids, I ask them where they're comfortable."

The East has five goalies on its roster (including Cony's Natalie Fecteau, Messalonskee's Beth Ridley and Waterville's Kristin Tormollan). The West has one goalie, Noble's Erica Fernandez.

Normally, some of the players selected for the game do not attend, and the coaches do not know who will be on the roster until the night of the game.

Schmidt said both of Maranacook's all-state selections -- Delaney Evans and Tia Levins -- are planning to play, and Doughty said Skowhegan will be represented by Caitlyn Lancaster and Miss Maine Field Hockey Melissa Hancock.

"It's our first Miss Maine Field Hockey playing, so I'm really excited about that," Doughty said.

Erskine's Erika Hawksley will also play, and Eagles coach Lars Jonassen said Hawksley's game is perfect for the turf surface at Colby.

"She's going to be tough," Jonassen said. "I look forward to seeing it, actually."

Levins and Evans are the only two area players on the West roster.

Other local players on the East include Gardiner's Victoria Lovley, Mt. Blue's Michelle Oswald, Mt. View's Liz Lincoln and Waterville's Chanelle Lansley.

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com