Even casual field hockey fans could have guessed before the season began the final four participants in this weekend's Eastern Maine Class A semifinal round. Skowhegan, Gardiner, Messalonskee and Cony, or "the group" as Bangor coach Lisa McPhee calls them, are there once again.

With few exceptions, this pattern has repeated itself for the past 20 years. It's no coincidence.
"If you look at the programs of those schools, and even the schools that are up and coming, you're going to see a K through 12 program and a continuation of skill development as young as kindergarten kids," Gardiner coach Moe McNally said.
Skowhegan has dominated the group with 10 state championships, including the last seven in a row, while Cony has won five titles and Gardiner and Messalonskee one apiece. No teams in the group, however, take any of the others lightly. This year, Messalonskee handed Skowhegan its only two losses, one in the conference championship game, while Cony and Gardiner have not dropped a game outside the Big 4.
"I've been playing with kids from all four of those teams since elementary school," Gardiner junior Katie Schide said.
Saturday, Gardiner plays at Skowhegan and Cony at Messalonskee. It should be fun and interesting, if not different.