At the start of the field hockey season, Joey Pompeo had already shown herself to be the best midfielder in the state. But the Cheverus senior knew her team was going to need even more.

The Stags were without Lucy Johnson, the state’s all-time leading scorer and the engine behind three state championship teams, who graduated and is now playing at Boston University. Offense was suddenly a question mark, and goals were going to have to come from different players.

Pompeo knew that included her. Especially her.

“I definitely needed to step up in different ways this year,” she said. “Not just defensive-minded, but more offensive. … (There were) big shoes to fill.”

Pompeo filled them and more, leading Cheverus to a third straight undefeated season and Class A championship. Pompeo was the offensive, defensive and vocal leader for the Stags and is our choice for Varsity Maine Player of the Year.

“It honestly feels more rewarding in the end, coming out on top with obviously a new team, a lot of new players,” said Pompeo, who will play next year at Division I Sacred Heart University. “To jell like we did and get the job done, I think that’s the best feeling.”

After scoring 12 goals over her first three years, Pompeo was in the middle of the action this year. She scored 16 goals and added 13 assists.

“I think this was definitely her breakout year,” coach Andrea Musante said. “She was a triple threat out there. She could score, she could distribute, but she could also play defense. Every play had to go through her.”

Opponents on defense would see Pompeo take the ball up the field and into the circle, weaving effortlessly around sticks and players, and either fire away herself or find someone in a better spot.

“In years prior, I would usually look for the pass,” she said, “but this year I kind of stepped in myself, had the confidence and was like, ‘All right, I’m going to shoot it wherever.’ If it doesn’t go in, someone will get a touch on it. That was more my mindset this year, just shoot.”

Once opponents got the ball, they had the other side of Pompeo to deal with: The relentless defender who flew to the ball, was nearly impossible to get by 1-on-1, and could use her strength and stick skills to break up possessions before threats materialized.

“You need to be patient, and you need to be clean. I think she really accomplished that,” Musante said. “Her footwork and her patience, and the tenacity it takes to play defense in field hockey, she really did very well.”

The third side of Pompeo was the fiery competitor. Cheverus wasn’t tested often, but when the Stags were, Pompeo raised her game. She had a go-ahead goal in a 4-4 tie with Biddeford in the season opener, and forced overtime when teams met again in the South final by scoring the tying goal with 4:22 to play in regulation.

In the state final against Skowhegan, Cheverus took a 2-0 lead, only for the River Hawks to rally in the second half and tie the game. Pompeo took center stage during a timeout midway through the third quarter, imploring her teammates to “take the game back.”

Jaylee Radford scored with 1:58 to play, and moments later the Stags were champions again.

“It was the best feeling that could have happened. We had everyone being like, ‘Oh, I don’t know if you could do it,’ and it’s so rewarding to prove everyone wrong,” she said. “Everyone hates Cheverus, they don’t want to see (us) win again, we all know that. And, honestly, I like the pressure.”