Local Roundup: Hanover Girls Tennis Rolls in Division I Debut

Hanover — If the members of the Hanover High girls tennis team are having any second thoughts about moving up to NHIAA Division I competition, it isn’t showing.

Boasting a lineup filled with experience, the Marauders rolled to an 8-1 victory over Timberlane on Friday night at Dartmouth College’s Boss Tennis Center. Hanover’s D-I debut was never in doubt, with veteran Marauders winning five points at singles to clinch the team victory.

Rine Uhm, Mindy Wu, Ellen Lamm, Bri Laycock and Grace Li surrendered just two points in their combined singles wins. All returned from last year’s Hanover squad.

“It was a really great way to start our season, and a really good barometer of what we need to work on and what to look forward to the rest of the season,” Hanover coach Liz Murray said.

Uhm and Wu linked up for an 8-1 win at first doubles, a score Li and Emma Watson matched at No. 3. Lamm and Laycock completed the win by taking second doubles, 8-4.

Murray said D-I will be a learning process for everyone involved with the Marauders.

“It’s like I’ve said in the past,” Murray noted. “We’re taking it one match and one practice at a time. We’re looking forward to another season together.”

The Marauders will visit Exeter on Monday, then host Dover at the Hartford High courts on Wednesday. The team plans to use Tuesday’s workout time to clear their Storrs Pond home courts of snow.

Boys Lacrosse

Middlebury 10, Woodstock 8

Middlebury, Vt. — The Wasps (0-1) dropped their season opener to the Tigers in a game played at Middlebury College’s Alumni Stadium.

Dan Robinson struck the net four times to lead Woodstock. Lucas Piconi had two goals, and goaltender Gabe Marsicovetere finished with 11 saves for the Wasps. Middlebury’s Andrew Gleason had the big game, scoring four times and setting up two more goals for the home side.

Woodstock is scheduled to visit Mount Anthony on Friday for its next contest.

College Softball

Dartmouth 9, Cornell 8

Hanover — After surrendering a 7-0 lead in the span of one late inning, the Big Green (3-21-1 overall, 2-3 league) bounced back to win on Alyssa Jorgensen’s one-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Maddie Damore tripled to open the last inning for Dartmouth, scoring on a Lourlin Lara fielder’s choice grounder. Calista Almer bunted for a single and both runners advanced on a wild pitch before Jorgensen’s game-winning hit.

Pulled after five innings, starting pitcher Breanna Ethridge returned to the circle in the sixth as the Big Red (6-14, 1-4) turned a seven-run deficit into an 8-7 lead. Ethridge retired Cornell in order in the top of the seventh and earned the win with Jorgensen’s late heroics.

The second game of Friday’s scheduled doubleheader was postponed by rain and will be made up on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Dartmouth hosts Princeton for a pair this afternoon.

Men’s Tennis

Dartmouth 4, Yale 1

Hanover — The Big Green grabbed its first Ivy League win of the season, topping the Buldogs at the Boss Center.

After winning the doubles points with victories at Nos. 2 and 3, the Big Green (8-11 overall, 1-1 league) grabbed the match behind singles wins from David Horneffer, Max Fliegner and George Wall.

Dartmouth will travel to Brown on Sunday.

Girls Basketball

Mascoma Coach Steps Down

West Canaan — Mascoma High is seeking its next girls basketball coach after accepting the resignation of John Billings after two seasons.

Mascoma athletic director John Kelly indicated in an email on Friday that Billings stepped down on Monday. Kelly noted that Billings lives more than an hour from school, which meant long nights when the Royals had either games or practices.

Billings took over for Mike Neily in time for the 2015-16 season. Mascoma struggled to a 1-20 record and went winless in NHIAA Division III play, but the Royals improved to 6-12 last winter and missed out on the D-III state tournament on a tiebreaker.