Orford
The Raptors (7-1-0) sent 21 shots toward goal, eight on net and three for goals in a rainy 3-0 victory over winless Twinfield on Tuesday. It was Rivendell’s seventh straight win since a season-opening 7-1 loss to Thetford on Sept. 4, leaving the Raptors a confident bunch that entered the contest in first place in the VPA Division III standings.
“We’ve spent a lot of time the last couple of weeks working on possessing the ball and working together,” Rivendell head coach Tim Goodwin said. “To see them doing that stuff and finding gaps, moving off the ball better, is really encouraging.”
The loss was Twinfield’s second to the Raptors this season after a 4-1 Rivendell victory on Sept. 6.
Shauna Simmons, listed as a goalkeeper on the roster, opened the scoring 18½ minutes into the match, burying a pass from junior Mikayla Stever after a scramble in front of Twinfield’s net.
“That first goal we got was straight out of a drill we did yesterday,” Goodwin said. “Stuff is starting the translate, which is really rewarding.”
Simmons scored again in the 27th minute on a long-range shot that snuck inside the near post, giving the Raptors a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Sienna Carter added to Rivendell’s lead with a goal in the 71st minute, another long-range shot off her left foot that found space just inside the near post. Alex McFate earned an assist.
The victory was Rivendell’s fourth win by three or more goals this season.
“The first game was a little rough,” Stever said. “I think working together as a team has improved. We kind of have new group because we lost two key players; being able to figure out each other’s game has been helpful.”
The Raptors graduated forwards Mikayla DeBois and Riley Thomson, as well as key defenseman Bailey Ordway from last year’s squad, which went 13-2-1 overall and lost to Vergennes in the D-III quarterfinals.
“Riley played my position,” Stever said. “I think she’s hard to replace, but I think we’ve been able to do a good job getting the ball forward.”
Goodwin said the challenge this season has been as much about mentality as about on-the-field tactics. In a year that began with a lot of question marks, he’s seen progress.
“They have a belief in themselves, which they didn’t really have in the beginning. That forms slowly, over time,” Goodwin said. “I think that attitude is starting to sink in that they know they can do it.”
The Raptors’ improvement has left Stever wanting another shot at Thetford, if only to show that a lopsided loss in early September is not all the Raptors are capable of.
“I think everyone (on the team) improved, and (Thetford) probably (has), too,” she said. “I think it would be a better match.”
Rivendell hosts Sharon Academy on Saturday afternoon for homecoming.
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.