WINDSOR — Someone, or something, was going to conspire to end the Newport High field hockey team’s perfect start to the season. It happened on Thursday, in a confluence of sun, slim depth and solid opposition.
Chloe Husser scored and assisted in the first half, Hannah Wood matched it in the second, Linda Ricard spread a similar performance over both halves and visiting Windsor handed the Tigers their first loss of the field hockey season, 4-1, at MacLeay-Royce Field. Husser’s offense staked the Yellowjackets (4-0-1) to a 2-0 halftime lead, and Wood’s goal-and-assist second half put the game away.
“I’m excited with today’s play and the new formation we have been working on,” Windsor coach Jody Wood said in an email. “It is finally paying off.”
The Jacks honored forward Angelina Bigwood prior to the contest, recognizing her 22 goals last year, a single-season school record.
Husser started off by potting a Ricard pass and setting up an Alyssa Slocum goal for the two-goal cushion at the break. Newport’s Lacey McNeel scored her eighth goal of the season early in the second half to cut the deficit only to have Ricard score on a Wood pass and Wood convert at Peyton Richardson feed.
Windsor dominated the stat sheet, outshooting the Tigers (5-1-0), 23-5, and earning 19 penalty corners to Newport’s seven. Windsor goalie Glenna Ricard needed just one save for the win, while the Tigers’ Kelsey Wheeler had a busy 17-save afternoon.
“For the first time, our lack of depth came into play,” Newport coach Steve Christensen said. “Today was warmer than it has been. I had two girls on a thin bench that were injured; I had only four subs. Believe me, this is not taking anything away from Windsor, but it was just one of those days when it showed we need to be in a little better shape and healthy at all times when we get ready to play.”
Newport is back in action on Friday, hosting Mascenic. The Jacks return to play on Saturday against Fair Haven.
ORFORD — Johnny Vogelien converted the rebound of a Zach Gould drive in the fourth minute of overtime as the Raptors (5-1-0) handed the Wildcats (0-4-0) another tough-luck loss.
Rivendell twice rallied from leads established by White River Valley’s Pete Metzer. The junior forward opened the scoring in the seventh minute, but Gould answered just a minute later by knocking home an A.J. DeBois cross. Metzer re-established WRV’s advantage in the 28th minute; Vogelien leveled two minutes into the second half, also on a Gould feed.
Timber Russell recorded four saves and Carder Stratton added an assist for White River Valley, which meets West Rutland on Saturday. The Raptors entertain Stratton Mountain for homecoming on Saturday.
CLAREMONT — Sydney Miller scored twice and set up a third goal in the Cardinals’ latest win.
Ellee Grenier, Tanner Brown and Stella Lavertue contributed Stevens’ other goals. Fionah Carbee earned a three-save shutout.
The Cards (6-0-0) visit Windsor on Tuesday.
CANDIA, N.H. — Lebanon (8-10) took third in a four-school match dominated by undefeated Derryfield at Candia Woods Golf Links.
The Cougars’ Colin McCaigue scored 25 points in the modified Stableford system for the medal. Derryfield’s No. 7 player, who didn’t count in the team tally, had 16, just two fewer than Lebanon’s top performer, Ben Begin. “They’re way ahead of everybody,” Lebanon coach Chris Pollard remarked.
Ben Gillis and Roy Shapard each scored 13 points for Lebanon, which received 11-point days from Steven Krueger, Charlie Cloud and Nathan Stark. Lebanon head to Angus Lea to face John Stark on Monday.
Team scores: Derryfield 84, Plymouth 64, Lebanon 55, Fall Mountain 49.