WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hartford High field hockey team remained undefeated Monday with a 1-0 defeat of Vermont Division II rival Burr & Burton. Daisy Phelps scored seven minutes before halftime for the hosts, who posted their fifth shutout of the season and their third in their last four games.
The Hurricanes improved to 7-0-1 in advance of a clash at Rutland on Friday. Hartford beat the Raiders in overtime earlier this season. Monday’s victory was cemented when goaltender Bailey Cameron withstood a flurry of shots with four minutes remaining. The junior finished with 11 saves and said that she’s not content to stand still and hope the ball hits her.
“I dive for the ball and if it’s near me, I flail around and do whatever I have to do to get it out of there,” Cameron said. “I like to get lower and stay on my toes, make it easier to move. Sometimes the other team hits me with their sticks but you can’t think about that.”
Hartford scored seven minutes before intermission, Phelps running on to a long through ball from Kennedy Mullen and lifting the ball into the cage from 15 yards. Hurricanes coach Heather Scudder was displeased with her troops at halftime, however, telling then in no uncertain terms that continued, listless play would lead to trouble.
“We were standing and watching and not playing together,” said Scudder, who’s in her 31st season. “The list was endless, but these guys are competitive and we’re playing with a heavy heart.”
Scudder was referring to Saturday’s death of former Hartford athletic trainer and physical education teacher Luna Ricker. The 71-year old Hartford native not only watched and worked high school games, but was a fixture at the town’s middle school and youth contests as well.
“Luna meant so much to everyone and I was hoping the kids would be fired up and play really well today, but that didn’t happen,” Scudder said. “But they’re kids and we did the best we could and we were lucky to come out with a win.”
Hartford has six games remaining in the regular season, starting with Rut land. The Hurricanes beat the Raiders in overtime earlier this season.
“I thought we’d start a little slower than we have, but we play as a team,” said Cameron, the starting netminder on last year’s squad that was 7-7-2 and lost in the state quarterfinals. “Last year, we lost one of our best defensive players to injury early and then things went downhill. This year, we have a lot of friendships on the team and we talk and pick each other up, which makes a difference.”
CLARENDON, Vt. — The Wasps bounced back from Saturday’s overtime loss to visiting Hartford with second-half goals by Field Willis during the 60th minute and Parker Kuihnert 12 minutes later.
Andrew Gubbins assisted on the first tally, which as Willis’ first varsity strike. Alec Smail’s first varsity point came when he assisted on the visitors’ second goal. Stephen Bianchi made five saves for Woodstock (5-3), which hosts Fair Haven on Friday afternoon.
THETFORD — Namya Benjamin scored three times and Casey MacVeagh, Geneva Horster and Madi Powers struck once each. MacVeagh had two assists and Grace Davis, Ellen Veracka and Powers had assists for the Panthers (4-2-1), who led, 4-2 at halftime and who visit People’s Academy on Thursday.
JAFFREY, N.H. — Eliza Bates scored in the first and second halves and Lacey McNeel also tallied, but the Tigers trailed, 3-1, at halftime and fell to 5-3. Conant improved to 4-3. Kelsey Wheeler made 10 saves, Maddie Miller had two assists and Morgan Roberts had one assist for Newport, which played with only two substitutes because of injury and illness.
“I’m so proud of our kids for playing hard, but we don’t have the bodies or experience,” said coach Steve Christensen, who’s often forced to play what competitors he has out of position. “The one thing we lack is depth.”
The Tigers visit Stevens (3-2) on Saturday night.
SUNAPEE – Stevens received 24 points from Finn Allen, 21 from Dylan Adamovich, 20 from Reeve Atkinson and 15 from C.J. Naugler. The Cardinals (18-3) play Thursday at Bow, along with John Stark and Laconia.
Team scores: Derryfield 90, Stevens 80, Kearsarge 49, Belmont 46.
Hillsborough, N.H. — Charlie Cloud, Stephen Krueger and Roy Shapard each had 16 points for the fourth-place Raiders, while Nathan Stark added 15 under the Stableford scoring system. The NHIAA Division III match was played on the par-33, nine-hole Angus Lea golf course and left Lebanon’s record at 8-13.
Lebanon visits Candia Woods Golf Links on Wednesday where host Derryfield, ConVal and Prospect Mountain will provide the opposition.
The top 10 teams make the division playoffs and the Raiders were 12th in the standings entering Monday’s action, said coach Chris Pollard.
Team scores: Sanborn 82, Plymouth 75, John Stark 67, Lebanon 63.
RANDOLPH, Vt. – Nyah Jenks had 12 aces and Gabriella Tsakris had five digs and the Eagles won by scores of 25-12, 25-18, 22-25 and 25-14. MVCS (3-3) visits Montpelier on Friday.
BOYS SOCCER
CRAFTSBURY, Vt. — The Eagles trailed, 1-0, at halftime but rode second-half goals from Abel Goodwin and Dylan Patel and improved to 2-3. MVCS hosts Proctor on Wednesday.