SOUTH ROYALTON — A four-goal burst in the second half was more than enough to give the surging White River Valley boys soccer team its fifth win in the last seven games as the Wildcats beat visiting Windsor, 4-0, on Monday afternoon.
The Wildcats (5-6-0) started the season losing four straight games but now stand just one win away from evening their record. WRV used four different goal scorers to break open what had been a nil-nil deadlock in dreary and rainy conditions at halftime.
“It was wet, but as long as it’s not cold, we’ll take it,” Wildcats coach Alex Montano said. “I was glad to get the game in, we haven’t had any cancellations or postponements yet, which is great.”
Jacob Barry started the barrage with a goal assisted by Carder Stratton. Jack Simack, assisted by Zeb Perrault, and Dominic Craven followed with goals. George Carr closed the book with his penalty kick into the back of the net later in the half.
“We had just as many shots in the first half, but they finally started going on target and going in,” Montano said. “We played with a lot of confidence today, which is good to see.”
Keepers Timber Russell and Cameron Gray combined to earn the shutout for the Wildcats.
Montano’s squad finds their record improving after a season filled with strong play where WRV has often held the advantage on shots and possession even with less than ideal results to show for the effort.
The win came on senior night for the Wildcats, who will graduate Carr, Russell, Perrault, Eric Taylor, Alex Kimball and Dekin Kill.
WRV will visit Mount St. Joseph on Wednesday. Windsor (4-6-1) hosts Twin Valley on Friday.
SHARON — Olly Skeet-Browning’s hat trick in the first half sparked the Phoenix in a dominant win over Long Trail.
Skeet-Browning played what coach Blake Fabrikant said was his best game of the season, leading a Sharon offensive explosion to start the game.
Skeet-Browning had all three of his goals, and a pair of assists on two Daniel Henderson goals, to help the Phoenix build a 6-0 lead at halftime.
“We put together the best half we’ve played all year,” Fabrikant said. “Our defense was organized, it’s best we’ve played by far. It shows what we’re capable of doing when we put everything together.”
Erik Younce and Ever Tofel also had goals for Sharon. Riley Eastman had a pair of assists and Peter North had one assist. Keeper Ben Roadis made one save for the shutout.
Sharon and Long Trail renue festivities in Dorset, Vt. on Wednesday afternoon.
HIGHGATE, Vt. — The VPA Division III Olympians took the long drive north and were shut out by the D-II Thunderbirds.
Oxbow (5-4-1) hosts Danville on Wednesday.
HANOVER — Dartmouth linebacker Jack Traynor was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the Big Green’s 28-15 win over Penn on Friday night.
Traynor, a fifth-year senior, had a fumble recovery for a 17-yard touchdown in the first quarter to help stake the Big Green to an early lead. Traynor finished the game with 10 tackles, including one for a loss on a key third down stop to force a Quakers punt.
Dartmouth (3-0, 1-0 Ivy) returns to Memorial Field on Saturday to host Yale (3-0, 1-0 Ivy) in a battle between two of the five remaining undefeated teams in the FCS.