WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Thetford Academy girls soccer team won its third straight VPA Division III Championship Saturday, defeating Vergennes, 6-1 at the Maxfield Sports Complex.
“It’s amazing,” said sweeper Grace Davis, who netted Thetford’s third goal on a free kick. “Every time it gets more exciting. It never gets old when you’re with these girls.”
The No. 1 Panthers picked up right where they left off in Wednesday’s semifinal win over Enosburg: by controlling all facets of play against the No. 2 Commodores and leaving no doubt about the powerhouse that resides on Thetford Hill.
TA fans seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief after Davis’ corner kick with 21:57 remaining in the first half. The right-side serve connected with Madi Powers, who assisted Namya Benjamin in front of the net.
Lily MacVeagh scored an unassisted goal at 16:22 before Davis cemented the first-half lead 80 seconds later on a direct free kick.
The Panthers (15-2-1) were rarely tested in the playoffs — they scored 23 goals and gave up three — but did face some resistance from Vergennes (11-4-2), which scored the first goal of the second half with 24:54 remaining. Sydney Weber’s tally gave last year’s runner-up a new sense of hope.
The Commodores — who received a strong 12-save performance from goalie Kate Gosliga — were suddenly back in the game as the contest regained its early intensity. Benjamin and Gosliga collided while converging on a ball that was kicked ahead to the Thetford forward. Both competitors walked away from the exchange on their own power following a brief interim. The play was clean involving two players reaching the ball simultaneously with neither relenting.
Vergennes’ comeback bid was cut short soon after the injury stoppage when Sophie Williams converted a pass from Casey MacVeagh to reestablish a comfortable cushion.
Casey MacVeagh and Kathy Darrah both added insurance goals for the three-time champs. The former’s goal — the 57th of her career — came on a stunning left-side corner kick that needed no help finding the inside of the net.
“I knew coming into the season I had like a set amount of goals to get 50,” Casey MacVeagh said when asked about her historical accomplishment. “So I felt great to achieve that and I’m glad I could do it with this team.”
The standout striker is more than just a finisher, though.
“Even aside from her goal count, she generates so much offensively and puts so much pressure on the other teams,” said Thetford coach Dave Williams. “She just does so much all-around. The goal count is nice, and I’m sure it’s impressive and it should be, but what she creates, she creates something all the while she’s out there.”
TA’s defense was stellar as usual, backed by goalie Emma Berard. The junior made five saves Saturday to cap a season that saw TA shutout nine opponents.
The Panthers play a formidable schedule on account of their membership in the Capital League. Of their 14 regular-season opponents, five were D-II and two were D-I.
“We played South Burlington. It was our first game and that was a wake-up call, definitely,” Berard said of the 2-0 loss. “It was a tough game, but I think we played really well and met them.”
Keeping last year’s title game — which Thetford won, 2-1 — in mind helped keep her squad sharp going into Saturday, according to the goalie.
“It was a tough game last year and really close,” Berard said. “So just like reminding ourselves who that team was and that they really want this as much as we do.”
TA finished its season on a 13-game winning streak.
“They just did what they needed to and they got in a groove somewhere in the middle of the season,” Williams said. “And they just refused to be beaten.”
Williams, who’s assisted by Ted MacVeagh and Patty Sevigny, has reached the title game in each of his four years as head coach.
“It’s a little bit of a pinch-me feeling,” he said before departing from Maxfield’s pitch. “But these girls, they’ve been on a mission. The senior leadership is … bit of at a loss for words just how steady they’ve been. They’ve worked hard. I can say as their coach, they’ve earned it. They deserve it.”
Notes: Two former starters crutched out to Saturday’s championship medal ceremony: Arwen Clayton underwent ACL surgery following an injury during the fourth game of the season and Alexis Gaetz broke a leg bone in Wednesday’s semifinal win and is awaiting an operation. Thetford graduates 11 seniors: The MacVeagh sisters, Davis, Gaetz, Clayton, Sophie Williams, Bethany Maxfield, Ellen Veracka, Jade Jamieson, Emma Thorburn and Brittney Clifford. … Saturday morning’s game and the D-III boys championship that followed, were facilitated by the Hartford High athletic department. … Hurricanes Eleanor Hinckley, Reilly Slusser, Sydney Stillman and Cassidy Beisler worked the game as ball girls. … Middle-school music teacher Kristen Chapman sang the national anthem.