BRANDON, Vt. — A little timely teamwork went a long way for the Woodstock High field hockey team in its season opener on Tuesday.
Norah Harper picked up the game’s only goal on a third-period tip-in to give the Wasps a 1-0 win over Otter Valley in a Southern Vermont League contest. Lily Gubbins set the scoring play in motion, driving a ball from the wing that Sophie Yates settled. Lilia McCullough got the first nick of Yates’ feed, and Harper tipped McCullough’s redirection into the Otters’ net.
Woodstock coach Wendy Wannop also received a good view of her future in goal. First-year netminder Audrey Emery stopped every shot she faced for her first shutout.
“A good first game of the season,” Wannop said. “Several good chances to score, but Otter Valley pressed us late in the game and we finished playing a lot of defense. … So happy for the girls that we are getting to play games. Always a good game against Otter Valley.”
The Wasps host rival Windsor for their home opener at Yvonne Frates Field on Thursday.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A well-executed penalty corner landed on the stick of Burr & Burton’s Abby Farrington for the game-winning goal with just 54 seconds left in regulation.
The conversion spoiled an otherwise promising debut for the Hurricanes, who were replacing seven graduated starters against a foe that didn’t lose anyone from last year’s VPA Division II semifinalists. Bailey Cameron played well in the Hartford goal, making seven saves.
“There was nothing to argue about,” Hartford coach Heather Scudder said of Farrington’s winner. “I could watch 20 more games, and I would not see a goal like that. There’s no shame in losing that way.”
The Canes (0-1-0) host Lebanon on Friday.
CLAREMONT — The Cardinals (2-2-0) picked up a pair of goals from Bri Frisbee to send Hanover (3-1-0) to its first loss of the season.
Summer Barrett and Alex Perez split the goaltending chores for Stevens and shared the shutout. Olivia Evans and Reilly Loughman combined in net for the Marauders.
“We didn’t adjust well (to slippery conditions), and tonight they were the better team,” Hanover coach Jean Essex said.
Essex credited the fourth-quarter play of Celia Grove and Emily Perras in a comeback attempt for the Marauders.
The two teams play again at Hanover on Saturday.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — The Hurricanes (1-0-0) had their way with the Minutemen, getting five first-time goals and holding the visitors without a shot at the Maxfield Sports Complex.
Eleanor Hinckley’s hat trick led an assault that included two-goal afternoons from Gretl Josselyn and Jenna Jasmin. Beth Dobrich, Regan Mock, Cassidy Beisler, Sophie Howe and Katie Blood all recorded their first varsity goals. Reilly Slusser also scored for Hartford.
Blood joined Sarah Howe at central defense to keep Mill River away from the Hartford goal. The Hurricanes host Fair Haven on Thursday night under the lights at Hartford High School.
THETFORD — Madi Powers’ second goal of the afternoon gave the three-time defending VPA Division III state champs a win in their season debut.
Powers’ first came right at the 33-minute mark on a penalty kick. The Panthers (1-0-0) drew the spot kick when Lake Region goalkeeper Kayleigh Coy’s punch of a TA corner kick hit the hand of defender Alexis Sicard. Powers then slotted home the PK into the lower left-hand corner.
The Rangers (0-1-0) leveled in opportunistic fashion on the 66th minute, Ally Cotnoir following her own rebound of a shot first knocked down by Thetford netminder Emma Berard (three saves). Powers delivered the winner barely two minutes later, turning on a defender and sending an 18-yard left-footed drive over Coy.
“I thought it was a great game; everybody did a great job and effort,” said Powers, a junior who scored 10 times for the Panthers last fall. “We had some great opportunities. Our goalie made some good saves there at the end. It’s great to get back playing with everything going on and get the team back together.”
Powers had a team-high five shots, and the hosts finished with a 14-8 team advantage. TA hosts Randolph on Friday.
CLAREMONT — The Marauders (3-0-0) stayed unbeaten with an offensive explosion on a rainy afternoon at Monadnock Park.
Maeve Lee had a hat trick and teammates Casey McGuire and Charlotte Johnson both scored twice for Hanover, which also picked up goals from Caroline Adams, Sonja Lippman, Emilia Torresani and Elsa Bolinger. Adams added three assists for a four-point afternoon.
Kira Smith set up a pair of goals for the Marauders; Lippman, Sage McGinley-Smith, Danielle Rudd and Sydney McLaughlin also earned assists. Goalkeepers Rebekah Rudd and Emma Kleber shared in the shutout without having to make a save.
The teams meet again on Saturday night on Merriman-Branch Field in Hanover.
DORSET, Vt. — Sophomore Maeve Miller scored twice in the second half and goalkeeper Tia Kendall made a huge save in the final two minutes of the match to secure the Phoenix’s first win of the season.
Brandy Lewis provided a goal and set up two for Sharon. Lydia Eastman also scored, and Kendall finished with eight stops.
“After a slow start, the team really started to gel in the second half,” co-coach Andy Ruddell said. “They started moving the ball faster and really ratcheted up the intensity. It was good to get on the scoresheet four times after failing to convert any of our chances in our opener. Hopefully this trend continues, as goal scoring was one of our main issues last year.”
Twin Valley visits the Phoenix on Friday.
BRADFORD, Vt. — The Thunderbirds scored once in each half and tossed a shutout at the Olympians (1-1-0).
Ariana Bourdeau put Missisquoi on the board in the 18th minute. Briana Parent stretched the advantage two minutes after halftime. The O’s warmed up to the challenge in the second half but not enough to dent the visitors’ net.
“Although we were not able to put one in the back of the net, I felt that our midgame improvements will elevate our play for when we face our next opponent,” Oxbow coach Dan Thomas said.
Hazel Fahey, Emma Parkin and Rachel Spear all had strong defensive games for the O’s, who visit Enosburg Falls on Friday.
LANGDON, N.H. — Emily Seiler scored her first varsity goal as the Royals fell to 0-5-0 on the season.
Madisun LaCasse recorded the assist for Mascoma. The Wildcats and Royals stage a rematch on Saturday morning in West Canaan.
FAIR HAVEN, Vt. — The Slaters handed the Wasps (0-1-0) a loss in the team’s SVL opener. Woodstock hosts Springfield on Friday.
PROCTOR, Vt. — Riley Eastman and Daniel Henderson connected twice for goals — once directly, once indirectly — as the Phoenix (2-0-0) won their second straight.
Eastman drew a penalty in the 12th minute of play on a penetrating run to the Phantoms’ area, leaving Henderson to convert the ensuing spot kick. Proctor leveled directly off a corner kick in the 57th minute past goalkeeper Ben Rodis (seven saves), but Henderson put TSA ahead to stay by netting an Eastman through ball in the 66th.
“Proctor has had our number in all sports for as long as we can remember, so for us to not only come away with a victory, but to do it in dominant fashion, is really an encouraging sign,” Phoenix coach Blake Fabrikant said. “It’s still quite early in the season, but we have made huge strides from last fall, and hopefully we continue the trend upward.”
Sharon hosts West Rutland on Thursday.
WOODSTOCK — Tom Bissaillon made it two shutouts in two starts with a 12-save performance as the Wasps (1-0-1) played the Rebels to a scoreless double-overtime draw.
Woodstock had several good scoring chances in the first half but couldn’t find the back of the net, coach Rob Stainton said. Playing conditions deteriorated as the rain picked up, leaving both sides settling for the tie.
“Injuries meant a number of players played 110 minutes of soccer,” Stainton added. “I can’t fault the team for their game this afternoon. They never stopped battling, and even in the last minute of overtime were pushing for a winner.”
Woodstock visits Windsor on Friday before hosting Green Mountain on Saturday.
HANOVER — The Marauders (3-0-0) pounded 46 shots toward the Cardinals’ net, getting goals from Dylan Kotlowitz, Henry Aspinwall and Eric Ringer in a shutout victory.
Ty Nolon needed one save for the clean sheet, making a spectacular stop of a shot by Stevens’ Brady Moote. Cooper Moote, the Cards’ Netminder, was equally outstanding with 18 saves, Hanover coach Rob Grabill noted.
The teams stage a rematch on Saturday at Monadnock Park in Claremont.
WOODSTOCK — Rain didn’t keep the Cosmos from handing the Wasps (0-1) a loss in the VPA seven-on-seven opener for both teams at James McLaughlin Field.
Springfield held a 17-0 lead at the half behind touchdowns from Luke Stocker and Caleb Roby and a 35-yard Quinton Andrews field goal. Nathan Leonard and Chris Jeffers added second-half scores for the visitors.
The teams meet again in Springfield on Friday.
HANOVER — The Dartmouth athletic department has tapped into the Ivy League to draw its new coach, Porscha Dobson, away from rival Penn to become the Big Green’s director of track and field and cross country.
Dobson, who succeeds the retired Barry Harwick, spent the past 10 years at Penn, the last two as associate head coach. During that time, she led the Quaker women to five straight Heptagonal titles — the last three indoor championships as well as outdoor crowns in 2018 and ‘19. Dobson’s sprinters have been particularly good, accounting for nearly half of Penn’s team points at indoor meets last winter. She has also coached 14 individual champions and 45 first- or second-team all-league performers.
Dobson was an assistant at Penn from 2012-18 prior to being promoted. She was head coach at Montclair (N.J.) State before joining the Quakers. She is a 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina, where she was a three-year captain, a two-time all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a key part of two team conference titles with the Tar Heels.