BRISTOL, N.H. — Just ask the Mascoma High girls soccer team: All good things are worth the wait.
After 20 straight losses over their first two years as a varsity program, the Royals finally picked up their first-ever win in a 3-1 defeat of Newfound on Wednesday afternoon.
Mascoma (1-8-0) scored a pair of goals in the first half to take a 2-0 lead into the break. Playing with a lead, an unfamiliar but welcome position, the Royals’ defense held before extending the lead to 3-0 midway through the second half. Newfound tacked on a late goal which did nothing to mute the Mascoma celebration.
“It was huge, scoring right of the gate like that. It set the tempo for the rest of the game,” Mascoma coach Denver Greene said. “We’re not used to playing with the lead. Our bench is not deep, with only three girls, but the three of them were encouraging and shouting messages to the girls on the field. Everyone could sense it, and they were hungry.”
Emily Seiler, Rhiannon Stone and Madisun LaCasse each had a goal and an assist for the Royals. Braelyn Stone and Liberti LaCasse also had assists. Keeper Emma Bill made three saves to anchor the suddenly stingy Mascoma defense.
“We had some nervous moments late, but the girls really played awesome,” Greene added. “To be able to see it out for our first victory ever, it’s great.”
With no water coolers on hand due to COVID restrictions, the postgame celebration included Greene getting doused with the contents of a solitary water bottle. Upon arrival back in Mascoma, several parents were ready to receive the busload of victors.
“It was great getting back seeing the support from the community, which has been great. A JV boys game was wrapping up, and a lot of the parents hung around to greet us. It’s great for the girls to see that support is there,” Greene said.
The Royals will go for two wins in a row when they host White Mountains on Saturday at noon.
RICHFORD, Vt. — The Olympians (5-2-0) survived a sometimes frantic battle with Richford on the hosts’ smaller-than-normal pitch, which made for plenty of scoring chances by both sides.
Emma Parkin got things started in the 10th minute for Oxbow by curling in a corner kick for a goal. Richford answered in the 38th minute. Hadlee Allen then scored the game-winner in the 69th minute, finding herself in the right spot to convert a deflection into the back of the net.
“Richford was fielding the strongest team I’ve seen in recent years. Between that and the increased number of offensive opportunities on their small pitch, this was one that could have gone either way,” Oxbow coach Dan Thomas said.
The Olympians host Enosburg on Saturday.
THETFORD — Madi Powers had two goals, but the Panthers (2-4-1) fell to Montpelier.
Kiran Black scored Thetford’s first goal, unassisted. Powers followed with a pair, getting assists from Naima Bolles and Mason Fahey.
Keeper Heidi Hewes made seven saves for the Panthers, who will visit Stowe on Friday.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Ezra Lockhart scored four goals to lead the Wasps (4-4-0) in a dominant victory at the Hurricanes (5-3-0).
Lockhart started the action with a penalty kick goal in the fourth minute. He added another goal in the 27th to give the Wasps a 2-0 lead at halftime. Declan McCullough scored the other goal for Woodstock, coming in between a pair of second-half strikes by Lockhart. Alec Smail had two assists, and Cooper Dorsogna had one.
“It was a great team performance this evening. All the boys turned up to play and put in their best performance of the season so far,” Woodstock coach Rob Stainton said. “Defensively, the team marshaled the Hartford offense well to achieve the first clean sheet of the season.”
Woodstock hosts Fair Haven on Tuesday. The Canes hit the road to face Leland & Gray on Saturday.
WEST CANAAN — The Royals (4-4-0) lost a hard-fought battle with Trinity in a defensive clash worthy of postseason play.
“This was a well-played game from start to finish,” Mascoma coach Keli Green said. “Scoring opportunities were there, but both defenses and goalies were formidable.”
Royals keeper Isaiah Hogan (11 saves) anchored the back line, which also had strong performances from Ian Moulton and Cole Moulton. Trinity scored in the 67th minute for the game’s only goal.
The Royals host Bishop Brady for homecoming on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
COLCHESTER, Vt. — The Eagles improved to 6-1 with the win in straight sets (25-13, 25-20, 25-14).
Haley Goodwin had eight kills and four aces for Mid Vermont Christian. Delaney Gross also had four aces. Felicity Adams added five kills and three blocks.
WEST CANAAN — The Royals won in four sets, dropping the third by a 27-25 final and winning the other three, 25-23, 25-18 and 25-10.
Emma Zuger was great at the net, according to coach Eric Ramage, finishing with four clutch blocks. Cardigan Loupis added 10 aces, and Anna Sullivan had eight aces. Ramage credited the service work of Abigail Waugh as being key in the decisive win in the fourth set.
“Both teams played strong hearted and some of the rallies were long with good defensive covering,” Ramage said.
CONCORD — The Cardinals had four players with 13-plus Stableford points to win a match at Beaver Meadow Golf Course.
Reeve Wilkinson led the way for Stevens with 18 points. CJ Naugler added 16, Cedric Allen had 15 and Ian Gersberg had 13 points. Laconia’s Evan Rollins had a match-best 23 points.
Team scores: Stevens 62, Bishop Brady 53, Laconia 39.
FAIRLEE — Hanover went 1-1 in a match on the front nine at Lake Morey Country Club.
Spencer Lawe and Dylan Jopp each had 3-over-par scores of 37 to lead Hanover. Casey Graham and Trevor Pierce added rounds of 40. John Hill, Adam Goodney and Cam Dwyer each had 41. Concord’s Cam Brown and Gavin Richardson each fired rounds of 35.
Team scores: Concord 187, Hanover 195, Merrimack 234.