LEBANON — Someone’s likely to get skunked when the Lebanon High girls soccer team plays this season.
Tuesday, the Raiders won by shutout for the third time this year, pinning a 3-0 result on Keene that improved the hosts’ record to 4-3-0. Lebanon has failed to score in each of its losses. The Blackbirds fell to 1-6-0.
Mary Rainey opened the scoring by perfectly placing a long free kick under the crossbar and over the goalkeeper’s hands 11 minutes before intermission.
“Her shots and corner kicks are dangerous,” said Lebanon coach Breck Taber, whose squad was at Milford (3-3-1) on Wednesday. “She’s scored at least three times this fall on longer, lofted shots.”
Rainey, who’s committed to play at Maine’s Bowdoin College next fall, assisted on the second goal four minutes later, her corner kick leading to Marianna Utell’s tally. The third goal? More Rainey, as she again dropped a free kick under the bar and over the netminder, this time with 14 minutes to play.
“When we play control soccer and pass to each other’s feet and into space at the right times, we’re good,” Taber said, praising his three starting freshmen, midfielders Utell and Brooke Walker and defender Sara Forman. “We have problems when we try to do too much individually or panic and just start booting the ball.”
WEST CANAAN — Stella Lavertue had three goals and three assists to lead the Cardinals (7-0-0) over the Royals (0-6-0).
Bri Marsh added two goals for Stevens. Tori Dalke and Maddy Minckler each had a goal and an assist. Addison Derosier, Maya Rice and Kaiya Richard had one goal each. Kiley Bundy had three assists.
Keeper Hailey Knight picked up another shutout for Stevens. The Cardinals have not allowed a goal yet this season and have outscored their opponents, 47-0. Up next for Stevens is a visit to Newport on Thursday.
Mascoma also hits the road on Thursday, visiting Bishop Brady.
ORFORD — Harper Traendly had four goals and an assist in the Raptors’ win over the Phoenix.
The Raptors broke open a 1-1 game with four goals in the second half. Bradleigh Bushee added a goal for Rivendell. Keepers Lauren Smith and Ryleigh Butler split time for the hosts.
Freya Abbey scored for Sharon. Coach Andy Ruddell also praised the all-around play of Anna Gnodde.
“We were missing a lot of key players and still played well today against a good team,” Ruddell said. “I’m proud of the effort put forth. Rivendell has some very good individuals and our one-on-one defending wasn’t good enough.”
Rivendell (3-3-0) will visit White River Valley on Saturday. The Phoenix (2-3-0) are off until Tuesday when they host Proctor.
BRADFORD, Vt. — The Olympians played an even more dominant game than the score indicates, outshooting the Chargers, 24-4.
Brianna Gray opened the scoring with an unassisted strike for Oxbow. McKenna Smith then scored the game-winner, assisted by Maggi Ellsworth.
Keeper Makenna Simmons made one save for the O’s, who visit Hazen on Saturday.
HANOVER — The Bears couldn’t recover from a 2-0 deficit at halftime, falling to 3-5-0 this season.
Casey Havrda scored, Sophie Wise with the assist, to help the hosts get back within one in the second half. Keeper Sadie Ross and the Hanover defense did hold Alvirne in check after a slow start to the game by the Bears.
Hanover visits Merrimack on Monday.
WOODSTOCK — Izzy Konijnenberg scored four goals in the first half and Olivia Grasso added two more after the break to lead the Wasps (3-1-0) past the Panthers (0-6-0). Violet Tuckerman made five saves for Woodstock.
The Wasps are at Brattleboro on Thursday, while Thetford hosts Harwood on Saturday.
MEREDITH, N.H. — The Tigers fell to 3-3-0 with the loss to the Lakers. Newport hosts rival Stevens on Thursday.
WEST CANAAN — Tanner Moulton had two goals to lead a balanced Royals attack in a shutout win over the Cardinals.
Freshman Brayden Pierce added a goal, the first in his varsity career, and an assist on Moulton’s first strike, which came just five minutes into the action. Grant Suttie and Aidan Smith also scored, Smith on a rocket from 20 yards into the upper-left corner of the goal. James Thomas had an assist.
Keeper Matt Favreau recorded his first career shutout. The Royals (5-1-0) will host Fall Mountain on Thursday.
Stevens (1-5-0) visits Kearsarge on Saturday.
HUDSON, N.H. — The Bears snapped their three-game losing skid in emphatic fashion.
Zach Tracy and Andrew McGuire each had two goals and an assist to pace Hanover (4-4-0). Jack Gardner scored the game’s first goal, his team-best fourth on the season. Alex McGrath and Veer Patel each added their first varsity goals.
Keeper Ty Nolon’s one save was on a breakaway early in the action to preserve a scoreless game. Hanover will host Merrimack on Monday.
LACONIA, N.H. — The Raiders improved to 6-2-0 with a shutout of the Sachems.
Nick Brill, with an assist to Nico Pantella, scored in the 34th minute for Lebanon. Andrew Dannehy, assisted by Otto Bourne, added an insurance strike in the 56th. Keepers Easton Wykes and Zach Aldrich made a save each for the Raiders, who host Pembroke on Saturday.
WINDSOR — Mackenzie Kleefisch had a pair of goals and an assist to lead the Yellowjackets in a home shutout over the Colonels.
Gwen Ambrose added a goal for Windsor (2-4-0). Gabby Gilbert and Amber Simonds each chipped in an assist. The Jacks will host rival Woodstock on Friday for homecoming.
WEST CANAAN — The Royals (2-4-1) surrendered a pair of goals in the second half to fall to the Bears.
Ann Buffington scored a game-tying goal for Mascoma in the second quarter with an assist to Makenna Houston. Coach Danielle Pushee praised the good ball movement of her charges, but the Royals had trouble capitalizing on scoring chances. Mascoma visits Hopkinton on Saturday.
NEWPORT — The Tigers improved to an impressive 7-1-0 with the win over the Orioles. Newport is at Mascenic on Thursday, having already defeated the Vikings, 6-1, earlier in the season.
AMHERST, N.H. — The Raiders were shut out by the Sabers and dropped to 2-3-1. Lebanon hosts Pembroke on Saturday.