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After scoring the only goal of the Wasps’ VPA Division 2 semifinal against Spaulding, Hannah Gubbins jumps into the arms of teammate Grace Laperle, 16, to celebrate at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Woodstock will face Hartford in the championship at the University of Vermont on Friday. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Maddi Willey, of Hartford, left, moves the ball down the baseline while guarded by Natalie Beauregard, of U-32, during their VPA Division 2 semifinal at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Hartford won 4-1. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Hartford Head Coach Heather Scudder, middle, advises Flynn Moreno, right, before she takes the field in the fourth quarter of the Hurricanes’ VPA Division 2 semifinal with U-32 at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Hartford won 4-1. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Hailey Vanasse, 22, of Hartford, ushers the ball past Alexandra Weller, of U-32, second from right, and into the net during the Hurricanes’ 4-1 VPA Division 2 semifinal win at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Aleks Cirovic, fourth from left, and Alice Cayer, fifth from left, belt out the last words of the Star Spangled Banner with their Woodstock teammates before their VPA Division 2 semifinal with Spaulding at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Woodstock won 1-0. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. -
Georgia Tarleton, of Woodstock, middle, keeps Spaulding’s Caitlin Peacock, left, from turing toward goal as her teammate Ruby Harrington, right, provides support during their VPA Division 2 semifinal at St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vt., on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. Woodstock won 1-0. (Valley News – James M. Patterson) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. — Play it again.
The Hartford High and Woodstock High field hockey teams will meet for the VPA Division II championship for the second year in a row after posting back-to-back D-II semifinal victories on Tuesday at St. Johnsbury Academy.
The top-ranked Hurricanes zapped No. 4 U-32, 4-1, in the day’s early semifinal, with the second-ranked Wasps doing their part in setting up a rematch later in the evening by edging No. 3 Spaulding, 1-0.
Madison Barwood had a pair of goals to help Hartford lock up its invitation. Hailey Vanasse put Hartford (13-2-0) in front in the opening minutes, scoring with an assist to Barwood.
Barwood followed soon after with her first goal to give the Canes a 2-0 lead. Kamryn Brower added a goal for a 3-0 lead before Barwood scored her second and a 4-0 edge.
Coach Heather Scudder praised the midfield play of both Paige Trombly and Maddi Willey as being key to the victory. Goalie Paige Vielleux made two saves for the Canes.
Woodstock finally broke through with less than five minutes to play in regulation in its semifinal victory to confirm Friday’s date with its archrival.
Claudia Shoemaker started the game-winning rally, bringing the ball down the field and sending it into the circle. Grace Laperle took a shot and Hannah Gubbins was there to redirect for the goal and a 1-0 lead with 4:35 left to play.
Woodstock goalie Paige Stone (three saves) and the rest of the defense played a lockdown game to keep Spaulding off the board. Woodstock survived nine Crimson Tide penalty corners, earning the shutout with strong team defense.
The Wasps (13-1-0) have now won 13 straight after an opening loss to Burr & Burton back on Sept. 1. Woodstock won this season’s only regular-season meeting with Hartford, a 2-1 decision in Woodstock on Oct. 4.
The Wasps claimed last year’s championship by a 1-0 count over Hartford. The Canes will be looking for their first VPA state field hockey title since 2009’s Division I defeat of CVU. Friday’s title contest begins at 3 p.m. and will be played at UVM.
WINDSOR — The Yellowjackets are back in the VPA Division III title game for the first time in 20 years — and just the second time in program history — after scoring two goals in the second half to beat visiting Paine Mountain in Tuesday’s semifinal at MacLeay-Royce Field.
Audrey Rupp had all three goals for No. 3 seed Windsor (15-1-1). The score was knotted up at 1-1 into halftime before Windsor took control in the second half, with Rupp’s final two strikes providing the final margin. Brianna Barton, Olivia MacLeay and Miah McAllister had assists. Keeper Sophia Rockwood made eight saves.
The Yellowjackets will face No. 5 seed Stowe, the three-time defending D-III champions, for the title on Friday at 4:30 p.m. at South Burlington High School. This is the first state title appearance for Windsor since 2003, when the Jacks fell to Northfield in the championship game.
TOWNSHEND, Vt. — The Raptors couldn’t battle back from a two-goal deficit, falling in the VPA Division IV semifinals.
The hosts scored in the 14th and 58th minutes to lead, 2-0, over Rivendell. Erin Ricker countered for the Raptors in the 68th minute, scoring on a direct kick in the top-right corner of the goal to make it 2-1. The visitors were unable to close the gap further as the Rebels’ defense held the line for the win.
Rivendell finishes at 10-6-0 and, with this loss in the final four, a noteworthy improvement on 2022, when the Raptors were 5-11-0.