WEST CANAAN — Mark another in the win column for the Mascoma High boys soccer team.
The surging Royals, now winners of eight of their last nine games, came back from a 2-1 deficit to win, 3-2, over No. 11 Fall Mountain in Tuesday’s NHIAA Division III first round.
All five goals came in the second half with sixth-ranked Mascoma (12-5-0) quickly erasing a late one-goal deficit with a pair of goals in a three-minute span late in regulation to secure the win.
“It was a typical cold, rainy playoff battle that New Hampshire fans have come to expect and almost embrace,” Mascoma coach Keli Green said. “Today’s win was an all-out Mascoma team win with strong performances by individuals across the field.”
The Royals controlled possession for most of the scoreless first half but couldn’t find the back of the net. Fall Mountain sparked the action in the 44th minute with the opening goal. The Royals then tied it up in the 60th minute on a PK goal by Cole Moulton before Fall Mountain answered back with a PK goal in the 70th minute to take a 2-1 lead.
The final 10 minutes then belonged to the host Royals. Zach Thompson equalized the score in the 71st minute, scoring with an assist to Grant Suttie off a Tanner Moulton corner kick. Ian Moulton then converted the go-ahead goal two minutes later following a free kick by Zach Thompson. Suttie also had an assist on the game-winner.
Keeper Isaiah Hogan made five saves to anchor the Mascoma defense. The Royals will visit No. 3 seed Campbell on Friday in the quarterfinals. The two teams did not face each other during the regular season.
SOUTH ROYALTON — Dominic Craven scored a pair of goals to lead the sixth-seeded Wildcats in a shutout win in the first round of the VPA Division IV playoffs.
WRV controlled play throughout, outshooting Craftsbury, 15-3. Craven’s goals each came from long range, the first a rocket from outside the box fitted into the top corner of the goal. The second came on a free kick. Robby McShinsky added a goal, and Mason Gauthier and Finn Bailey each had assists.
Coach Alex Montano praised the play of both Zach Armstrong and Luke Durkee for keeping the defense organized.
“We’ve surpassed our team goal at the start of the season, which is satisfying,” Montano said. “This team has improved in every aspect.”
WRV (7-6-2) now sets its sights on No. 3 Sharon in the quarterfinals on Friday. The Phoenix beat WRV, 4-2, in South Royalton on Sept. 17.
RANDOLPH — The No. 9 Panthers shut out the No. 8 Galloping Ghosts to open the VPA Division III playoffs.
Ethan Marshia put Thetford in front just seven minutes in, scoring off a restart from 25 yards out. Elliot Jones added an insurance goal in the second half, taking a through ball from Jacob Gilman before finding the back of the net in the 54th minute.
Keeper Mack Briglin made seven saves for Thetford (5-10-0).
Thetford’s win netted a Friday quarterfinal at No. 1 Green Mountain.
NORTHFIELD, Vt. — The ninth-ranked Wasps lost a heartbreaker in double overtime to the former Northfield-Williamstown co-operative in the first round of the VPA Division II postseason.
Trailing 1-0, Woodstock ratcheted up the offensive pressure late in the game. The Wasps finally broke through in the final five minutes of regulation, scoring on an own goal off a corner to knot the score at 1-1 and force overtime. The hosts scored in the second extra session on a breakaway goal.
“The boys were excellent in parts today in difficult conditions, continually pushing to find the back of the net,” Woodstock coach Rob Stainton said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be. It’s a difficult way to end the season, but there are a lot of good aspects of the game to take into next season.”
Keeper Michael LaCroix made two saves for the Wasps (6-7-2). Woodstock’s seniors are Liam Brennan, Jackson Martsolf-Tan, Wyatt Napier, Cooper Dorsogna and Nathan Gnodde.
MORRISTOWN, Vt. — The fifth-seeded Wolves dispatched the No. 12 seed Olympians in the first round of the VPA Division III playoffs.
Oxbow kept it close for most of the first half, trailing just 1-0 in the 38th minute. Oliver Nigro led Peoples with four goals.
“Our first half was the best soccer we’ve played all year, then we got tired. Our conditioning is definitely an area of focus for the offseason,” Oxbow coach Andrew Fisher said. “Overall, we had lots of improvement this year.”
Fisher praised the play of Dakota Goodridge and Shane Morse. The Olympians (1-14-0) will graduate Andrew Emerson, Christopher Roy, Quincy Beaudin, Keghan Keyes, Connor Mazzarella, Izzac Clogston and Nate Bachus.
QUECHEE — No. 5 seed Mid Vermont Christian had little trouble with visiting Enosburg in a first-round playoff game, 25-12, 25-14, 25-14.
Good, consistent serving worked for MVCS (10-3), coach Tom Evans said. Delaney Gross led the way with 11 aces, Hayley Goodwin contributed another six with six kills and nine digs, and Felicity Adams had a team-best eight kills.
The Eagles will visit Rice on Friday for a quarterfinal matchup.