NASHUA, N.H. — The Hanover High golf team apparently wants to let NHIAA Division I know its very much in the state championship hunt.
Hanover swept a four-school match on Nashua Country Club’s front nine on Thursday afternoon. One day after having another match with Bedford at Manchester CC wiped out by storms, HHS took out one team ahead of it in the D-I standings (Dover) to improve to 10-2 on the season.
As has been the case all season, Hanover packed its scoring rounds close together to post a three-stroke win over the Green Wave (5-1) and a five-stroke verdict over third-place host Bishop Guertin (8-10). Hanover’s Spencer Lawe shared second place individually with BG’s Connor Bouvier and Max Riordan at 1-over-par 37. Teammate Casey Graham was two shots back at 39. Dylan Jopp and Andrew Cahoon both shot 41 for HHS, Cam Dwyer and John Hill each carded 42 and Adam Goodney finished with 43, all of which bodes well for Hanover with the state tournament coming up next month.
Dover’s Carys Fennessy won the medal with a 1-under 35.
Hanover is bound for Bretwood Golf Course on Monday to meet Exeter and host Keene.
Team scores: Hanover 201, Dover 204, Bishop Guertin 206, Nashua North 217.
NORTH FRANCESTOWN, N.H. — Depth through the lineup made the difference for the Raiders (7-0), who topped three schools on Crotched Mountain Golf Club’s par-36 front nine.
Sam Bates, playing at No. 5, led Lebanon with 17 points in the Stableford-scored match, good for second place individually behind John Stark’s Kyle Provencher (23). No. 6 Nate Stark scored 16 points for the Raiders, No. 1 Roy Shapard had 15, and Alex Blish and Zach Bitler both posted 14 points to close Lebanon’s scoring.
The Raiders join Hopkinton for a visit to Plymouth on Monday.
Team scores: Lebanon 62, John Stark 53, ConVal 23, Belmont no score.
PELHAM, N.H. — A lopsided third-set win gave Hanover (3-2) the momentum to complete a 25-23, 19-25, 25-9, 25-23 defeat of the Pythons.
Hanover’s serve-receive game set the table for the win, coach Megan McFarland said. Josie Hall, Natalia Somoff and Lilly Clapp anchored the back line, with Esther Hacker and Darien Ray also featuring. Talia Daft closed out the match with strong serving over the final two sets.
Hanover travels to John Stark on Monday.
BRANDON, Vt. — The Wasps “left it late,” coach Rob Stainton remarked, but made the most of the moment in their first win of the season.
Dominant in possession but not on the scoreboard, Woodstock (1-2-0) rallied from a 1-0 halftime deficit. Zach Martsolf-Tan headed home Alec Smail’s corner-kick service two minutes from regulation time to force extra time. Ezra Lockhart put the victory in the Wasps’ pocket on a free kick three minutes into overtime.
“On the second-half performance, a deserved win,” Stainton said.
The Wasps host White River Valley on Monday.
BRADFORD, Vt. — The Bucks answered Oxbow’s tying goal with the winner two minutes later to beat the Olympians (2-1-0).
BMU opened the scoring eight minutes into the second half. Oxbow leveled through Emma Parkin in the 63rd minute, set up by Hadlee Allen. But the O’s let down shortly thereafter to yield the Bucks’ go-ahead marker.
“We struggled a bit today,” Oxbow coach Dan Thomas said. “I think having to postpone the game (on Wednesday) with no practice due to inclement weather hurt us. Possession favored BMU tonight, which may be in part due to the pressure of it being our first home game. We created many opportunities tonight, which bodes well for the remainder of our season, but we were only able to capitalize on one of them, unfortunately.”
The O’s entertain Missisquoi on Saturday.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Sophie Howe and Olivia Chase both notched their first points as Hurricanes, the highlight in a Maxfield Sports Complex loss to the Cosmos.
Howe, in her second Hartford season since a transfer from White River Valley, netted her first career goal for the Canes, with Chase providing the pass.
Hartford (1-4-0) visits Brattleboro on Monday night.
WINDSOR — The Yellowjackets (1-3-1) kept closer to the VPA Division I powerhouse Terriers on the second go-round, cutting BF’s offense in half.
Windsor’s schedule to date has consisted of three games with D-I foes and two others against D-II opponents. The Jacks host Brattleboro on Tuesday.