HANOVER — Hanover High’s Sydney McLaughlin didn’t convert the deciding penalty kick Tuesday during the Bears’ 2-1 girls soccer defeat of NHIAA Division I foe Merrimack. The senior certainly earned an unofficial assist, however, crashing to the Merriman-Branch Field turf with seven minutes remaining and drawing a foul to set up Maeve Lee’s successful boot.

McLaughlin, known more for her basketball prowess, showed substantial discipline as the second half progressed. The tall striker was hounded and repeatedly hit by a passel of Tomahawk defenders, each clash seeming to escalate until Lexi Best sent McLaughlin flying with a hip check just inside the penalty area.

“She held it together and was very mature,” said Hanover coach Doug Kennedy, whose team improved to 6-3-0. “She got whacked over and over.”

Merrimack (4-4-0) scored the first half’s lone goal on a high shot that arced over goalkeeper Sadie Ross, who was staring directly into a setting sun. Hanover equalized seven minutes after halftime when Nora Bradley headed in a Kiran Park corner kick.

“We controlled the game, even though we weren’t at our peak,” Kennedy said. “We came out sluggish and needed to get a little more positive in our talk, in how we held people accountable. We also needed to play quicker and see everything as an opportunity to attack.”

Park, a senior who plays on the left side of Hanover’s back line, dribbles with an unusual smoothness and her eyes up, dodging opponents and laying the ball off smoothly and accurately. Kennedy said his charge has only recently realized she has the talent to play in college.

“She can shoot from range and has really developed,” Kennedy said. “She’s always had the athleticism, but in the past year, it’s become evident she’s a high-level player. She has incredible foot skills.”

Hanover hosts Goffstown (5-4-0) on Thursday.

Windsor 8, Hartford 0

WINDSOR — Audrey Rupp had five goals and an assist to lead the Yellowjackets (5-1-1) over the Hurricanes (0-6-0).

Olivia MacLeay added two goals and an assist. Kenzie Westcott scored once, and Brianna Barton had an assist.

Hartford hosts Green Mountain Valley on Thursday. Windsor visits Bellows Falls on Friday.

Rivendell 3, Randolph 1

ORFORD — Harper Traendly scored all three goals in the second half for the Raptors (3-2-0).

Lindsey O’Hearn, Allie Vogelien and Lyza Taylor all had assists for Rivendell, which managed 12 shots on goal as a team. Traendly scored in the second minute of the second half and later added a pair during a two-minute stretch.

Rivendell hosts Green Mountain on Monday.

Woodstock 2Otter Valley 0

WOODSTOCK — Chloe Masillo had a goal and an assist for the Wasps (4-1-0).

Masillo opened the scoring, and Sophia Nisimblat had the assist. Maeve Roylance added an insurance goal, assisted by Masillo. The Wasps outshot the Otters, 20-8, and host Fair Haven on Friday.

Boys Soccer Hanover 5, Merrimack 0

MERRIMACK, N.H. — The Bears won their sixth consecutive NHIAA Division I game, improving to 8-1-0.

Zach Tracy scored his team-best 10th goal during the second minute to give Hanover the early lead. Ryder Hayes added a goal in the 19th minute before Roan Palm added a pair sandwiched around halftime, his first career varsity goals. Veer Patel added a goal as well.

Coach Rob Grabill praised the play of defenders Joseph Rudd, Sam Ames and Schuyler Clapp. The Bears are back in action on Friday at Goffstown.

Mascoma 3, Kearsarge 0

NORTH SUTTON, N.H. — The Royals improved to 6-3-0.

Tanner Moulton put Mascoma in front early. Brayden Pierce scored twice in the second half, both assisted by Moulton.

Goalkeeper Matt Favreau made six saves for the Royals, who visit Raymond on Saturday.

Lebanon 4, Souhegan 0

LEBANON — Nick Brill had two goals and two assists to lead the Raiders.

Otto Bourne headed home a Brill corner kick to start the scoring in the 20th minute. Brill added a PK goal three minutes later and then assisted with another corner on Bennett Hewett’s goal just before halftime. Brill then scored unassisted in the 62nd minute.

The Raiders (10-0-0) have now won at least 10 games in 18 straight seasons, excepting the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. Lebanon hosts Kennett on Saturday.

Oxbow 7, Danville 0

DANVILLE, Vt. — Andrew Barrett scored four goals and Reece Ilsley had two. Jayden Huntoon also tallied as Oxbow rolled.

“The boys played very well today. With Winooski on the schedule for Friday, I hope this is the boost we need going into that game,” said Oxbow coach Chuck Simmons.

The Olympians (2-5-0) host Winooski on Friday.

Field Hockey Hartford 2, Bellows Falls 1 (OT)

WESTMINSTER, Vt. — The Hurricanes (5-1-0) fell to the Terriers last week but earned this victory when Kamryn Brower scored in overtime. Brower also put Hartford in front with a third-quarter goal to make it 1-0, assisted by Maddi Willey.

Paige Vielleux made 11 saves for Hartford. Coach Heather Scudder praised the defensive play of both Gabby Gardner and Paige Trombly. The Hurricanes visit Burr & Burton on Friday.

Lebanon 3, ConVal 1

LEBANON — Harper Rancourt scored twice and Mackenzie Ray added a goal and an assist. Norah Burns had a pair of assists for the Raiders.

“We had good passes today and really tried to move the ball,” said Lebanon coach Amanda Valliere, whose 3-5-0 team visits Laconia on Thursday. “Our positioning has improved on corners, and it was nice to see that result in goals today.”

Mascoma 2, Hopkinton 1 (OT)

WEST CANAAN — The Royals scored late to force overtime and capped the comeback with Makenna Houston’s winning goal coming off an Ann Buffington assist.

Hopkinton scored in the first quarter and held that lead until Buffington scored, assisted by Houston, with two minutes remaining in regulation.

Coach Danielle Pushee praised the play of Aubrey Meyveagaci, who moved up from defense to midfield to step in for an injured teammate. The Royals (6-3-0) visit Kearsarge on Saturday.

Hanover 3, Derryfield 1

MANCHESTER — Savannah Walczak scored three times, each assisted by Elena Simon, in the Bears’ victory.

Walczak and Simon connected twice in the first quarter and once during the second stanza to give Hanover a 3-0 lead at halftime. Goalie Guinevere Riordan made five saves.

“Our (attacking) post players were connected really well, but Derryfield caught on and quickly shut down that option,” said Hanover coach Mallory MacKenzie. “They came out strong in the second, and we had to play a lot more defensively.”

Hanover (5-3-2) visits Oyster River on Thursday.

Cross Country Thetford boys win, girls second

WESTMINSTER, Vt. — The Panthers had a pair of first-place individual finishes in a strong showing at Bellows Falls.

Ben Mattern led the Thetford boys, winning with a time of 16 minutes, 53 seconds. Teammate Brady Sloop was second (17:03), followed by Sebastian Perdrizet in sixth and Elijah Renner in ninth.

Ava Hayden won the girls race for Thetford in 19:56. Teammate Annie Hesser was fifth in 22:37, followed by Charlize Brown in eighth and Lucia Carr in 10th.

Bennett Moreno led the Hartford boys, finishing eighth in 18:11. The Canes also had Jack Fournier in 11th.

Boys team scores: Thetford 32, Burr & Burton 46, Brattleboro 85, Hartford 97.

Girls team scores: Burr & Burton 36, Thetford 37, Bellows Falls 66, Brattleboro 95.

Mascoma tops two

NEWPORT — Gunner Currier tied a course record for Mascoma, winning in 16:49.

Currier’s first-place finish helped the Royals to the win over Newport and Concord Christian. Mascoma also had personal-best times from Trevor Maheu in second (18:39), Brody Albanese in fourth (19:04) and Carl Russell in sixth (19:40).

Bryce Palmer paced Newport in third (18:52), followed by Noah Fryman in fifth (19:40), Michael Bohn in ninth and Tristan Hannum in 10th.

Golf Hartford 338, Otter Valley 359, Woodstock 387, Arlington 425

WOODSTOCK — The Hurricanes clinched the Southern Vermont League Division II championship with a 21-stroke victory at Woodstock Country Club.

Jaden Poirier paced the Canes with a 3-over-par 73, just behind Otter Valley’s Lucas Politano’s 71 in the race for the individual title. The Canes also had scoring rounds from Thomas Thorburn (85), Sean Dunton (88) and Matt Tsouknakis (92).

The Canes will next compete in the Division II sectionals at Montague Golf Club on Tuesday.

Hanover 205, Spaulding 211, Salem 220, Merrimack 228

AMHERST, N.H. — Freshman Ben Ames shot 39 for the medal to lead Hanover over three foes at Souhegan Woods Golf Club.

Nick Reiss and Andrew Cahoon each added 41 for the Bears. Andrew Cramer and Adam Goodney had 42 each.