NEWPORT — A positive test for COVID-19 by a individual at Newport High School on Tuesday evening led to the cancellation of one NHIAA boys soccer tournament game and the postponement of a second on Wednesday.
The Newport boys soccer team was scheduled to open the NHIAA Division IV tournament at Concord Christian on Wednesday, but the NHIAA website indicated CCA advanced to the next round of the tourney. Contacted on Wednesday evening, Newport coach Caleb Godwin said he didn’t know if the Tigers had forfeited or if the district was attempting to reschedule the match.
Meanwhile, Stevens High had its Wednesday date at Bow in an NHIAA Division II tournament opener put off until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday. Stevens athletic director Doug Beaupre said the Newport COVID positive was the reason for the postponement; the Tigers and Cardinals played two matches last week.
Beaupre added the school is waiting to hear from the state Department of Health and Human Services on whether anyone from Stevens will have to go into quarantine.
— Greg Fennell
HANOVER — Henry Aspinwall scored on a breakaway with less than three minutes left to play to give the defending state champion Marauders a win in the opening round of the NHIAA Division I playoffs.
The hosts trailed early when Concord scored in the 10th minute. Hanover (8-0-1) answered in the 22nd minute on Oscar Miller’s goal, his third of the season. It remained deadlocked until late in regulation when Murphy Hunt slid a through ball to Aspinwall behind the Concord defense. Aspinwall’s team-leading sixth goal put the Marauders in front for good.
Keeper C.J. Wheelan had three saves for Hanover, which will host Bedford in the quarterfinals on Saturday at 2 p.m.
WEARE, N.H. — The Raiders (7-2-1) went on the road and handed John Stark (6-1-3) its first loss of the season in a thriller to open the NHIAA Division II playoffs.
Ryan Oliveira tallied the game’s only goal, a strike in the 57th minute for Lebanon. Griffin Auch started the goal-scoring play with a serve into the box which found Robert de la Cruz, who laid a feed to Oliveira. Oliveira split a pair of defenders and scored from 10 yards out.
The Generals played the final 16 minutes a man down after a red card but still put up a fight in search of the equalizer. The Raiders thwarted a pair of Stark corners in the final 20 seconds but held the line to preserve the win.
Starting keeper Ryan Tanski made two saves in the first half for Lebanon. Colbie Delisle added a save in the second half. The Raiders had eight corners to just three for the hosts.
Lebanon now advances to the quarterfinals to play the winner of Thursday’s first-round game between Stevens and Bow.
WEST CANAAN — The Royals saw their second-half comeback fall just short in a classic playoff battle with Kearsarge in the first round of the NHIAA Division III playoffs.
The Cougars scored midway through the first half and then added a second in the first minute after the break. Ben Seiler brought the hosts within one with a penalty-kick goal in the 64th minute.
“This was a hard-fought midfield battle. Although the outcome of this game is very disappointing, I couldn’t be more proud of my players. To a man, every single player gave his all tonight,” Mascoma coach Keli Green said.
The Royals (6-5-0) will graduate Connor Thompson, Isaac Rayno, Michael Steckbeck-Piper, Noah Lecuyer, Gavin Giovagnoli, Cameron Stebbins and Gabe Sperry.
WINOOSKI, Vt. — The Panthers (1-5-3) saw their season come to an end in the first round of the VPA Division III playoffs.
Winooski took the lead in the fourth minute on Yusufu Mami’s goal. Thetford knotted things up five minutes into the second half when Logan Brinkman found the back of the net. Ethan Marshia assisted. Mami answered with his second goal of the game 10 minutes later for Winooski.
The Panthers graduate eight, including keeper Ryen Wolf (six saves) along with Dylan Moody A’ness, Max Higgins, Knute Linehan, Kobe Pierson, Lucas Gilman, Brinkman and Riley Burkins.
SWANTON, Vt. — The Hurricanes put together perhaps their strongest 80 minutes of the season to top the host Thunderbirds in the VPA Division II first round.
Sarah Howe, Eleanor Hinckley (on a penalty kick) and Reilly Slusser scored for the Canes (5-5-0). Beth Dobrich and Rory Salzano each had assists.
Coach Jeff Acker credited Sophie Howe for sparking the attack. Sophie started the play which led to Sarah Howe’s goal and then earned the foul leading to Hinckley’s PK goal. Acker also credited the defensive work of Katie Blood and Jenna Jasmin as key stalwarts in the shutout. Keeper Erin Thompson had six saves.
No. 8 seed Hartford (5-5-0) will visit No. 1 Fair Haven (8-0-0) on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the quarterfinals. The teams saw plenty of each other during this short season, with Fair Haven winning by scores of 2-1 on Oct. 1 and 1-0 on Oct. 21.
ORFORD — Alex McFate’s penalty-kick goal proved to be all the Raptors (5-3-1) needed to earn the win in the first round of the VPA Division IV playoffs.
A handball set up McFate’s attempt in the 68th minute. Coach Tim Goodwin praised the defense for slowing Poultney, with an emphasis on Ryleigh Butler and Kylie Hebb for their effort in slowing the visitors. Hebb just missed on a long-range strike from 18 yards out.
“Both teams played a tough and physical game. Both sides had opportunities. Cora Day had a great game in net, but more importantly was great at directing the defense and being vocal to lead the team,” Goodwin said.
Next up for the No. 5 seed Raptors is a visit to No. 4 Mount St. Joseph on Saturday. The two did not meet during the regular season.
SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. — The Wasps (2-5-1) fell in the first round of the VPA Division II playoffs.
Abi Masillo and Kelly Jackson scored for Woodstock. Rice scored the first two goals before Masillo’s strike. Jackson’s goal made it 3-1, Rice, in the 55th minute. Wasps keeper Emma Tarleton made nine saves.
Woodstock loses Taylor Crompton, Novah Conway, Megan LaCroix, Savannah Sheehan, Celia Burrington and Lea Sperber to graduation.
BRADFORD, Vt. — Sakoya Sweeney scored all three goals for Lake Region to hand Oxbow a loss to open the VPA Division III playoffs.
Emma Parkin scored with an assist to Leia White for Oxbow in the 44th minute to bring the Olympians within a goal of Lake Region. There it remained until Sweeney’s third in the 79th minute.
“The result didn’t go our way, but I’m still proud of how hard we fought,” Oxbow coach Dan Thomas said. “We had a lot of presence on the field and left everything we had out there. Despite our loss, our effort was commendable.”
The Olympians (4-5-0) graduate White, Emma DeGoosh, Arianna Bolles, Ellyn Hart, Aspen Longmoore and Rachel Spear.
FAIRFAX, Vt. — The Wildcats (2-4-1) were shut out in the first round of the VPA Division III playoffs.
Coach Kim Prestridge praised the work of both Blake Southworth in the midfield and forward Jillian Barry for creating scoring chances for the Wildcats. Lilly Hudson and keepers Fiona Vaillancourt and Ellie Prestridge (five saves combined) anchored the WRV defense.
The Wildcats graduate five: Vaillancourt, Hudson, Southworth, Stella Jones and Maddie McShinsky.
HARDWICK, Vt. — The Phoenix (3-7-0) couldn’t match the intensity of Hazen in a shutout loss to open the VPA Division IV playoffs.
“This was a really disappointing way to end our season. We just didn’t show up. It’s such a stark contrast from our last game where we were composed offensively and attentive defensively,” Sharon coach Andy Ruddell said.
Sharon graduates Lydia Eastman, Isabella Amadeo, Abigail Gross, Molly Kinnarney, Finely Lord, Tia Kendall and Addison Hadlock.
HANOVER — The Marauders (7-0) were granted a forfeit win over the Wildcats to advance to Friday’s NHIAA Division II quarterfinals against either Plymouth or John Stark.
HILLSBORO, N.H. — The Cardinals (2-7) picked the perfect time to end a seven-match losing streak, upsetting the Hillcats to advance to the NHIAA Division III quarterfinals. They’ll visit Sunapee on Friday night.
SUNAPEE — The Royals lost a tight battle with the Lakers in the opening round of the NHIAA Division III tournament, falling 15-25, 23-25, 25-17 and 26-28.