Published: 11/23/2020 9:17:21 PM
Modified: 11/25/2020 7:53:24 AM
Trying to illustrate some of the storylines from the unprecedented fall sports season, here are 14 numbers from the 14 high schools the Valley News covered this fall.
14 The number of rounds the Hanover girls soccer team went in penalty kicks of its NHIAA Division I semifinal against Windham. The Marauders were on the cusp of making the title game in their first season of D-I competition after winning back-to-back D-II championships.
37 Successful extra points kicked by Hartford’s Kobe Peach during the Hurricanes seven-on-seven football season. He converted four field goals and caught six touchdown passes, too. A senior, Peach finished the season with 85 total points, best for third in the Upper Valley. No other player kicked more field goals or extra points this year than Peach.
55 Career goals for Lebanon field hockey’s Sydney Gonyea, which ties the school record set by Samantha Davis in 2009. Gonyea, a senior, had only nine games in a COVID-19-shortened season but still tallied 11 goals. She tied the record in the Raiders’ preliminary round loss to archrival Hanover.
73.44 Winning percentage accumulated by Mascoma field hockey coach Jenn Hammond over the last four seasons. The Royals played in a de facto championship game this fall thanks to a bizarre situation, making it their fourth consecutive season in the title game.
7 Wins for the Mid Vermont Christian volleyball team, which played all of its games outside this season per VPA guidelines. The Eagles closed out their coronavirus-affected outdoor season by winning the championship match of their own invitational tournament, rallying from a one-set deficit to topple St. Johnsbury.
949 Rushing yards for Newport football’s Jagger Lovely. The Tigers brought home their first state championship since 2015, and a lot of their success had to do with Lovely. The senior finished off his final campaign leading the Upper Valley in rushing yards and also scored nine touchdowns on the ground.
18 Match losing streak ended by the Oxbow boys soccer team this season on Oct. 9. The Olympians traveled to Richford, Vt., and knocked off the hosts 3-0, with goals from Cameron Roy, Bryce Ilsley and Carter Allen. The win ended the streak, which dated back to the 2018 season.
9 Goals allowed by the Rivendell boys soccer team. The Raptors, who finished the season 5-2-2, recorded four shutouts and were led in net by Owen Mansur.
21 Total points for Riley Eastman from the Sharon boys soccer team. Eastman scored 15 goals with six assists on the season as the Phoenix advanced to the VPA Division IV semifinals before falling at Proctor High. The 21 points ties with Mascoma Ben Seiler’s for the most in the Upper Valley this fall.
77 That’s what Finn Allen carded for the Stevens golf team at the NHIAA Division III team golf championship at Derryfield Country Club. He finished in fifth place as the Cardinals placed second, their best finish since 2001 when they came within a stroke of the NHIAA Class I crown.
5 Runners in the top 20 for the Thetford Academy girls cross country team at the VPA Division III meet. The Panthers placed second and were led by Madelyn Durkee’s third-place finish. TA hosted the event with no fans, making for a quiet day on the 5-kilometer course.
13 The seeding for the White River Valley boys soccer team entering the VPA DI-V tournament. That didn’t faze the Wildcats, who went on a Cinderella run to the semifinals, beating the No. 4 and No. 5 seed on the way.
5.33 Goals scored per game for the Windsor field hockey team en route to it second consecutive state championship. The Yellowjackets went 9-0 and outscored opponents 48-4.
11 Combined goals between Woodstock field hockey’s Norah Harper and Lily Gubbins. The sophomore duo helped lead the Wasps to a semifinal appearance, their first since 2018.
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.