HANOVER — With its senior midfield finally back together again after moving all over the field to cover two weeks’ worth of injuries and illnesses, the Hanover High field hockey team clinched a first-round bye in the NHIAA Division II tournament with a 3-0 win over Plymouth on Thursday at Merriman-Branch Field.
Hanover coach Jean Essex credited the senior middie core of Sabin Mitchell, Macy Curtis, Maggie Logan and Katie Naughton with setting the ton of the day. Each had been moved to forward or defense positions as the Marauders (10-1-1) accounted for absences.
“They’ve been all over the place; we’ve had so many out sick,” Essex said. “It’s the first time in two weeks that we’ve all been back together and healthy.”
Kate Blaisdell scored two goals and set up another by Olivia Trummel to back Ella Edmonds’ five-save shutout goaltending. Hanover hosts Souhegan a week from Friday in its season finale.
VOLLEYBALL
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. — The Eagles (3-1) bounced back from a first-set tiebreaker loss to beat the Hilltoppers, 24-26, 25-17, 25-20, 25-22.
Sophomore Delaney Gross led the offense with eight kills. Hayley Goodwin delivered nine aces with seven kills. Nyah Jenks passed out 14 assists for the Eagles.
MVCS hosts Vermont Commons on Friday.
BOYS SOCCER
PROCTOR, Vt. — The Phantoms jumped on Mid Vermont Christian (3-7-0) for a pair of early goals en route to a victory.
The Eagles cut into Proctor’s 2-0 lead on Joel Roberts’ sixth goal of the year in the 17th minute. Tenrick Renninger, pressing the Proctor defense to deny a clearance, interecepted a pass and fed Roberts for the conversion from inside the 18-yard line.
Stan Nelson had another big game in the MVCS net, making 17 saves.
The Eagles host Sharon on Tuesday.
CHESTER, Vt. — The Chieftains avenged an earlier 3-0 Southern Vermont League loss to the Wildcats (6-5-0).
Fiona Vaillancourt and Ellie Prestridge combined on three saves for WRV, which hosts Leland & Gray on Saturday.
CLAREMONT — The Hawks (10-2-0) split the season series with the Cardinals (11-1-1), handing Stevens its first loss of the season.
Despite the defeat, the Cardinals maintained their hold on the NHIAA Division III lead heading into Tuesday’s trip to Monadnock.
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Scores that missed Wednesday’s paper due to deadline. Find updates online at www.vnews.com.
BRADFORD, Vt. — Leia White kicked a six-goal Oxbow explosion into gear by scoring just two minutes into Wednesday’s contest.
Aspen Longmoore finished the day with two goals and an assist for the Olympians (6-4-1). Chloe McIntire, Maddie Fredella and Melanie Neil also netted goals. Fredella, Neil and Grace Nostrant added an assist apiece. The O’s visit Hazen on Saturday.