LEBANON — Lebanon High’s defending NHIAA Division II champion boys soccer team picked up where it left off last autumn, pinning a 6-2 defeat on visiting Milford on Saturday in the teams’ 2022 opener.
“That’s the way you want to come out and establish that this is a new season,” said 29th-year Raiders coach Rob Johnstone, whose team won the program’s first championship in 30 years last fall.
Nico Pentella, making his varsity debut after a dominant 2021 JV campaign, opened the scoring during the second minute with a soaring shot from the left wing.
The sophomore striker dropped the left-footed effort inside the far post.
Pentella also figured in the hosts’ second goal, five minutes following their first.
After striker Nick Brill’s dogged work along the goal line resulted in a corner kick, Pentella dropped in an offering headed home by sophomore midfielder Dominic Calandrella.
Lebanon went up 3-0 six minutes later when Brill and Pantella broke in two-on-one against a Milford defender. The former sent a late cross to the latter, who tapped it into the empty left side.
The score moved to 4-0 following 18 more seconds with sophomore midfielder Otto Bourne blazing up the right wing and threading in a shot off the near post.
Milford scored following a corner kick with 19 minutes remaining in the first half to pull within 4-1.
“Otto was one of our best players in last year’s final,” Johnstone said. “The ball finds Otto not by coincidence but because he puts himself in the right spots to get it. Knowing he’ll be there is a tremendous safety valve for us.”
Senior defender Tommy Wolfe’s intended cross dropped over freshman goalkeeper Leo Goguen and into the twine five minutes before intermission. Brill fired a short cross off the netminder’s hands and inside the left post for the Raiders’ final goal 10 minutes after the break.
“Last year, his first as a varsity player, Nick’s soccer mind really evolved,” Johnstone said. “He’s not just a straight-line speed guy anymore. He’s changing pace and direction and has diversified his portfolio.”
Milford closed the scoring with 17 minutes to play, hammering home an errant defensive header inside the penalty area. The Raiders, who visit John Stark on Tuesday, used senior Easton Wykes in goal during the first half and junior Zach Aldrich during the second.
Lebanon avenged last season’s one-goal road loss to Milford. Despite being second-ranked in the division playoffs, the Spartans were upset in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks by No. 10 Kingswood. Milford featured 15 seniors, and graduation has clearly hit the program hard.
— Tris Wykes
Field hockey
HANOVER — Eva Bell capitalized on a crisp pass to the top of the circle by Josie Laabs to score at the 7:46 mark in Hanover’s overtime victory against the Royals in the opener for both teams.
“The game was a fast-paced, hard-fought and evenly matched opener for both teams,” said Hanover coach Jean Essex of the matchup between the NHIAA Division II Bears and D-III Mascoma.
Hanover’s defense was led by seniors Sadie Higgins, Caroline Healy and Emily Perras, and goalie Reilly Loughman had six saves. Mascoma’s goalie, Gabby Pierce, also had six saves.
Hanover is home Goffstown on Tuesday, while Mascoma welcomes Berlin on Thursday.
BERLIN, N.H. — The Cardinals opened the season on the road in dominating fashion.
Seniors Stella Lavertue (two goals, two assists) and Tori Dalke (two goals) led Stevens in the NHIAA Division III matchup.
Maddy Minckler had a goal and assist, and Kiley Bundy and Alyssa Paquette potted a goal each for the Cards.
Also contributing were Bri Marsh with three assists and Rhea Quick and Riley Leonard with an assist apiece. Hailey Knight had the shutout in goal.
Stevens (1-0-0) has its home opener Tuesday night against Kearsarge at Monadnock Park.
— Staff reports