High school athletic fields across Vermont were active on Saturday, October 11, with key matchups in soccer, field hockey, volleyball, and football. Several teams secured important victories as the fall season progresses, with standout individual performances shaping the outcomes of closely contested games.
In girls' soccer, Vergennes continued its undefeated streak, while in boys' soccer, Essex and South Burlington earned narrow wins. The day also featured significant milestones in field hockey and intense five-set battles in boys' volleyball.
Key Takeaways from Saturday's Games
- The Vergennes girls' soccer team maintained its perfect record, improving to 11-0 with a 2-1 victory over Middlebury.
- In boys' soccer, Essex edged out Mount Mansfield 1-0, and South Burlington defeated Burlington 2-1.
- Montpelier's Emily Tringe reached her 100th career point in a 3-2 field hockey win against Stowe.
- Fair Haven's goalie Tori Kelly recorded her 20th career shutout in a 1-0 victory over Bellows Falls.
- The Mount Mansfield boys' volleyball team staged a comeback to win a five-set match against Burlington.
Boys Soccer Highlights
Saturday's boys' soccer slate was filled with tight contests and dominant offensive displays. Several games were decided by a single goal, highlighting the competitive nature of the league matchups.
Close Victories Define Key Matchups
In a closely watched game, Essex defeated Mount Mansfield 1-0. The decisive moment came with just over 32 minutes remaining in the second half when Ethan Leo scored the lone goal. Jacob Laroche provided the assist, and goalkeeper Jackson Willetts made one save to secure the shutout for Essex. Mount Mansfield's goalie, Levi Causey, had an impressive game with seven saves.
Another narrow victory saw South Burlington overcome Burlington 2-1. Conor Maxwell was the hero for South Burlington, scoring the game-winning goal from 25 yards out in the 57th minute. Both Maxwell and Sam Harm contributed a goal and an assist for their team. Burlington's goal was scored by Victor Goro.
Decisive Moment
Conor Maxwell's goal in the 57th minute broke a 1-1 tie, securing the win for South Burlington against rival Burlington in a hard-fought contest.
Dominant Offensive Performances
Rice Memorial High School showcased its offensive strength with a commanding 9-0 win over Missisquoi. Martim Silva and Moses Pial each scored two goals, with Pial also adding an assist. Five other players found the back of thenet for Rice, demonstrating a balanced attack. Missisquoi's goalkeeper, Jace Menard, was busy throughout the game, making 10 saves.
Vergennes also had a strong showing, defeating Paine Mountain 4-0. Garrett Wood led the charge with two goals. The team scored all four of its goals in the first 37 minutes of the match, establishing early control. Milton secured a 4-0 victory against Winooski, largely thanks to a hat trick from Chase Renaud, who also provided an assist.
Additional Boys' Soccer Scores
- BFA-St. Albans 2, Middlebury 0: Charlie Levine and Brody Tatro scored for BFA.
- U-32 2, Hazen 0: Goals from Brandon O'Donnell and Carlie Pickel led U-32 to victory.
- Stowe 3, Thetford 2 (OT): Graeme Jostrand scored all three goals for Stowe in an overtime thriller.
- North Country 4, Lake Region 2: Trey Patten netted two goals for North Country.
- BFA-Fairfax 2, Richford 1
- Randolph 4, Woodstock 1
- Oxbow 8, Blue Mountain 0
- Montpelier 0, Peoples 0 (Tie)
Girls Soccer Results
In girls' soccer action, the Vergennes team continued its remarkable season, while several other teams earned important shutouts.
Vergennes Remains Undefeated
The Vergennes girls' soccer team extended its winning streak, improving to an impressive 11-0 record with a 2-1 victory against Middlebury. Megan Willis and Ava Francis each scored for Vergennes. Josephine Ives scored the lone goal for Middlebury. The win keeps Vergennes at the top of the standings as one of the few remaining undefeated teams.
Shutouts Across the League
Green Mountain Valley secured a convincing 4-0 win over Lyndon. The scoring was distributed among four different players: Orla Manning, Lucy Knittle, Sadie Dyhrman, and Hadley Butler. Goalkeeper Alyssa Lux made three saves to preserve the clean sheet.
BFA-Fairfax also earned a shutout, defeating Richford 1-0. Cailin Macaulay scored the only goal of the game, assisted by Lily Marshall. Goalkeeper Emily Dearborn made five saves for the win.
Field Hockey Updates
Saturday's field hockey games included significant personal achievements and tightly contested defensive battles.
Tringe Reaches 100-Point Milestone
In Montpelier's 3-2 victory over Stowe, junior Emily Tringe achieved a major career milestone. She scored two goals, with her unassisted goal in the third quarter marking her 100th career point. Regan Walke also scored for Montpelier. The win was a significant moment for both the team and Tringe, who has been a key offensive player throughout her high school career.
Kelly Earns 20th Career Shutout
Fair Haven defeated Bellows Falls 1-0 in a game defined by strong defense. Quinn Murphy scored the game's only goal just 1:13 into the second quarter. The victory was particularly special for Fair Haven's goalkeeper, Tori Kelly, who recorded her 20th career shutout. Kelly made six saves to secure the milestone and the win for the Slaters.
Volleyball Action
The volleyball courts saw both decisive victories and marathon matches that went the distance.
Boys Volleyball: Mount Mansfield's Comeback Win
In a thrilling boys' volleyball match, Mount Mansfield rallied to defeat Burlington 3-2. After losing the first two sets (20-25, 24-26), Mount Mansfield staged a remarkable comeback, winning the next three sets (25-22, 25-19, 15-13) to claim the victory. Jake Philbrick led the team with an outstanding 19 kills and 4 blocks, while setter Holden Lerner facilitated the offense with 30 assists and 7 aces.
Match Statistics: Mount Mansfield vs. Burlington
- Final Score: 3-2 (20-25, 24-26, 25-22, 25-19, 15-13)
- Jake Philbrick (MM): 19 kills, 4 blocks
- Holden Lerner (MM): 30 assists, 7 aces
- Grady Tacy-Munroe (MM): 5 kills, 5 blocks, 2 aces
Girls Volleyball: Harwood and Middlebury Secure Wins
The Harwood girls' volleyball team swept Missisquoi 3-0 with set scores of 25-16, 25-19, and 25-14. The team had a balanced attack, with senior setter Savannah Fulton contributing 6 aces, 8 assists, and 5 kills.
Middlebury defeated Montpelier 3-1. After winning the first two sets, Middlebury dropped the third before closing out the match in the fourth set (25-12, 25-19, 17-25, 25-14). For Montpelier, Elizabeth Kiberinka had 8 kills and 5 digs, while Neiro Damon recorded 17 digs and 13 assists.
Other Sports News
The fall sports season also included championship events in cross country and a full schedule of football games.
Cross Country Championships
The NVAC Metro and Mountain championships were held on Saturday. Results for these events can be found through official athletic networks. These meets are crucial for teams and individuals looking to qualify for state competitions.
Football Scoreboard
Week 6 of the high school football season also took place. A full scoreboard of those games provides a comprehensive look at the action from around the state.
College Sports Roundup
In collegiate action, the University of Vermont (UVM) had several teams competing. The men's soccer team played to a 0-0 draw against UMass Lowell. Meanwhile, the UVM women's hockey team secured a 2-1 overtime victory against St. Lawrence.