High school athletic fields and courts across Vermont were active on Saturday, September 20, 2025, with a full schedule of games in soccer, field hockey, and volleyball. Key matchups saw dramatic overtime finishes and dominant team performances, setting the stage for the ongoing fall season.
In girls' soccer, Burlington secured a thrilling overtime victory against Essex, while several other matches were decided by shutouts. Boys' soccer featured strong offensive displays from Champlain Valley and Vergennes. This report provides a comprehensive breakdown of the day's results and top individual achievements.
Key Takeaways
- Burlington girls' soccer defeated Essex 4-3 with a game-winning goal in overtime from Eva Schwartz.
- Champlain Valley Union (CVU) teams earned victories in boys' soccer, girls' soccer, and field hockey.
- Standout individual efforts included a hat trick for Peoples' Sophia Calcagni in girls' soccer and another for Vergennes' Aiden Fuller in boys' soccer.
- Essex volleyball teams won both their boys' and girls' matches against Champlain Valley.
- Several goalkeepers had busy days, with Milton's Lily Daunais making 19 saves in a girls' soccer match.
Girls' Soccer Roundup: Overtime Drama and Shutouts
Saturday's girls' soccer action was highlighted by close contests and decisive wins. Teams across the state showcased both offensive power and strong defensive play, with several games ending in shutouts.
Burlington Edges Essex in Overtime Thriller
The most dramatic game of the day saw Burlington High School secure a 4-3 overtime victory against Essex. The match was a back-and-forth contest, ultimately decided by an overtime goal from Burlington's Eva Schwartz.
Sidney Burdick was a key contributor for Burlington with two goals, while Isa Garehime added a goal and an assist. For Essex, Olivia Smith, Juliet Lyon-Horne, and Stella Papaseraphim each found the net. Burlington goalkeeper Ava Tonizzo recorded five saves.
South Burlington and CVU Secure Clean Sheets
In other notable matchups, South Burlington defeated Colchester 3-0. The scoring was distributed among Josie Maxwell, Reese Gordon, and Kelsey Adams, with Maxwell also providing an assist. Goalkeeper Lexi Paquette made five saves to preserve the shutout.
Champlain Valley Union also won with a shutout, defeating Mount Mansfield 1-0. The lone goal came from Reese Kingsbury, assisted by Sierra Rainey. Anya Johnson made four saves for the win.
Notable Individual Performances
Several players delivered standout performances. Sophia Calcagni of Peoples Academy scored all three of her team's goals in a 3-1 victory over Lake Region. In Vergennes, Ava Francis scored twice, including the game-winner in the 83rd minute, to lead her team to a 2-1 comeback win over Hazen.
Complete Girls' Soccer Scoreboard
A comprehensive list of Saturday's results demonstrates the breadth of competition across the state.
- South Burlington 3, Colchester 0: SB goals by Maxwell, Gordon, Adams.
- Burlington 4, Essex 3 (OT): BHS winner by Schwartz.
- Rice 2, Milton 0: Madi Lacy scored both goals for Rice; Milton's Lily Daunais made 19 saves.
- Champlain Valley 1, Mount Mansfield 0: Reese Kingsbury scored the decider.
- Missisquoi 3, Paine Mountain 2: Addison Hogle led Missisquoi with two goals.
- Vergennes 2, Hazen 1: Ava Francis scored the late winner for Vergennes.
- Peoples 3, Lake Region 1: Sophia Calcagni recorded a hat trick for Peoples.
- Rutland 2, Middlebury 0: Goals from Heidi Pell and Sophia Lind secured the win.
- Windsor 1, Hartford 0: Avery Ducharme's goal was the difference.
- Montpelier 9, Thetford 1
- Blue Mountain 4, Richford 2
- Oxbow 6, Mill River 0
Boys' Soccer: Champlain Valley and Vergennes Post Dominant Wins
The boys' soccer slate featured high-scoring affairs and impressive team victories. Champlain Valley and Vergennes, in particular, demonstrated significant offensive firepower in their respective matches.
CVU Shuts Out Mount Mansfield
Champlain Valley recorded a convincing 3-0 victory over Mount Mansfield. The team's offense was well-coordinated, with Julian Olin scoring two goals and Sebastian Bronk adding one goal and one assist. Gavin Prada was a key playmaker, contributing two assists. The goalkeeping duties were shared by Charles Wallace and Zev Barth, who combined for the shutout.
Vergennes Overwhelms BFA-Fairfax
Vergennes delivered the most dominant offensive performance of the day, defeating BFA-Fairfax 8-1. Aiden Fuller led the charge with a hat trick, scoring three goals.
The scoring was widespread for Vergennes. Tiegen Buskey was instrumental with one goal and three assists. Ryker Mosehauer, Jude Bragg, Garret Wood, and Andrew Houghton also scored. BFA-Fairfax's lone goal came from Sean Fletcher.
Offensive Statistics
Vergennes' 8-1 victory included contributions from seven different players who either scored or assisted, highlighting a deep and effective offensive strategy.
Other Boys' Soccer Results
In another match, North Country secured a 2-1 victory over U-32. Gavan Lanoue and Jon Giroux scored for North Country, while goalkeeper Gus Comtois made eight saves to help secure the win.
Field Hockey Highlights: CVU and Essex Earn Shutouts
Defensive strength was the theme in Saturday's field hockey games, with several teams earning shutouts. Champlain Valley and Essex both kept their opponents off the scoreboard in their victories.
Champlain Valley Defeats Burlington
Champlain Valley claimed a 5-0 win over Burlington. The scoring was led by Cordelia Thomas and Emery Thompson, who each scored two goals. Charlie Baird added another goal for CVU. Burlington's goalkeeper, Adia Platt, was busy throughout the game, making an impressive 13 saves.
Essex Secures a Tight 1-0 Win
In a closely contested match, Essex defeated Burr and Burton 1-0. The only goal of the game was scored by Calleigh Bruyns. The defensive effort from both teams was strong, with Burr and Burton's goalies Marley Clark and Emma Anderson combining for 10 saves.
In another contest, Brattleboro defeated Rutland with a final score of 2-0.
On the Volleyball Court: Essex Secures Victories
Essex High School's volleyball program had a successful day, with both the girls' and boys' teams earning wins over rival Champlain Valley.
Girls' Volleyball: Essex Tops CVU in Four Sets
The Essex girls' team defeated Champlain Valley 3-1, with set scores of 25-16, 23-25, 25-7, 25-11. After splitting the first two sets, Essex dominated the final two to secure the victory.
Key performers for Essex included:
- Hannah Knickerbocker: 8 kills, 14 digs, 6 aces
- Anna Hotaling: 23 digs, 4 assists
- Reese Gregory: 20 assists, 5 aces
Boys' Volleyball: Essex and Mount Mansfield Win
In boys' action, Mount Mansfield swept South Burlington 3-0 (25-17, 25-14, 25-17). Jonny Berman and Grady Tacy-Munroe led the offense for MMU, while Holden Lerner directed the play with 21 assists.
Essex also won their match against Champlain Valley in a tight four-set battle: 25-19, 25-20, 23-25, 28-26. Coen Giles had a massive game for Essex with 19 kills, while Rohan Rai distributed 48 assists.
Looking Ahead: Monday's Schedule
The high school sports schedule continues with a full slate of games on Monday, September 22. Fans can look forward to more action in soccer and field hockey.
Upcoming Key Matchups
Boys' Soccer: Champlain Valley will travel to Burlington for a 4 p.m. start, and Essex will visit St. Johnsbury.
Girls' Soccer: Mount Abraham faces BFA-St. Albans, and Stowe will take on Harwood, with most games scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
Field Hockey: A notable game features South Burlington at Mount Mansfield, while Essex travels to Colchester. Most field hockey games are set for a 4 p.m. start.