Fall Sports Report 2017

SECTION C FALL 2017

SPORTS REPORT

AREA HIGH SCHOOL

MIDDLEBURY | MT. ABE | OTTER VALLEY | VERGENNES

CROSS COUNTRY | FIELD HOCKEY | FOOTBALL | SOCCER

ADDISONINDEPENDENT

PAGE 2C — Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017

MIDDLEBURY

MUHS

Football

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — In 2016 the Middlebury Union football team finished strong to earn the No. 5 seed in Division I and then knock off No. 4 Essex in a quarterfinal before falling to champion Hartford in a semifinal.

From that team 15 players graduated, including most of the starting backfield and secondary and a couple key linemen and linebackers.

But Coach Dennis Smith is optimistic a younger Tiger squad — one that he projected would start three juniors and three sophomores — can compete in 2017, in part because it quickly developed chemistry when it gathered for its August preseason.

“They’ve been wonderful for the past two weeks. They’ve been a group that’s come to each practice and worked hard,” Smith said in the lead-up to the Tigers’ home opener, which they won, 49-20. “I’ve just been

MUHS

impressed with the work ethic and how as a whole group how they’ve just come together as a group, not just on the field but off the field when they get a water break.”

Four seniors are set in the offensive backfield: Cody Pomainville takes over at quarterback, Paul Deering and Lane Sheldrick at running back, and Tyler Hotte at fullback.

Smith said he will also bring in junior Simon Fischer and sophomore Tyler Buxton at running back to offer a change of pace, while Pomainville showed a strong arm and good judgment both throwing the ball and making decisions in the Tigers’ option running game. Smith will make use of all those choices on the attack.

“If I go with Deering and Lane at halfback I think we have a more physical type of running game. I’ve got a bruising fullback right now. And then I can go with a couple smaller

UNION

HIGH

kids with Simon in there or with my little sophomore in there, Buxton, and go with more of a speed game, and also a hands game and we’re going to maybe put the ball in the air,” Smith said. “It depends what I feel is a weakness to the other team’s defense, and hopefully we can exploit it one way or the other and do both.”

When Pomainville throws, targets could include junior split end Zachary Dunn, senior split end Skyeler Devlin or senior tight end/fullback Cooper Bullock. The tight end position could be decided by blocking ability, not by route running and hands, however.

“When we have tight ends in I want to be able to run the ball,” Smith said.

As for the players who will make it all work, senior Jaro Perera will take over at center, with senior Carter Leggett at one guard position and junior Spencer Cadoret at the other. Seniors Brian Foote and Jack Deppman are the tackles.

Smith is confident in his starting line and first couple substitutes, but is concerned about depth along the front.

“We’re light on offensive linemen.

We are seven, eight deep, and that is it.

So we can’t have too many hits in that position,” he said.

On the other side of the ball the team is younger. Smith said Buxton and fellow sophomore Timothy Goettelmann will rotate through the secondary along with Pomainville, Fischer and Dunn.

Smith said despite the group’s inexperience it held up against passhappy Fair Haven in the preseason.

“I thought we did a real good job against Fair Haven on Saturday in a scrimmage considering how young we were,” Smith said.

Senior Dustin Davio, Bullock and sophomore Camden Devlin will rotate through the two linebacking positions.

Sheldrick and Skyeler Devlin are the defensive ends, Hotte is the nose guard, and Perera and Deppman will start at defensive tackle.

The Tigers will get tested early in their schedule. After the home opener vs. Colchester, a road date at defending Hartford loomed, and then games with 2016 top-four seeds St. Johnsbury and Essex.

“We actually just talked about that,” Giuliani said. “We also have defenders who are capable of making those same runs. So having a team that’s mentally flexible to support that I think is really important.”

The other offseason news for the Tiger program is that at the recommendation of the statewide field hockey alignment committee MUHS will play in the D-II postseason for the first time. The team will remain in the tough Metro Conference for the regular season.

Giuliani said it was a tough decision, but the program’s low numbers and overall unimpressive results over the past few years suggested it would

make sense to take a step down for two years in order to regroup for two years and then move forward again, something the school’s football program did successfully a few years back.

As for what the move might mean for the team’s title chances, Giuliani said her focus, and hopefully the Tigers’, will remain on just playing up to their ability.

“Right now my goals for this squad have much less to do with wins and losses and much more to do with determining what our best looks like,” she said. “Wins, losses, success in postseason, for me that is not a point of emphasis. It’s not the priority.”

SCHOOL

Smith said the Tigers would seek to improve during that stretch and then work toward the postseason, during which he said anything can happen.

“We could be 1-3 after the first four games for all I know. But as I tell these guys, don’t worry about championships, it’s get to the playoffs,” Smith said. “We don’t talk win-loss.

It’s get better.”

MUHS Varsity Football Date Opponent/Event 9/1 Colchester 9/8 @ Hartford 9/15 St. Johnsbury 9/22 Essex 9/29 @ Rutland 10/6 Burr & Burton 10/13 @ Burlington 10/21 @ CVU

MUHS Varsity Football Team Coach: Dennis Smith Cody Pomainville Lane Sheldrick Assistant coaches: John Nuceder Anthony Shores & Jed Malcolm Name Grade Parker Beatty Cooper Bullock 12 Riley Brown Tucker Cummings 12 Spencer Cadoret Dustin Davio 12 Wyatt Cameron Paul Deering 12 Sean Deering Jack Deppman 12 Seamus Doyle Skyeler Devlin 12 Zachary Dunn Jackson Donahue 12 Derek Felkl Fyn Fernandez 12 Simon Fischer Brian Foote 12 Aaron Larocque Wyatt Galipeau 12 Will Larocque Tyler Hotte 12 Joshua Trautwein Nicholas Kaufmann 12 Tyler Buxton Carter Leggett 12 Timothy Goettelmann Jacob Martin 12 Camden Devlin Jaro Perera 12

Time 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

1 p.m.

12 12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10

Field Hockey

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — New Middlebury Union field hockey coach Chelsey Giuliani, a former Tiger player and 2001 MUHS graduate, moves up this fall from the JV program to take over the varsity.

As well as her three years with the Tiger JV and seven years leading the Spaulding varsity program, Giuliani played four years of college field hockey at Franklin Pierce University and her Tiger varsity years coincided with the final years of MUHS coaching legend Gail Jette’s career.

Another successful former MUHS field hockey coach, Kelley Higgins, also the Tiger girls’ lacrosse coach, has signed on to assist Giuliani.

Higgins guided the Tigers to the 2011 Division I title, the program’s first since 1998, when Giuliani played on the last of Jette’s teams to win a championship. A member of that 2011 team, Brandi Whittemore, will coach the JV field hockey team, giving the program plenty of championship pedigree.

Returning to the varsity team this fall are nine veterans of 2016’s threewin squad, one that did post a big late-season win over D-I No. 2 seed Essex.

Six of them are seniors: midfielder Laura Whitley, goalie Bridget Audet,

defenders Olivia Beauchamp and Raven Payne, and middies/forwards Gabby Sullivan and Blair Stone.

Junior defender Carly Larocque also returns, as do middies/forwards Abigail LaRock and Grace Widelitz.

Giuliani described all the newcomers as capable of playing at either midfield or attack: sophomores Katie Berthiaume, Maeve Hammel, Alison Seaton and Phoebe Smith, and freshman Lydia Deppman.

She had not decided in the preseason on who would start up front and who would line up at midfield — other than being certain of her defenders, goalie and Whitley — and said even if she had decided she might still be juggling the lineup as the season progressed.

“You want that versatility. I feel like it’s a good problem to have, having a bunch of players who could be valuable both at attack and midfield lines. So just determining what their roles are going to be, that will be our challenge,” Giuliani said. “Our goal is to find the most cohesive unit, and to me what that looks like at this point is still to be determined.”

That versatility should be a strength on the field, as she will ask players to feel free to switch positions on the fly and make runs up the field as situations dictate.

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Middlebury Union High School Varsity Field Hockey Date Opponent/Event Time 9/7 @ CVU 4 p.m.

9/9 @ Mt. Abraham 10 a.m.

9/13 South Burlington 4 p.m.

9/19 Colchester 4 p.m.

9/23 Mt. Mansfield 10 a.m.

9/25 @ South Burlington 4 p.m.

9/27 Burlington 4 p.m.

10/3 @ U-32 3:45 p.m.

10/5 Mt. Abraham 3:45 p.m.

10/11 @ Colchester 3:45 p.m.

10/13 CVU 3:45 p.m.

10/17 @ Rice 3:45 p.m.

10/19 Essex 3:45 p.m.

MUHS Varsity Field Hockey Team Coach: Chelsey Giuliani Assistant Coach: Kelley Higgins Name Grade Bridget Audet 12 Olivia Beauchamp 12 Raven Payne 12 Blair Stone 12 Gabby Sullivan 12 Laura Whitley 12 Abigail Larock 11 Carly Larocque 11 Grace Widelitz 11 Katie Berthiaume 10 Maeve Hammel 10 Alison Seaton 10 Phoebe Smith 10 Lydia Deppman 9

Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017 — PAGE 3C

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

MUHS Girls’ Soccer

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — After a string of .500 or better seasons, the Middlebury Union girls’ soccer team dropped four one-goal games and tied two games 0-0 on the way to a 5-8-2 season a year ago.

To bounce back to their standard this fall, Coach Wendy Leeds’ Tigers will have to overcome the loss to graduation of eight players, most notably the team’s starting goalie and two central defenders.

Leeds identified rebuilding the back line as the first order of business this season, and said early returns looked promising even though she was still waiting for a vocal leader in the back to emerge.

“We’ve taken a hit two years in a row in graduating strong experienced defenders,” Leeds said. “That’s probably what we’re seeing a little bit, not seeing a deep bench when it comes to that, and also just people who are sort of figuring out the position and each other. They’re doing well with it so far.”

Her plans called for senior Abby Gleason to step into the goal, with sophomore Carly Berger backing her up. Final decisions remained to be made elsewhere, and earlyseason adjustments were possible on defense. Senior Alexa Lapiner and sophomore Gwen Stafford both

strong candidates at sweeper, while seniors Sierra Barnicle and Satchel McLaughlin and junior Nora Draper are available at stopper.

McLaughlin would return to outside back if she doesn’t start in the middle. Also in the running on defense are seniors Christina Wiles and Brynn Kent and possibly sophomore Annie Lapiner, also a reserve central midfielder.

At central midfield are two of the team’s captains and multiyear mainstays, seniors Andi Boe and Helen Anderson. Leeds said Boe might start on the field at the defensive post and Anderson with the offensive job, but she expects both to rotate freely through the

two positions.

Juniors Ada Anderson, Emily Laframboise and Ailey Bosworth, and sophomore Alice Ganey are candidates to start at outside middie, Leeds said, with freshman Harper Sinclair in the mix when she returns from injury, possibly by midseason.

Ada Anderson could also move up front to start at striker along with senior captain Isabel Rosenberg, with sophomore Meredith Kimble also a strong starting candidate at forward, Leeds said. Sophomore Isadora Luksch will spell the forwards, and Leeds said Barnicle could also move into an attack that she thinks could be productive.

“Attack-wise I’m feeling pretty good about what that could look like,” Leeds said. “If we can link up and really play as a unit we could really make some good things happen.”

The keys to a successful season, she said, will be the defense gelling and then the midfielders maintaining possession and setting up that attack.

“We’re always shooting to be more than .500. We want to score in every game,” Leeds said. “Our game is small passing. That’s when we look best. And that’s where we like to move the ball, through the middle, so we have to make sure we stay strong there.”

Middlebury Union High School Coaches: Wendy Leeds, Annie Wilson Name Grade Helen Anderson 12 Sierra Barnicle 12 Andi Boe 12 Abigail Gleason 12 Brynn Kent 12 Alexa Lapiner 12 Satchel McLaughlin 12 Isabel Rosenberg 12 Christina Wiles 12

Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team Ada Anderson Aileen Bosworth Nora Draper Emily Laframboise Carly Burger Alice Ganey Annie Lapiner Isadora Luksch Meredith Kimble Gwen Stafford Harper Sinclair

Middlebury Union High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer 10/3 Missisquoi Time 10/6 Spaulding 10 a.m.

10/9 @ Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

10/11 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

10/14 Rice 4:30 p.m.

10/17 @ Mt. Abrahan 4 p.m.

10/20 @ Milton 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event 9/2 Stowe 9/5 Vergennes 9/8 @ Missisquoi 9/13 @ Spaulding 9/19 @ Rice 9/22 Mt. Abraham 9/27 Milton

11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 9

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

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4 p.m.

10 a.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

MUHS Boys’ Soccer

By ANDY KIRKALDY MIDDLEBURY — In 2016 a tough defense in front of goalie Santiago Fernandez and a productive offense led by striker Camden Simpson helped the Middlebury Union boys’ soccer team to a 6-5-3 regular season record that included an upset of Champlain Valley Union.

This year, Coach Reeves Livesay’s team returns Fernandez and Simpson, now seniors, but 10 members of last fall’s squad, including key defenders and midfielders, graduated, and another key scorer was a one-year exchange student.

This year’s team will of necessity have a different, and younger, look, with Livesay in the preseason projecting only two other seniors to start, offensive midfielders J.D. Goettelmann and Tyler Giorgio, along with three juniors and four sophomores.

But Livesay said those seniors were helping to create good team chemistry heading into the season.

“We have a good group of seniors coming back and leading the team, and a couple of them have a lot of experience, which I think is going to help. So far they’ve been a really positive group, which has been

helpful with so many people new to the varsity team,” Livesay said.

“There’s been a good positive tone in practice.”

Juniors projected to start are central defenders Tucker Moulton and Ben Crawford and defensive central midfielder Ben Turner.

Rounding out the early projected starting lineup were sophomore outside backs Joseph Findlay and Devon Kearns and sophomore central midfielders Eben Jackson and Owen Palcsik.

Senior Wills Huntington will back up the defenders, junior Max Hirdler will see time at offensive midfield and forward, junior exchange student Miguel Agra Lopez is a midfielder, and junior exchange

student Loke Lanneskog is likely to see time at midfield and defense.

Sophomore Spencer Doran is also probably going to be one of the first players off the bench at midfield and in the back, sophomore Anthony Garner will back up the defenders, and sophomores Ethan Kent and David Peter will spell the midfielders, as will the team’s lone freshman, Oliver Poduschnick.

Livesay expects to use his players.

“The team has a lot of opportunity for growth,” Livesay said. “They’re all going to get in contribute. As the season goes on we’re hoping to build some good depth for the team. That will help. I think we’ll be able to rotate through

our players pretty well.”

As well as looking for Simpson to provide offense, Livesay will ask Fernandez to lead a rebuilt defense.

“His experience in reading the game is going to help groom our back line, which is almost entirely new,” he said.

Livesay hopes to give all the teams on the Tigers’ schedule a battle, and to see them improve steadily through the course of the fall.

“Looking at our schedule, I think we can be competitive,” he said.

“Almost all of our games are going to be a real battle. It’s going to be a thin margin to determine whether we come out on the positive end or not. I think we’re going to be in all our games.”

Middlebury Union High School Head coach: Reeves Livesay Assistant coach: David Turner Name Grade Santiago Fernandez 12 Tyler Giorgio 12 JD Goettelmann 12 Wills Huntington 12 Camden Simpson 12 Miguel Agra Lopez 11 Ben Crawford 11 Max Hirdler 11 Loke Lanneskog 11

Date Opponent/Event 9/1 @ Mt. Mansfield 9/6 Colchester 9/9 @ Spaulding 9/15 @ Rice 9/20 Rutland 9/23 Mt. Abraham 9/26 Vergennes

Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team Tucker Moulton Ben Turner Spencer Doran Joseph Findlay Anthony Garner Eben Jackson Devon Kearns Ethan Kent Owen Palcsik David Peters Oliver Paduschnik

MUHS Boys’ Varsity Soccer 9/29 @ Milton Time 10/4 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

10/7 Spaulding 4:30 p.m.

10/10 @ Vergennes 10 a.m.

10/13 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

10/18 Milton 4:30 p.m.

10/21 Missisquoi 10 a.m.

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PAGE 4C — Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017

MIDDLEBURY

UNION

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SCHOOL

MUHS Cross Country

By ANDY KIRKALDY fall, including four point-scorers, MIDDLEBURY — The while four of the seven boys who ran Middlebury Union High School girls in the 2017 championship meet are and boys’ cross-country teams ran to back (seniors Daniel Wisell, Cade solid third- and fourth-place Division Christner and Julian Schmitt, and II finishes, respectively, at the 2016 freshman Nico Brayton), including championship meet, and could be three who finished in the team’s top poised to move up in the standings five. this fall.

On the girls’ side, senior Caroline Although Coach Kimble is another Chris Anderson noted “We’ve got a talented veteran, program numbers are while Anderson said slightly down overall, good mix of freshman Camille he attributed that to experienced Malhotra is “right the graduation over the runners and up there with the past two years of a large newcomers experienced runners.” group of athletes, not to Sophomore Isabel a lack of enthusiasm for who are Olson, who missed the running well.” the sport at MUHS. 2016 state meet due “We have plenty ­ — Coach Chris to injury, is ready to of kids, not quite the Anderson build off a successful same numbers as last spring track season; year, but that’s fine,” and sophomore Nordic Anderson said. “We graduated a lot standout Malia Hodges should also of seniors, but we’ve got a good compete for a starting varsity slot. group of freshmen coming in that are On the boys’ side, Anderson showing a lot of promise.” expects two senior newcomers, Overall, he said, talented runners Nordic champions Sam Hodges and are back, and they are joined by Tom Hussey, to make an impact. athletes who are new to the program “They’re good runners and are going and should make their mark. to contribute to the team,” he said.

“We’ve got a good mix of In the preseason, other athletes’ experienced runners and newcomers arrival was delayed by family travel who are running well,” Anderson or other reasons, and Anderson said. believes more contenders for starting The Tigers return five of the seven girls (seniors Sophia Marks and Katharine Koehler, junior Kate Wallace, and sophomores Taylor Moulton and Mary Ann Eastman) who ran in the state meet this past

slots could emerge.

“There are a couple more on the list,” he said.

Anderson also said most runners worked out over the summer and came in fit and ready to go, and as a result the Tigers fared better than in past years at the season-opening Champlain Valley Union High School relay meet on Aug. 26.

In all, Anderson, who will be assisted by 2014 MUHS alum and former program runner Nicole Morris, said a step forward is a realistic possibility.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting season, really,” he said.

Middlebury Union High School Varsity Cross Country Team Coach: Chris Anderson Assistant Coach: Nicole Morris Name Grade Ben Balparda 12 Arden Carling 12 Sam Hodges 12 Thomas Hussey 12 Caroline Kimble 12 Katherine Koehler 12 Greta Hardy-Mittell 12 Sophie Marks 12 Julian Schmitt 12 Daniel Wisell 12 Jaime Gonzalez 11 Michael Huber 11

Audrey Huston Maisie Newbury Virginia Patz Ethan Reiderer Kate Wallace Xavier Wyncoop Ellen Berg Nico Brayton William Carpenter Gabriel Cason Miah Cushman Mary Ann Eastman Hunter Heffernan Malia Hodges Samuel Klingensmith

11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Journey LaRose Mira Maglienti Taylor Moulton Isabel Olsen Jacob Weber Theo Wells-Spackman Thomas Nevins Camille Malhotra Griffin Schneider Kieran Sheridan Sofia Stefani Nicholas Suchomel Camilla Van Order Gonzalez

10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 9 9 9 9

MUHS Varsity Cross Country Date Opponent/Event Time 9/2 @ Essex Invitational 9 a.m.

9/9 @ Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

9/12 @ Colchester 3:30 p.m.

9/16 @ U-32 10 a.m.

9/26 @ Mt. Abraham 3:30 p.m.

9/30 @ Randolph Invitational 10 a.m.

10/7 @Thetford Woods Trail Run 9 a.m.

10/14 @Harwood Invitational 1 p.m.

10/28 @ State Championships

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Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017 — PAGE 5C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe Field Hockey

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — In 2016 Coach Mary Stetson’s perennially successful Mount Abraham Union field hockey team finished with a 6-8-1 record, losing by 1-0 to the eventual Division II champion in a road quarterfinal after playing the program’s typically challenging schedule: 13 of the Eagles’ 14 regular-season games came against D-I competition.

This year Stetson is once again confident the Eagles will be competitive both in the regular season and in the postseason.

Although five senior starters graduated, only one moved on from the defense and one from the midfield, and plenty of forwards return who saw action in 2016.

If the Eagles play together this fall, Stetson said, they will be tough to beat.

“When we play a very teamoriented game we’re a very strong team,” she said. “We can’t decide we’re going to play as 11 individuals.”

Many of the Eagles have the ability to line up at multiple positions, giving Stetson flexibility when she substitutes and giving them the ability to adapt on the fly on the field. And they are all dedicated to field hockey, she said.

“The fact that people come back and are versatile has really helped us,” Stetson said. “And the level of passion and excitement for the sport has been great.”

Experience should also help.

Junior Chessley Jackson returns in goal after a solid debut a year ago, and senior Emily Aldrich is back to anchor the middle of the defense.

Seniors Martha Bruhl and Carley Sherwin will open this season on the defensive flanks after seeing time a year ago. Incumbent outside back

Robyn Arena should Abigail Nezin and also return from an “We have to Forbes will spell the injury sometime about prove that we midfield starters. a third of the way can score. We Up front, senior through the season, have not been a Chloe Lyons and Stetson said, although scoring threat for juniors Jalen Cook that timetable remains and Evan Laurent several years. uncertain. will start after all Junior Julia Norris We have a very seeing significant time will step into the experienced in 2016, and senior second, more offensive- defensive corps. Cecilia Vichi and minded, central And now we juniors Elizabeth Nault defensive position that have to see if we and Olivia Heath will Olivia Young, now rotate in across the a senior, occupied in can put all our front.

2016, while Young is energy forward.”

If the Eagles have a — Coach question mark, it might bumping up to center Mary Stetson be scoring punch, mid. Junior Sawyer Forbes will also see Stetson said: That 1-0 time in the back. playoff loss was symptomatic.

Stetson projected junior Casondra “We have to prove that we can Dykstra and senior Abby Perlee score. We have not been a scoring to start on either side of Young at threat for several years,” Stetson midfield; both are veterans who saw said. “We have a very experienced extensive time a year ago. Senior defensive corps. And now we have

to see if we can put all our energy forward.”

Frequent subbing while playing at a fast pace is one answer Stetson offers to the problem.

“We want to make sure we can keep a tempo to the game and control the tempo to help us out. So give 110 percent of what you have, and then there’s someone else who is going to step right in and give 110 percent,” she said. “I feel confident that they can handle that.”

In addition to working “to get better every day,” Stetson said the Eagles’ aims have not changed over the years.

“The ultimate goal is to go as far as you can in the playoffs, always, with this program,” she said. “And build resiliency, because every game is going to have its ups and downs, and it’s how well you weather the storm that makes you a strong team in the end.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Field Hockey 9/27 Colchester Date Opponent/Event Time 10/3 CVU 9/1 @ Harwood 4 p.m.

10/5 @ Middlebury 9/6 @ U-32 4 p.m.

10/11 Essex 9/9 Middlebury 10 a.m.

10/13 @ Rice 9/13 @ Colchester 4 p.m.

10/17 South Burlington 9/15 @ Mt. Mansfield 4 p.m.

10/19 U-32 9/19 @ Burlington 4 p.m.

9/25 Mt. Mansfield 4 p.m.

4 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

3:45 p.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Field Hockey Team Coach: Mary Stetson Assistant Coaches: Jennifer Myers, Lucy Pellegrini, Lisa Roscoe Name Grade Emily Aldrich 12 Robyn Arena 12 Martha Bruhl 12 Chloe Lyons 12 Abigail Nezin 12 Abby Perlee 12 Carley Sherwin 12

Ceclia Vichi Olivia Young Jalen Cook Casondra Dykstra Sawyer Forbes Olivia Heath Chessley Jackman Evan Laurent Elizabeth Nault Julia Norris

12 12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

PAGE 6C — Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe Boys’ Soccer

By ANDY KIRKALDY McKean, a probable starter.

BRISTOL — A young Mount At outside midfield senior Sam Abraham Union boys’ soccer team Paradee could start if he doesn’t start took a few lumps a year ago on on defense. Junior William Wright the way to a rare losing season for will probably start, and junior Neo Coach Mike Corey’s program.

Weaver could start when healthy.

This year the Eagles could dish Rickner could also line up on the out a few of those lumps: Many of flank, and juniors Erik McLysaght the players who gained valuable and Angus Schwaneflugel and varsity experience in 2016 return, Allred are also all in the mix there. and Corey said they are bolstered The middies will be trying to work by the addition of a standout from the ball up to sophomore striker Silas 2015 who missed this Burgess, who had a past season and what promising debut in “Things are in he called talented 2016. Rickner, Wright flux, because newcomers. and Catlin could also “Absolutely, there’s we have some run up front, Corey some promise here,” pretty darn said.

Corey said, citing both Sophomore Ethan depth and technical good central DeWitt won the goalie midfielders this job a year ago, and ability.

During the preseason year.” senior Toby Bunch Corey had not settled — Coach Mike Corey will back him up; on a lineup, and there Bunch can also play could be some juggling outside back. as the season progresses and he Senior veterans Jackson Counter tinkers with a new formation that and William Schoenhuber will will deploy four defenders, five play central defense, with Paradee, midfielders and a striker. sophomore Sam Schoenhuber, “Things are in flux, because we senior Foster Collette, junior Ethan have some pretty darn good central Venman (when healthy) and junior midfielders this year,” Corey said.

Takumi Melchior all available at Those central middies include outside back, with Schoenhuber seniors Nick Catlin (the 2015 almost certain to start on the flank. returner) and Eli Rickner (who The outside backs as well as could play a variety of roles); midfielders will be expected to juniors Owen Maille (a probably play some offense, with the central starter), Weston Allred and Kai midfielders ready to read the runs Dobek; and sophomore Eric to set them up, as well as cover for

them defensively.

“We’re going to see tons of overlapping,” Corey said. “We want to be very fluid in positions. We want to be unpredictable.”

Corey said he is mildly concerned about the Eagles’ ability to finish and whether a few players would step up and become dominant, but he was optimistic on both counts.

“At this stage I would say with absolute certainty we’re going to be better than we were last year,” he said. “I can’t remember the last time I had a team that was a technically proficient and experienced and aware.”

Date Opponent/Event 9/6 @ Green Mt. Valley 9/9 Missisquoi 9/12 @ Rutland Loyzelle

Tournament 9/14 @ Rutland Loyzelle

Mount Abraham Union High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer

Tournament 5/7 p.m.

10/7 Time 9/18 Vergennes 4:30 p.m.

10/10 4:30 p.m.

9/23 @ Middlebury 10 a.m.

10/13 1 p.m.

9/26 @ Milton 4:30 p.m.

10/18 9/29 @ Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

10/21 5 p.m.

10/4 Spaulding 4 p.m.

@ Vergennes Milton Middlebury Green Mountain Valley @ Spaulding

3 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

10 a.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team Coach: Mike Corey Name Grade Toby Bunch 12 Nick Catlin 12 Foster Collette 12 Jackson Counter 12 Sam Paradee 12 Eli Rickner 12

William Schoenhuber Weston Alred Kai Dobek Owen Maille Erik McLysaght Takumi Melchior Angus Schwaneflugel Ethan Venman

12 11 11 11 11 11 11 11

Neo Weaver William Wright Silas Burgess Ethan DeWitt Eric McKean Sam Schoenhuber

11 11 10 10 10 10

Mt. Abe Girls’ Soccer

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — Coach Dustin Corrigan counts 11 seniors, including a half-dozen starters, on his Mount Abraham Union girls’ soccer team this fall, and he said plenty of younger talent will complement his veterans on a squad that finished strong a year ago after a slow start.

“We have a lot of returning senior players, which is definitely a strength, and we’ve got some good underclassmen that have come up to varsity as well,” Corrigan said.

“And the group is functioning well as a group and starting to come together as a team.”

Three of those seniors, center midfielder Casey Ober and strikers Lydia Pitts and Emma Carter, should help spark an offense that Corrigan expects to be productive — the Eagles scored seven times in three preseason games, with seven players doing the honors. Senior Carlotta Tow and, if she can get healthy, senior Abby Mansfield — a tricaptain with Ober and Pitts — will also run up front.

“They’ve shown they can put the ball in the net,” he said.

In the back, senior Emma LaRose and junior Jenna McArdle bring experience to central defense.

Corrigan said sophomore Emma Campbell and freshman Samantha Scrodin were the probable starters on the flanks, with seniors Molly

Funk and Renee Bolduc and junior Elizabeth Siminitus also in the defensive mix.

Junior Olivia Paine will take over in the goal, with junior Ruby Ball backing her up. Ball could also see time at defense, Corrigan said.

Joining Ober at center mid will be sophomore Mae Peterson, while senior Delana Tow and sophomore Becca Laurent had the inside track at outside middie in the preseason, with seniors Vanessa Dykstra and Mariah Malloy ready to step in.

Junior Katherine Kandzior will also back up the midfielders when she recovers from an early injury.

Corrigan has some concern in the back, where graduation hit hardest, but believes his players have the ability to iron out the kinks quickly as the season progresses.

“We need to improve in the backfield, just playing with poise, playing out of pressure, maintaining possession of the ball. We’ve got really good athletes,” Corrigan said.

A little more patience from the Eagle middies and forwards could also go a long way.

“Right now if you watch us play we’re pretty direct,” Corrigan said. “Sometimes we’re giving the ball away by just trying to force it forward. We’re working on being a little more purposeful and deliberate.”

With a tough schedule, Corrigan

expects most of the Eagles’ games to be competitive, and he expects his team to win its share of them.

“I’ve seen a lot of good signs from this group that we’re going to stand up well in those close games,” he said.

The Eagles won the program’s first title in 2014, and Corrigan would like them to aim to double the trophy count in the case.

“When the postseason comes around we want to contend and make a nice deep playoff run and maybe get another championship,” Corrigan said.

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Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team Coach: Dustin Corrigan Lydia Pitts Assistant Coach: Denny Cota Delana Tow Name Grade Ruby Ball Renee Bolduc 12 Katherine Kandzior Emma Carter 12 Olivis Paine Vanessa Dykstra 12 Elizabeth Siminitis Molly Funk 12 Carlotta Tow Emma LaRose 12 Emma Campbell Mariah Malloy 12 Becca Laurent Abby Mansfield 12 Mae Peterson Jenna McArdle 12 Savannah Scrodin Casey Ober 12

12 12 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 9

Mt. Abe Girls’ Varsity Soccer Date Opponent/Event Time 9/2 Vergennes 10 a.m.

9/5 Milton 4:30 p.m.

9/9 Rice 11 a.m.

9/13 U-32 4:30 p.m.

9/16 @ Missisquoi 10 a.m.

9/19 Spaulding 4:30 a.m.

9/22 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

9/30 @ Milton 12 p.m.

10/4 @ Rice 4 p.m.

10/6 @ Vergennes 4 p.m.

10/11 Missisquoi 4 p.m.

10/14 @ Spaulding 10 a.m.

10/17 Middlebury 4 p.m.

10/20 @ Rutland 4 p.m.

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Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017 — PAGE 7C

MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL

Mt. Abe Football

By ANDY KIRKALDY BRISTOL — The Mount Abraham-Vergennes cooperative football team predictably took a few lumps in 2016, when the Eagles moved up to compete in Division II after a few seasons of making the D-III playoffs.

Coach Lee Hodsden’s Eagles might not be ready to take D-II by storm this fall after losing a number of key skilled players and linemen to graduation, but Hodsden is confident in the program’s longrange health. The program has been working with Bristol Youth Sports, an effort coordinated by varsity assistant Gary Russell to boost interest in football, and it seems to be paying off.

“We’ve got 44 kids, 9 through 12, and good numbers in the youth program, almost 30 kids in the 7th and 8th tackle program. And in 4th, 5th and 6th we have almost 30 kids also,” Hodsden said. “The numbers have really picked up.”

What the Eagle program might lack in the short term in football experience, Hodsden believes it could make up for with enthusiasm.

For example, he noted more than 80 percent of the Eagles showed up for voluntary film sessions held at Vergennes Union High School.

“The kids’ attitude has been fantastic,” he said. “We want to be like the programs in Middlebury, Bellows Falls and Rutland, programs like that.”

On the field there were some positives as the Eagles approached their opener.

“We have a good-sized offensive line. They average at least 250 across the board,” Hodsden said. “(Senior) Casey Kimball is a hard runner. We have some good skill athletes, guys that catch the ball.”

Some of those athletes lack football seasoning, and experienced depth could be an issue. Hodsden took a new approach during the preseason to protect that depth, one that he said appears to have paid off: He borrowed Dartmouth College’s no-tackling practice tactics, and the Eagles instead work on safe and effective tackling techniques on

dummies and rolling rings.

“We’ve had no serious injuries, knock on wood, and the kids have tackled very well in the first two scrimmages,” he said. “They’ve looked good tackling and they’ve looked good pursuing the ball.”

Tackling has not been the only issue for the Eagle defense: Hodsden wants to eliminate mistakes.

“The four things that we need to stop are pre-snap penalties, missed assignments, plays where players who are loafing, and giving up big plays. We just gave up too many big plays last year,” Hodsden said.

“If we can stop those three or four things, it will be a big improvement right there.”

The Eagles’ offensive philosophy will be no surprise to those who have followed the Eagles during Hodsden’s tenure: They will pound the ball on the ground and try not to turn it over.

“We run the ball around here,” Hodsden said. “We’re going to run the ball. If we have to pass, it will be play-action.”

A new quarterback, or up to three new quarterbacks, all juniors, will be handing the ball off. Parker Hines will probably start, but Hodsden said Chandler Brigan and Nevin Jemison

will also take snaps.

Kimball is the fullback, and senior Jon Jennings and junior Kevin Pearsall will most likely be the top tailbacks in the power I the Eagles will deploy most of the time, with senior Chandler Robideau as the slot back most often split wider on one side.

Also available to carry the ball are senior Ben Murray, juniors Tom Carlton and Ryan Rougier, and sophomores John Bent Brian Larson.

Senior Ian Greenia and junior Will Martin top the depth chart at split end, with seniors Addison Goodyear and Thomas Richards; juniors Ethan Pomainville, Roman Mayer, Ethan Bissonette, Shain Sargent and Ira White; and sophomore Parker Gero also in the mix. Senior Kyle Beatty will probably start at tight end, with senior Derek Jackson and junior Jacob Thomas ready to step in.

The offensive line starters consist of junior Cyrus Devine at center, senior Mason Wood and junior Brandon Tierney at guard, and senior Christien Paquin and sophomore Jonathan Lapell at tackle. Juniors Brady Gebo, Nick Longar, Dylan Brileya and Zach Stearns; and sophomore Travis Guillemette; and freshman Parker Bent will back them up.

On the other side of the ball, Longar will line up at nose guard, with Tierney and Devine the tackles and Beatty and Pearsall the ends.

Thomas, Jackson, Lapell, Parker Bent, Stearns, Guillemette, Paquin and Brileya will also rotate through the defensive line.

Jennings, Kimball and Wood are the top linebackers, with Rougier, Jemison, Mayer, Murray, Robideau, Larson and John Bent ready to see action.

Greenia, Hines, Martin, Pomainville, Beatty, Carlton, Bissonette, Sargent, Goodyear, Gero, Richards and White will man the secondary.

As for expectations, Hodsden will just ask the Eagles to focus on the task at hand and work to get better.

“I’m a big fan of Bill Belichick.

My goal is to have a good practice,” Hodsden said. “That’s what we tell the kids, ‘Yesterday’s over. Today is today. One play at a time. Don’t worry about conditioning at the end of practice. Don’t worry about two periods from now. Worry about this thing right in front of you. Worry about that guy in front of you. One play at a time. And when that play is over, you move on.’ That’s what we’re trying to teach them.”

Adams and Cousineau looked good in the preseason, and Crum said not to underestimate Cousineau, who thanks to hard work has dropped time steadily over his years on the team.

“Both of them ran well at the two scrimmages we’ve had so far,” Crum said.

Adams recruited junior Caleb Hunter, who Crum said is keeping up with Adams, while two enthusiastic freshman, Liam Davison and Owen Farrell, also signed on. All will have a chance to earn varsity letters.

“With six guys on the team, if they all stay healthy they’re all varsity runners,” Crum said.

Crum expects an enjoyable fall regardless of where the Eagles finish

in the D-II standings.

“We have a great group of kids. It’s super fun to come out and run with them,” Crum said. “I look forward to cross-country practice every day because of the top-quality kids we have.”

He is also hopeful the program will grow.

“We have a great crop of middleschool kids who are coming up next year, so I’m hoping some of our middle-schoolers stick with this,” Crum said. “I look at this year as a bit of a building year, where next year hopefully some of our freshmen turn into sophomores and we have 8th-graders that are freshmen and the numbers continue to get bigger.”

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Football Team Coach: Thomas Hodsden Assistant Coaches: Eric Hartman, Michael Manley, Geroge Merkel, Gary Russell, Justin Tierney Name Grade Kyle Beatty 12 Addison Goodyear 12 Ian Greenia 12 Benjamin Murray 12 Thomas Richards 12 Chandler Robideau 12 Derek Jackson 12 Jon Jennings 12 Casey Kimball 12 Mason Wood 12 Ethan Bissonette 11 Chandler Brigan 11 Dylan Brileya 11 Tom Carlton 11 Cyrus Devine 11 Brady Gebo 11

Parker Hines Nevin Jemison Nick Longar Roman Mayer Will Martin Christien Paquin Kevin Pearsall Ethan Pomainville Ryan Rougier Shain Sargent Zach Stearns Jacob Thomas Brandon Tierney Ira White John Bent Parker Gero Travis Guillemette Brian Larson Jonathan Lapell Parker Bent

11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 10 10 10 10 10 9

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Football Date Opponent/Event 9/1 @ U-32 9/8 Windsor 9/15 Otter Valley 9/23 @ Lyndon Institute

Time 7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

1 p.m.

9/30 10/7 10/13 10/20

Milton Bellows Falls @ North Country @ Fair Haven

1 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Mt. Abe Cross Country

By ANDY KIRKALDY Thetford in 2016. Bronson said Hoff BRISTOL — Trail upgrades and could be poised to move up. an influx of female runners provided “Ally is the only returner, and the most news for the Mount she’s looking really good,” she said.

Abraham Union cross-country team “She’s definitely the one to watch on this fall. our team.”

The trail upgrades came courtesy Three other runners have at least both from the wider effort to build some experience, Bronson said: a trail circling Bristol, coordinated Senior Gillianne Ross and junior by resident Porter Knight and other Mhairi McMurray return to the team community volunteers, and from after taking time off, and freshman a $600 donation from the Green Isabella Emmons comes up from the Mountain Stage Race bicycle ride middle school squad. Rounding out that came through Bristol over the team are seniors Bailey Allard Labor Day weekend. and Jasmin Gile and Eagle cross-country “I’m mostly just freshman Emmaline Co-Coach Brent Crum excited to have Heilman. said the money went “I’m excited about toward a backhoe to a full team.

Gillianne Ross and carve out two new After having Mhairi McMurray. trails, while volunteers two runners They ran as freshmen,” upgraded existing trails Bronson said. “I’m that Eagle runners use last year to excited to see what for training and will bump that up they are going to do use to host a Sept. 26 to seven is after one and two years meet. off. Izzy Emmons ran quite exciting, “With all the support in middle school for from the community and we’re still us, so she in a sense and the Green hoping to pick is returning. She is Mountain Stage Race, up a couple a freshman and is I just want to give a big looking really solid in more.” shout-out to them and practice.”

— Co-Coach say thanks for all the Graduation and job Vicki Bronson conflicts thinned the help,” Crum said. “The trails look better than ranks of the Eagle they ever have.” boys’ runners, but three athletes who The program numbers on the ran for Mount Abe at Thetford in girls’ side mean the program can 2016 do return: seniors Aidan May compete as a team in Division II and Brian Cousineau and junior after sending just two athletes to the Ryan Adams.

2016 championship meet to compete May took 63rd, the second-best as individuals.

Eagle finish a year ago and the best “I’m mostly just excited to have among the returnees, and Crum said a full team,” said Co-Coach Vicki he put in the work to improve on the Bronson. “After having two runners performance. last year to bump that up to seven is “Aidan May put in some miles quite exciting, and we’re still hoping over the summer, and he is the to pick up a couple more.” returning senior who is looking Only one of the two Eagle female like the fastest runner on the team,” runners from a year ago returns, Crum said. “I look forward to seeing senior Ally Hoff, who was 58th in what he can do with some finethe highly competitive D-II race at tuning of his training.”

ck, Good Lu Eagles!

Mount Abraham Union High School Cross Country Date Opponent/Event Time 9/16 @ U-32 Invitational 10 a.m.

9/19 @ Milton 3:30 p.m.

9/26 Mt. Abraham 3:30 p.m.

9/30 @ Randolph Invitational 10 a.m.

10/7 @ Thetford Woods

Trail Run 9 a.m.

10/10 @ Fairfax Relays 3:30 p.m.

10/14 @ Harwood Invitational 1 p.m.

10/20 @ Mt. Mansfield 3:30 p.m.

10/28 State Championships

(Thetford) 10 a.m.

Mount Abraham Union High School Varsity Cross Country Team Coach: Brent Crum, Vicki Wright Bronson Assistant Coach: Christopher Nezin Name Grade Bailey Allard 12 Brian Cousineau 12 Jasmin Gile 12 Allyson Hoff 12 Aidan May 12 Gilliane Ross 12 Ryan Adams 11 Caleb Hunter 11 Mhairi McMurray 11 Liam Davison 9 Isabella Emmons 9 Owen Farrell 9 Emmaline Heilman 9 Colby Pierro 9

PAGE 8C — Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — The Otter Valley football team has had its share of ups and downs since the end of last season. In addition to losing 12 players to graduation and the resignation of Head Coach Jim Hill, the team lost new Head Coach Phil Hall last month after he realized his professional duties at Mount St. Joseph Academy would take too much time.

Then, as the preseason came around, the number of boys that came out for the team dropped from 50 last year to 35 this year.

Oh, and last but not least, the Otter football program was moved from Division III to D-II this year by the body overseeing Vermont high school sports, meaning the Otters will play teams from larger schools.

But the team has retained all

Football of its assistants and line coaches, hired two new assistants and made the decision to coach by committee rather than launch a search for another head coach.

Just before the first game, former Offense Coach Chas Hall said the coaching team of Jim Helak, Kip Denis and himself was working well. He said no one is taking on the title of head coach.

“We’re all kind of sharing the responsibility,” he said. “I’m the spokesperson. Titles are silly because we all work together as a team. We’ve been together for six years and worked under Jim Hill.

We know everything about the system and how it works. We’re not making a whole lot of changes.”

In addition to Hall, Helak and Denis, former Otter player Derek Bassette has been hired as

the receivers and backs coach, and former Castleton player and graduate Jordan Toler is the offensive and defensive line coach.

These coaches have been handed a very young team that includes six freshman, nine sophomores and 11 juniors. Only six seniors are on the team, and one of them, Storm Brown, is playing high school sports for the first time.

“We almost started with a clean slate,” Hall said. “We have to do more teaching this season.”

But there are bright spots.

Returning quarterback Tyler Rowe is back in the pocket for his second year as a starter, and he’s only a junior. He earned the starting job early in the season last year, leading the Otters to the D-III Championship Game, where they lost to Windsor.

It’s been a successful two years for the program, which took the D-III Championship in 2015, the first title for the team since 2000.

“He’s one of the leaders this year,” Hall said of Rowe, who is a team captain. “He’s so dedicated, he works really hard, and we’re lucky to have him.

The other team captains are seniors Robert Cook, Cody Young and Payson Williams, and junior Jacob O’Connell.

As for changing to D-II, Hall said the team will do its best.

“We can’t complain because it doesn’t do any good and we need to focus on being the best team we can be,” Hall said. “We’re not scared of anyone.”

The Otters will still face familiar opponents Fair Haven and Mount Abe, in additional to Milton, U-32, Mount Anthony, Bellows Falls and North Country.

“It’s not like they threw us in with Rutland or South Burlington,” Hall said. “It’ll be more challenging but

we can meet that challenge.”

As for the low turnout of players this season, Hall said he’s less concerned about the effect it will have on the team and more concerned about the larger consequences.

“Kids aren’t coming out because they’re worried about getting hurt,” he said. “I’m hearing that they’re just not interested in sports anymore, and that’s upsetting. They just don’t have the drive anymore. It’s easier to sit on the couch on their phone.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Football Date Opponent/Event Time 9/2 Rutland 1 p.m.

9/9 Fair Haven 1 p.m.

9/15 @ Mt Abraham 7 p.m.

9/23 U-32 (Homecoming) 1 p.m.

9/30 @ Bellows Falls 1 p.m.

10/6 @ Mt. Anthony 7 p.m.

10/14 @ Mill River 1 p.m.

10/20 North Country (Night) 7 p.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Football Team Coaches: Chas Hall, Kipp Denis, James Helak, Jordan Tolar and Derek Bassette Name Grade Daniel Allen 12 Storm Brown 12 Robert Cook 12 David Soulia 12 Payson Williams 12 Cody Young 12 Douglas Coburn 11 Chandler Corey 11 Joshua Granger 11 Nathanial Hudson 11 Dylan Mackie 11 Marcus McCullough 11 Jacob O’Connell 11 Christian Polli 11 Tyler Rowe 11 Kameron Strickland 11 C’Rique Wood 11 Nathanial Blake 10 D’Andre Burns 10 Jared Denis 10 Hunter Manfredi 10 Charles Noble 10 Jacob Owen 10 Spencer Pelkey 10 Steven Shackett 10 Jacob Young 10 Matthew Blake 9 Aiden Blier 9 Levi Cram 9 Jacob Markowski 9 Alexander Polli 9 David Williams 9

OVUHS Field Hockey

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — Like many Marble Valley League teams this fall, Otter Valley field hockey is feeling the pinch of low numbers.

Head Coach Stacey Edmunds said in a preseason interview that losing eight starters to graduation really put a dent in her varsity team this year, a squad of 16 mostly sophomores and juniors.

“We have a lot of young and stilldeveloping players,” she said.

That’s three freshman, eight sophomores, three juniors and just two seniors — captains Katie Coolidge and Chelsea Reed.

Like the OV football team, the Otter girls have had a successful two years, winning the Division III Championship in 2015, and then making it back to the playoffs last year, only to lose to Woodstock in the semi-final game.

But there will be some rebuilding to do this year, Edmunds said, around a strong, core group of returning players like Coolidge, Reed, juniors Sophie Markowski and Gabby LaGrange, and sophomores Isabella Falco and Alia Edmunds, who is returning after two ACL tears and missing all of last season.

Edmunds is also impressed with freshman forward Jadynn Pope

and sophomore keeper Ellie Ross, who is stepping admirably into the big shoes of former goalie Myliah McDonough.

“While we have inexperienced players, we have a core group of experienced players,” Edmunds said.

“Our strength is that core group and the versatility of that group, and our passing and our chemistry is better this year. You could feel it from the beginning, and it shows on the field.

They trust each other.”

And while Edmunds said her captains provide great leadership, she is seeing it from younger returners as well.

“To be honest, I’m seeing great leadership from sophomores and juniors, too,” she said. “I think I have quite a nice group of leaders.”

Of course Edmunds would like another shot at the division championship, but OV has been moved to the Marble Valley League’s B Division. That means facing Fair Haven and Windsor three times each, along with St. Johnsbury and Springfield.

“It’s a very different schedule,” the coach said, “but our goal is always to get to the playoffs. We want to play well and see where we are when we get there. I’m just excited to see this team develop and go from there.”

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Field Hockey 9/27 @ Woodstock Date Opponent/Event Time 10/2 @ Fair Haven 9/1 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

10/6 Burr & Burton 9/5 MAU 4:30 p.m.

10/11 @ Windsor 9/9 Fair Haven 11 a.m.

10/14 @ Springfield 9/12 Woodstock 4:30 a.m.

10/17 Fair Haven (Night) 9/15 @ Rutland 4 p.m.

10/21 Windsor 9/20 @ St. Johnsbury 4:30 a.m.

9/23 Springfield (Homecoming) 11 a.m.

REFUEL & REFRESH

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

11 a.m.

7 p.m.

11 a.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Field Hockey Team Coach: Stacey Edmunds Emma Falquero Name Grade Morgan LaPorte Kathryn Coolidge 12 Elinor Ross Chelsea Reed 12 Payton Traynor Gabriella LaGrange 11 Kathryn Coolidge Jordan Laraway 11 Chelsea Reed Sophie Markowski 11 Caitlin Waid Livia Bernhardt 10 Lucy Gilliam Alia Edmunds 10 Elaina Harte Isabella Falco 10 Jadynn Pope

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Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017 — PAGE 9C

OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL

OVUHS Girls’ Soccer

By LEE J. KAHRS sophomore forward Julia Eastman.

BRANDON — The Otter Valley Hedding said another positive is girls’ soccer team is looking to that many of his freshmen played improve on its 5-9 summer soccer and record last season, have been taught a despite having “We’re game similar to the graduated four starters progressing. one Hedding coaches: Every coach and a low turnout.

Short ball.

Head Coach wants to win a “Short, accurate Rick Hedding has a championship, passes,” he said. younger team, with “Moving the ball up but I think we’re as a team vs. the long five freshman and five sophomores, one junior, going to see ball. I believe it teaches such dramatic and only three seniors. them more discipline.”

That’s only 14 improvement Hedding is players for a game that in such a short optimistic about requires 11 on the field. time that it his team’s chances Still, Hedding likes this of making it to the group and thinks they will be very playoffs, based on exciting.” will do well. what he’s seen already — Coach Rick as the season begins.

“We’re progressing,” Hedding he said in preseason.

“I’m truly excited,” “Every coach wants he said. “Progressively, to win a championship, but I think they have evolved into a really we’re going to see such dramatic cohesive group that is so positive. improvement in such a short time They really are a cohesive team. that it will be very exciting.”

They’re just one, big, happy family His captains this season are and it’s a pleasure to come coach senior keeper Gabby Poalino and them every day.”

Otter Valley Union High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer 9/23 Green Mountain

(Homecoming) 9/29 @ Bellows Falls 10/2 @ Long Trail 10/6 @ Leland & Gray 10/11 Windsor 10/13 Bellows Falls 10/18 @ Green Mountain 10/21 Twin Valley (Night)

Date Opponent/Event Time 9/1 Arlington 4:30 p.m.

9/8 @ Black River

Tournament (Proctor) 6 p.m.

9/9 @ Black River

Tournament (TBA) 8 a.m.

9/12 Leland & Gray 4:30 p.m.

9/15 @ Windsor 4:30 p.m.

9/19 @ Twin Valley 6 p.m.

10 a.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 a.m.

4 p.m.

6 p.m.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team Coach: Rick Hedding Mary Kingsley 10 Assistant coach: Isabelle Kingsley Leah Pinkowski 10 Name Grade Sophia Walker 10 Sarah Hobbs 12 Sarah Calvin 9 Gabriela Poalino 12 Kassidy Carvey 9 Colby Reynolds 12 Mallory Lufkin 9 Felicity Drew 11 Bonnie Moore 9 Lauryl Blanchard 10 Mia Politano 9 Julia Eastman 10

OVUHS Boys’ Soccer

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — One Otter Valley fall team that is seeing a bump in numbers is boys’ varsity soccer.

Head Coach Dick Williams has 18 players this year, as opposed to 15 last season. And he lost only two players to graduation.

The Otters finished last season at 5-1-8, and Williams hopes to do even better this year.

“We were really competitive in every match we played but one,” he said. “We gained six players, one upperclassman and five freshmen.

We’ve got a lot of inexperienced players, but there is a core of good, experienced guys.”

That includes four senior captains: Sawyer Heath, Josh Letourneau, Justin Tremblay and Max Williams.

“They’ve all played on this team since they were freshman,”

Williams said. “They’ve progressed nicely and they’ve really grown as a group.”

Other returners include juniors Reilly Shannon, goalie Clay Hays, Ethan Sulik-Doty, Patrick McKeighan, William Mattsson, and Nate Claessens.

The team also has five freshman, and Williams lamented the fact that OV does not have enough kids to field a junior varsity team for underclassmen to gain more playing experience.

“It’s unfortunate because those five would play all the time,” he said.

Williams said his goal this season is to earn a home playoff game.

“I’m looking forward to this season,” he said. “It should be fun. I think we can be competitive in every match. I don’t think that will be an issue.”

Otter Valley Union High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer 9/28 @ Arlington Tournament 5/7 p.m.

9/29 @ Arlington Tournament 5/7 p.m.

10/6 @ Fair Haven 6 p.m.

10/10 @ Woodstock 4 p.m.

10/12 Mill River 4 p.m.

10/16 @ Whitchester 4:30 p.m.

10/18 @ Leland & Gray 4 p.m.

10/21 West Rutland (Night) 8 p.m.

Date Opponent/Event Time 9/5 Twin Valley 4:30 p.m.

9/7 @ Mill River 4:30 p.m.

9/9 Fair Haven (at Proctor) 1 p.m.

9/14 Woodstock 4:30 p.m.

9/19 Leland & Gray 4:30 a.m.

9/22 Proctor (Homecoming) 4:30 p.m.

9/25 @ Arlington

Tournament (Springfield) 5 p.m.

OVUHS

Time 4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

girls’ team.”

There are seven freshmen on the team this year, one sophomore, four juniors, and two seniors — captains Wes Smith and Brittney Danforth.

Kimball said the team is getting more organized with their practices, and mapping a consistent course with permanent signage.

And despite the wide range of abilities on this team, the coach said the training is consistent.

Otter Valley Union High School Cross Country 9/30 @ Sudbury Road Race 9 a.m.

10/3 @ Long Trail 4:30 p.m.

10/7 @ Thetford Trail Run 9 a.m.

10/10 @ Fair Haven

(Cast Univ) 4:30 p.m.

11 11 11 11 10 10 9 9 9 9 9

ck, Good Lu Otters!

Cross Country

By LEE J. KAHRS BRANDON — There were only eight kids on the Otter Valley cross country team last year, but word got out and this year’s team has swelled to 17.

Second-year Head Coach Brooke Kimball couldn’t be happier.

“I think a big part of it is that we had a bunch of freshmen who spread the word last year,” she said.

“We have two full teams this year, a boys’ team and, for the first time, a Date Opponent/Event 9/5 @ Rutland 9/12 Otter Valley 9/19 @ MSJ 9/26 @ Mill River

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team Coach: Richard Williams Willian Mattson Assistant coaches: Benjamin Black Patrick McKeighan and Roger Miro Reilly Shannon Name Grade Ethan Sulik-Doty Sawyer Heath 12 Sawyer Pierpont Joshua Letourneau 12 Samuel Scholar Justin Tremblay 12 Bradley Danforth Maxwell Williams 12 Lane Eddy Nathan Claessens 11 Cole Letourneau Colin Elliott 11 Sawyer McCullough Clay Hays 11 Cody Willis

“We train the same and they deiced how hard they push,” she said. “They’re going to get out of it what they put into it.”

Kimball said that regardless of how the meets turn out, she is glad so many kids have decided to pursue the sport of running.

“I’m really excited, just looking at running as a lifelong sport,” she said. “Not about records or times, but they’ll have something they can do for the rest of their lives.”

10/17 MSJ (MVL) 3:30 p.m.

10/28 @State Championships

(Thetford) 9 a.m.

11/4 @ New Englands TBA

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Cross Country Team Coach: Brooke Campbell Name Grade Brittney Danforth 12 Wesley Smith 12 Brittney Corey 11 Hayden Gallo 11 Mickeen Hogan 11 Anthony Rovi 11 Colby Smith 11 Kelsie Sunhawk 11 Morgan Daly 10 Phoebe Elliott 10 Keisha Young 10 Joseph Cijka 9 Madilyn Morgan 9 Shannon Oudman-Blackwood 9 Anoushka Pschorr 9 Parker Todd 9 McKenna White 9

OVUHS

Golf

By JOHN S. McCRIGHT BRANDON — Fall is a time of changing leaves, cooler nights and now, for the first time, high school golf.

The Vermont Principals’ Association this school year moved golf from a spring sport to a fall game, and the Otter Valley team is hitting the links and already playing in matches. Otter Coach Tom Ryan, who has a few seasoned returning players and a couple of promising freshman, is looking forward to a fun season.

“The golfers I have represent the school and the community very well,” Ryan said. “They are fine golfers.”

At the top of Ryan’s roster are senior Will Kelly and junior Sam Buswell, who were among the top Otter golfers last spring. At last year’s Division-II state qualifier Kelly shot a strong 91 to lead the team, and Buswell had some good rounds last spring, too. Another junior, Mike Bedard, also promises to bring a strong game, Ryan said.

A Vermont high school must card four players to score as a team, and Ryan is unsure at this point when the Otter boys will play four in competition. Freshmen Alex Philo and Joe Rovi have shown encouraging performances in early practices, though he wasn’t sure this week when they would be fully involved in competitive rounds.

Ryan is expecting big things from another freshman, though.

Mia Politano is the daughter of Paul Politano, the golf pro at Middlebury’s Ralph Myhre Golf

Course.

“She is going to be quite a player,” Ryan said.

Spring golf had to compete with other sports for players, and it is no different with golf played in the fall.

Politano, for one, is playing soccer and golf for OV. But Ryan isn’t worried that soccer will hurt her game on the golf course. Politano was the girl’s medalist — first place — in the first two matches that OV played in this fall.

“She’s a golfer,” he said.

Ryan said there are several middle school girls interested in golf — including Politano’s sister — and he will take them out on the course next week.

“I hope to surround her with a full team in about two years,” he said.

Ryan had got a little more time giving individual coaching to his top players this year thanks to the help of a new assistant: Lisa King, an OV teacher.

With the status of team scoring still up in the air, Ryan is hopeful that Buswell or Kelly could make it to the state meet this fall, though it will likely be more difficult than it past years because the qualifying tournament will include teams from both the southern and northern parts of the state — in the past they qualified in a separate tournament.

Ryan was looking forward to the season and the enthusiasm that his players showed.

“They push themselves,” Ryan said. “I’m less of a golf coach than an ambassador to the support. “This is the next wave of club members.

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Golf Coach: Tom Ryan Samuel Buswell Name Grade Alexander Philo William Kelly 12 Mia Politano Michael Bedard 11 Joseph Rovi

Otter Valley Union High School Varsity Golf 9/19 @ Proctor Time 9/20 Neshobe 3:30 p.m.

9/25 @ Rutland 3:30 p.m.

9/26 @ Proctor 3:30 9/29 Neshobe 3:30 10/3 CC of VT 3:30 3:30

Date Opponent/Event 8/28 @ Rutland 8/29 @ Proctor 9/6 Neshobe 9/7 @ Manchester 9/13 @ Woodstock 9/18 @ Rutland

11 9 9 9

3:30 3:30 3:30 3:30 3:30 TBA

PAGE 10C — Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017

VERGENNES

VUHS

UNION

HIGH

SCHOOL

Cross Country

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The news was positive for Coach Brad Castillo’s Vergennes Union cross-country program this fall, as a number of veterans should boost the prospects for the boys’ team and several newcomers swelled the ranks on the girls’ side.

“The guys are looking fantastic.

We’ve got a lot of great returners,” Castillo said.

Four runners who started for the VUHS boys at the 2016 state meet at Thetford return: Juniors Spencer Hurlburt and Wade Mullin and sophomore Erich Reitz scored points, and senior Ben Praamsma was one place out of scoring a year ago. Gabe Praamsma, a freshman who has trained with the VUHS cross-country and track team when he was in middle school, is the fifth member of the boys team.

“We’re a little young, which is nice, but strong. Wade, Spencer and Erich are my top three, and they’re juniors and sophomores. And Ben and Gabe are coming along nicely,” Castillo said. “There’s a lot of good potential there.”

At the preseason South Burlington class races, which pits runners against their grade-level peers, Castillo said the Commodores were “by far the best” among the small group of Division II teams, while Mullin and Hurlburt posted times

about a minute faster than a year ago in the same race.

Barring injury to his admittedly small squad, Castillo is optimistic the boys can move up from their eighth-place showing in the 2016 state meet.

“We’ll turn some heads. They’ll be surprised we can make it work with a little team,” he said.

The girls’ side lost top runner and team leader Sadie Kass, Castillo noted.

“We’re rebuilding,” he said.

“We’re definitely going to miss someone like Sadie (Kass) around.

She was a very steady calm presence to have around.”

But sophomore Emma Beauchemin and junior Ashley Cray finished just about 12 seconds and a minute, respectively, behind Kass a year ago.

“I am lucky enough to have Emma and Ashley still, because although they weren’t Sadie caliber they weren’t far off, and they’re working well together,” Castillo said.

Sophomore Grace LeBeau also had some good results in 2016 before missing the state meet, and Castillo said she could be a “nice third piece” if she can recover from nagging preseason injuries. He also noted senior Olivia Hawkins returns to the team after time off, and he said they could join with Beauchemin and Cray to “give the team a nice

foursome and hopefully pull the other three along.”

Those other three are freshman Anna Rakowski, who has middle school experience, and sophomore newcomers Brianna Billings and Siobhan Eagan.

Castillo expects the Commodore girls to improve steadily, but contention this year might be too much to ask.

“It will be tough,” Castillo said.

“The girls that have been running

Good Luck Teams!

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for so long, especially in Division II, are not easy to catch.”

Regardless of results, Castillo expects an enjoyable fall with a hard-working team, and he credited Hurlburt and Cray for helping to set a positive tone.

“I’ve gotten lucky. There’s a nice atmosphere that’s definitely stuck for the last couple years,” Castillo said. “Thankfully it’s been holding true no matter who’s at the helm.”

Vergennes Union High School Cross Country Date Opponent/Event Time 9/2 @ Essex Invitational 9 a.m.

9/9 @ Burlington Invitational 9 a.m.

9/16 @ U-32 Invitational 10 a.m.

9/23 @ Manchester N.H. Invitational

9:30 a.m.

9/30 Randolph Invitational 10 a.m.

10/7 Thetford Woods Trail Run 9 a.m.

10/14 Harwood Invitational 1 p.m.

10/28 State Champs @ Thetford 10 a.m.

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Cross Country Team Coach: Brad Castillo Name Grade Olivia Hawkins 12 Ben Praamsma 12 Ashley Cray 11 Spencer Hurlburt 11 Wade Mullin 11 Emma Beauchemin 10 Brianna Billings 10 Siobhan Eagan 10 Grace Lebeau 10 Erich Reitz 10 Gabe Praamsma 9 Anna Rakowski 9

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Addison Independent, Thursday, September 14, 2017 — PAGE 11C

VERGENNES

VUHS Boys’ Soccer

By ANDY KIRKALDY VERGENNES — The Vergennes Union boys’ soccer team took a modest step forward to five wins a year ago and overall showed a more cohesive style of play.

Coach Kevin Hayes expects a bit more of the same this fall from what will be a young team, with three sophomores and two freshmen projected to start for a program that will compete in the Division III postseason for the first

VUHS

time in many years.

“Some of the younger guys are bringing in a high soccer IQ, and they’ll be more actually patient with the ball in making a pass,” he said.

Still, Hayes will look to two veteran offensive midfielders, junior Ezekiel Palmer in the middle and senior Lance Bergmans on the right side, to coordinate the Commodore attack. Hayes called Palmer a playmaker.

“He’s got a good head for the game, and we want to make things flow through him where possible,” he said.

Bergmans has come on strong, Hayes said.

“He’s really improved over the last couple years,” he said. “I’m excited to see what he can do there.”

Senior Nate Wojciehowski will probably run alongside Bergmans

UNION

as the left offensive midfielder, and freshman Avery Husk will run up front as the lone striker. Midfield reserves include sophomore Robbie Bicknell, freshman John Willis and senior Bailey Smith. When Husk needs a break, senior Ethan Sausville and junior Cameron McLaughlin will spell him; they are also backup goalies.

Behind the offensive midfielders are two defensive, or holding, midfielders that Hayes said will play a vital role in both defending and transitioning the ball from the back into the offense, sophomore Josias Salomao and freshman Tucker Stearns.

“The two holding middies I think will be key in what we’re trying to do because we can develop from there,” Hayes said.

On defense, senior Ben Kayhart and junior Jack Halpin will hold down the middle, with junior Aaron

HIGH

Premont and probably sophomore Ben Curtis on the flanks. Senior Samir Kadric will also see time in the back.

Hayes is confident in the group.

“Defensively, Jack and Ben (Kayhart) and Aaron are strong, experienced. We’re looking to minimize opportunities,” he said.

Sophomore Jeff Stearns moves from defense to take over in the net.

“Goalkeeping, I’m excited about Jeff,” Hayes said.

Tough teams like Spaulding and Burlington dot the Commodores’ schedule, as well as the usual Lake Division challenges. But Hayes is optimistic.

“I’m very hopeful. Again, winning more than half of our games would be the goal,” Hayes said. “We’ll try to play our best and see how it goes, but I think we’ll be OK. We’ve got a decent number of soccer players now.”

SCHOOL

Vergennes Union High School Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team Coach: Kevin Hayes Assistant Coach: Ward Butler Name Grade Lance Bergmans 12 Samir Kadric 12 Ben Kayhart 12 Ethan Sausville 12 Bailey Smith 12 Nathan Wojciehowski 12 Jack Halpin 11 Cameron Mclaughlin 11 Ezekiel Palmer 11 Aaron Premont 11 Robbie Bicknell 10 Ben Curtis 10 Josias Salomao 10 Jeffrey Stearns 10 Avery Husk 9 Tucker Stearns 9 John Willis 9

Vergennes Union High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer Date Opponent/Event Time 9/1 @ Green Mtn. Valley 4:30 p.m.

9/6 Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

9/15 @ Burlington 4:30 p.m.

9/18 @ Mt. Abraham 4:30 p.m.

9/21 Mill River 4:30 p.m.

9/23 Missisquoi 1 p.m.

9/26 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

10/2 @ Spaulding 6:30 p.m.

10/4 Milton 4 p.m.

10/7 Mt. Abraham 4 p.m.

10/10 Middlebury 4 p.m.

10/13 @ Missisquoi 4 p.m.

10/18 Spaulding 4 p.m.

10/21 @ Milton 10 a.m.

ck, Good Lu VUHS!

Girls’ Soccer

By ANDY KIRKALDY sophomore offensive central middie VERGENNES — In 2016 the Emily Rooney, already starting Vergennes Union girls’ soccer her third year on the team. Two team finished 5-9-1, but truly were freshman will join them, Sydney competitive in every game: The Weber in the middle and Hannah Commodores’ nine losses were four Kelly on the flank. Backing them up by one goal and five by two goals. will be sophomore Leah Croke and Even though graduation hit the one of two juniors, Lydia Sabourin team’s defense particularly hard, and Kylie Comeau.

Co-Coaches Dwight Irish and Peter Senior Kaitlyn Brace will start up Maneen were confident heading front, assuming she can shrug off a into this season that issue could nagging preseason injury. Senior be sorted out and the Munro McLaren and Commodores could “Our biggest Comeau will also step reverse the results in in at striker. In ideal some of those close question circumstances junior mark is really losses.

Ciara McClay would “Five-hundred or teaching them start in this position, better I think would be but an injury will to defend realistic,” Irish said. unfortunately sideline “Anything beyond collectively.” the Independent allthat certainly would — Co-Coach star through both the be gravy. I think we’re Dwight Irish soccer and basketball going to compete fine, seasons. but I think .500 looking In the back junior at the schedule we play would feel Emma Bryant and sophomore like a good season.”

Sophie Hatch are set in the middle, Irish said the coaches were as is junior Rayven Perkins on one particularly happy with the team’s flank. Either Sabourin or Comeau midfield. They will use a formation will start on the other flank, Irish with four defenders, five midfielders said, with the other seeing plenty of and one striker to take advantage of time at midfield. their talent there.

Irish said the group has ability “We’re really liking our midfield, and just needs time to learn to our strength up the middle. I think our play together, something they skill is good, and our understanding were already learning to do in the of the game, and right now we’re preseason. moving the ball well through the “Our biggest question mark is middle,” he said. really teaching them to defend Anchoring the midfield will collectively. I think we’ve got some be three veterans, senior central good defenders. But I think being midfielder Emma Husk, junior able to play well as a unit is key for outside middie Morgan Lynk, and us,” he said. “We’re on the young Vergennes Union High School Varsity Girls’ Soccer Team Coaches: Dwight Irish and Peter Maneen Morgan Lynk Name Grade Rayven Perkins Kaitlyn Brace 12 Lydia Sabourin Emma Husk 12 Leah Croke Munro McLaren 12 Sophie Hatch Hannah Paquette 12 Emily Rooney Anya Sonwaldt 12 Hannah Kelley Emma Bryant 11 Sydney Weber Kylie Comeau 11

11 11 11 10 10 10 9 9

side, but we’re progressing in each scrimmage. We’re spending a lot of time (in practice) trying to develop that unit mentality.”

The Commodores are also going to play in Division III this fall, something they and their coaches believe gives them better postseason odds.

“We’re all excited about that,” Irish said. “The girls are already confident. They’re feeling good about that. So I think if we play well down the stretch I do like our chances in D-III.” Vergennes Union High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer Date Opponent/Event Time 9/2 @ Mt. Abraham 10 a.m.

9/5 @ Middlebury 4:30 p.m.

9/8 Fair Haven 4:30 p.m.

9/16 Spaulding 1 p.m.

9/19 @ Milton 4:30 p.m.

9/22 Rice 4:30 p.m.

9/27 Missisquoi 4:30 p.m.

10/3 @ Green Mountain Valley 4 p.m.

10/7 Mt. Abraham 2:30 p.m.

10/9 Middlebury 4 p.m.

10/11 @ Spaulding 4 p.m.

10/14 Milton 10 a.m.

10/17 @ Rice 4 p.m.

10/20 @ Missisquoi 4 p.m.

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