Good Morning! With the Border Country Sports Blog, I'm Keith Harrington.
Blue Devils Hang on to Edge Richford in Quartefinals
Many of us remember the glory days of Poultney girls soccer when the high scoring duo of Brianna Tindall and Sarah Gilmore roamed the pitch at Poultney Elementary School. There have been many lean years since then, but it can now be said that Poultney girls soccer is back.
Enter Hannah Corkum as head coach. The former Burr and Burton standout has breathed new air into the Poultney program.
#7 Poultney won their first playoff game since 2008 as they jumped out to a two-goal lead in the first half and fought off #10 Richford 3-2 to advance to the Vermont Division IV quarterfinals.
The Blue Devils struck first on a goal by Katlyn DeBonis off of a free kick to make it 1-0.
Hannah Welch scored the second goal to make it 2-0 before the halftime break.
The Blue Devils seemed to be in great shape entering the final 40 minutes, but Richford had a little energy left in the tank. The Rockrs scored a pair of second half goals to keep the pressure on the Blue Devils.
Kaydyn L’Esperance scored for Poultney in the second half when she collected a save by the Richford goal after a direct kick and slipped it into the back of the net.
The L’Esperance goal proved to be the game-winner as the second Richford goal of the half cut the deficit to 3-2.
Poultney now makes the long haul to Orford, New Hampshire to face the #2 seeded Rivendell. The Raptors eliminated the Blue Devils last year. Poultney should match up well with Rivendell. The Raptors tied a Mill River team that the Blue Devils recently beat.
Poultney now is 8-6-1 on the season and has ensured their first winning season since 1997.
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Hoosick Falls Ends Granville's Season
The Granville field hockey team ran into an old nemesis on Wednesday afternoon. Hoosick Falls scored a pair of first half goal and shut down the explosive Granville offense the rest of the way as the blanked the Golden Horde 2-0 in the Section II Class C field hockey semifinals.
The #2 Panthers and #3 Golden Horde always seem to be on a collision course. The rivals split their two games to share the Adirondack League title in for the Fall II season. This year Hoosick Falls won the first meeting 6-0 and rallied to defeat Granville 4-3 in overtime.
The Golden Horde proved in their October 11th meeting that they can score on Hoosick Falls, but this time the Panthers and goalie Marissa Landry could not be solved.
Gwyn Vincent scored to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
Tatum Hickey extended the margin to 2-0 on an assist from Emma McCart.
Landry and the Panther defense took over from there as they advanced to the Sunday's noon championship game at Schuyleville against #1 Johnstown. Landry stopped just two shots for Hoosick Falls.
Megan Decker stopped six shots for Granville.
Granville ends a successful season with a 12-5 record.
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Fair Haven Upset in Opening Round
The #3 ranked Fair Haven girls soccer team jumped out to a 1-0 lead, but #14 Milton turned out to be better than their seeding showed as they scored the next five goals to upset the Slaters 5-1 in the Vermont Division II playdowns at LaPlaca Field.
Freshman Madison Perry scored the only Fair Haven goal when she converted a pretty pass to give the Slaters a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes.
Holly MacClellan led Milton by hitting the back of the net three times. Cianna Tomasi and Abi Martel also scored for the Yellowjackets.
Emma Grasso had two assists for Milton. Taylor Dowling and.Willa Wright were also credited with helpers.
Grace Williams had five saves for Milton.
The Yellowjackets advance to meet No. 11 Mount Abraham in the quarterfinals.
Fair Haven finishes 10-3-2.
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Vermont Scoreboard
High Girls Soccer
Division IV
West Rutland 4 Twin Valley 0
Rivendell 15 Long Trail 0
MSJ 5 Hazen 0
Arlington 2 Craftsbury 0
Division III
Windsor 2 Oxbow 1
Divsion I
Burr and Burton 1 Spaulding 0
Rutland 3 BFA-St. Albans 0
High School Boys Soccer
Division IV
Richford 1 Proctor 0
Twin Valley 5 Danville 1
Arlington 7 Blue Mountain 3
Division I
Mount Anthony 8 Rutland 0
High School Field Hockey
Division I
Mount Mansfield 4 Rutland 0
Division II
Woodstock 4 Brattleboro 0
St. Johnsbury 6 Middlebury 1
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New York Scoreboard
High School Volleyball
Class D Opening Round
Maple Hill 3 Warrensburg 0
High School Girls Soccer
Class C Quartefinals
Bolton-Warrensburg 2 Greenwich 1
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With the Border Country Sports Blog, I'm Keith Harrington.
Brooke DeBonis Photo
