News

‘It’s a blessing’: Sports return on Friday

By Christopher Shaban
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CLAREMONT — After a delay to the start of the New Hampshire sports season, things are ready for Friday evening liftoff as the defending Division 4 girls soccer state champion Sunapee Lakers head to Fall Mountain to tangle with the Wildcats for a 4 p.m. contest while Jason Stone’s Stevens Cardinals boys soccer squad will host Mascoma for a 7 p.m. match-up in Claremont.

Schools across the twin states have opted for a more regional schedule and in western New Hampshire, there is a group of schools that are loaded with talent.

“It’s a blessing to be able to play and we’re not going to take a moment of this for granted” said Stone. The local teams in the regional are very strong with match-ups including: Stevens, Fall Mountain, Sunapee and Newport as well as Hanover and Lebanon to the north.

“This is a great opportunity for our kids to not only play but face some really good competition. There was no summer league, no pre-season and no team week so my team will be fresh and they are very positive about what lies ahead” said Fall Mountain girls coach Bruce Ferland.

While things in Vermont are still waiting for the final nod from the Vermont Principals Association (VPA), the New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) schedule is taking shape and by the end of the day on Monday, each of our local schools will have begun their seasons.

Stone called his team chemistry the “highlight so far and looks at the schedule as an opportunity to get ready for the playoffs, there are some really good teams and we can’t wait to face anyone” said Stone while Ferland raved about the IQ of his players. “There some incredibly smart girls on this team and we’ll use that to our advantage this season, we have 11 returners from last year and they all know what it takes to be successful and their attitude is incredible” said Ferland.

Friday, Sept. 18

Girls soccer: Fall Mountain hosts Sunapee at 4 p.m.

Boys soccer: Stevens hosts Mascoma at 7 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 19

Field hockey: Stevens hosts Mascoma at 10 a.m., Newport hosts Hanover at 11 a.m.

Boys soccer: Sunapee hosts Fall Mountain at noon

Volleyball: Sunapee hosts Fall Mountain at 3:15 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 21

Cross country: Fall Mountain hosts Hanover at 4 p.m.

Boys soccer: Stevens hosts Lebanon at 7:30 p.m.

Girls soccer: Mount Royal hosts Epping at 4 p.m.

Volleyball: Stevens hosts Mascoma at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 22

Boys soccer: Fall Mountain hosts Hanover at 4 p.m.

Girls soccer: Newport hosts Mascoma at 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 23

Girls soccer: Stevens hosts Lebanon at 3 p.m., Newport hosts Fall Mountain at 5:30 p.m., Sunapee hosts Pittsfield at 6:30 p.m.

Boys soccer: Newport hosts Mascoma at 4 p.m., Sunapee hosts Pittsfield at 4 p.m.

These are the most current schedules but they are all subject to change.

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