NH Women Cruise 4-1, Men Tie

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
New Hampshire women controlled play for a 4-1 win

HANOVER- Kearsarge’s Caroline Camp and Stevens’ Brynn Murphy were in the mix of things and pushed the tempo and helped give New Hampshire a win, as the physical play and speed of the Granite State women was too much for Vermont to handle. “This was intense, it feels so good,” said Stevens standout Murphy during the game.

Right off the bat, New Hampshire blistered Rutland keeper Kathryn Moore with shots, but Moore was sensational with punched out saves and aggression off her line. Hopkinton’s fireball midfielder Ashlee Brehio scored the first of her two goals from 30 yards out, then her teammate Annie Higginbotham added another to make it 2-0 New Hampshire early.

Green Mountain’s 100 goal scorer Kim Cummings was known to New Hampshire, and was marked all day. She appeared to have her speed going, but seemed to have to face more double teams than ever before. “They were fast, NH was so good,” said Cummings, as she had to deal with the likes of Murphy and Lebanon’s Ella Lonacre.

Camp’s trademark hard nose, non-stop play was front and center, showing no fear while mixing it up in the midfield with Vermont’s MVP award winner Tanum Nelson, who also made the United Soccer Coaches All-America Team in 2021 and was an All-New England Team selection. “This was so much fun, everyone on the pitch can play and play hard, it was just a pleasure to represent Kearsarge and New Hampshire today,” said Camp after the game. Cougar teammate Thea Soanos used her time stalking the sidelines and wrestling with any Vermont defender that came her way, hitting the turf on many occasions, then bouncing right back up to find her mark.

New Hampshire was in control as the teams switched ends of the field for the second half. was then Mount Anthony’s Alexa Gerow’s turn in the net to keep New Hampshire at bay. Gerow was on her game, turning away New Hampshire shots to keep things close. Then, when Nelson floated a 30 yard strike that dipped under the crossbar, all of a sudden the momentum had shifted to Vermont, who were now trailing by a single goal 2-1. “I didn’t think she would let one go from way out there, we had the wings marked really well,” said Murphy. “That’s what makes her such a great player”.

The Vermont players felt something special was happening, that they had seized the momentum.”When it was 2-1, I think you were getting excited and I know I was feeling it,” assistant coach Stephen LaRock said to the team after the game.

But, New Hampshire would turn up the heat with multiple runs on net when Pembroke’s Cierra Hill would crush the Vermont hopes with a blast into the twine to push the lead up to 3-1. Brehio’s was up next as she was a physical force all over the field all game and put her stamp on the game with a goal to take all the wind out of the Vermont sails. “It felt so good to win, Vermont has so much talent and my teammates were incredible, I’m just thankful to play today and represent Cardinal soccer,” said Murphy.

“I’ve been in a few of these games and today was without a doubt the best a New Hampshire team has played,” said head coach Mike Martinez of Trinity, as New Hampshire took a 4-1 win to improve the overall rivalry game record to 17-12-4.

New Hampshire and Vermont men battle to 1-1 final

While the goal tenders were throwing up highlight saves all day, the scoring was at a premium until Mascoma’s Ben Seiler put a number on the scoreboard, and gave the Granite Staters the lead off a beautiful cross from Gilford’s Anthony Aguiar, and planted the shot into the twine. “I felt the play developing and found the right spot, I knew it was in when I hit it,” said Selier (who won the New Hampshire 12th player award) as he fist pumped his way into a pile of happy teammates. “There was a scramble in front of the box, I saw Ben moving into position for the strike,” said Stevens standout Dylan Chambers as he raced over from his midfield position to lead the New Hampshire celebration after the goal. “What a great feeling that was.”

Vermont’s Domenick Puttlitz of Colchester kept the Green Mountain boys in the game with unbelievable sprawling and fingertip saves, while the New Hampshire keeper duo of Davis Hood of Manchester Central, and Ryan Lockitt of Souhegan shined just as bright. New Hampshire held onto the 1-0 lead past the break, but Vermont looked to tie things when a penalty kick was awarded to their side. People’s Academy’s Oliver Nigro stared Lockitt down as the two seemed like time stood still for a moment, Lockitt started to shift right, then exploded to his left as Nigro fired off a laser with eyes toward the lower left corner. With Lockitt sprawled out and in mid air, he deflected harmlessly away to keep New Hampshire ahead. Following the game, Nigro congratulated Lockitt on the field.

New Hampshire had more shots on net and controlled the middle of the field with Chambers and company and on the defensive end, Claus was a force. “I wanted Andrew to be on this team, we’ve played against him and I knew he was a perfect fit,” said New Hampshire coach Kerry McDermit from Epping as Claus was added to the team late.

“I was super proud to be the only D4 player on the field, the game is so different with so much talent, it was something else to play in this,” said Claus after the game.

With Vermont doing all they could to square the match, they hit pay-dirt off the foot of South Burlignton’s Sumner Nenninger. There was a lot of congestion in the penalty area and Nenninger beat everyone to the ball, guiding it in the cage past Lockitt. It came with 23 minutes remaining.

Both teams had chances but the goaltending was the story as things ended in a 1- 1 tie.

Neither team had any golden chances to grab the win after that goal, as exhaustion had set in long ago with the near 90 degree temperature on the turf.

“I have been in so many memorable games and this is right near the top right behind the 50th Bernard cup in the rain,” said Chambers.