By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
HANOVER — There are times when you wonder just how well our local athletes stack up against the rest of the state. I am a big advocate of the Connecticut Valley League (CVL), but there are always those who say that this area doesn’t have the depth and strength that other areas do, therefore a CVL league would be a watered-down league. I couldn’t disagree more.
If there was ever a doubt about the level of local soccer on the state level from our teams and players, those questions were answered in a loud way as all of our local players didn’t take a back seat to anyone during the 47th Annual Lions Cup games on Saturday.
“These players are all so good, the speed, quickness and seeing how smart everyone was with the decision making made me feel so good to be a part of the game and my team, I can’t wait to play college soccer,” said Stevens’ Brynn Murphy, who will head off to New England College to bring her soccer pedigree with her.
“Boy was this something,” said the Cardinals’ Dylan Chambers, and added, “There aren’t many games that can top this one, the talent is unbelievable, but I think the players we’ve played in our area withheld our own”.
Sunapee’s Andrew Claus, who has a few state titles under his belt from the Lakers’ dominance, was so proud to represent D4 Sunapee. “What an honor to play, it was incredible to be on the field with all this talent,” said Claus after the game. A little further up the valley at Mascoma High School lives a very talented scorer in Ben Seiler, who grabbed the only New Hampshire goal and received the New Hampshire 12th man award.
Sprinkle in Kearsarge’s Caroline Camp who received the 12th player award for the women and her teammate, the tough as nails Thea Spanos. Across the river, on the Vermont side were three Green Mountain fellas with their names etched across state championship plaques. Everett Mosher (100 goal scorer), Kagan Hance and Vermont 12th man award winner Elias Stowell-Aleman, and another Chieftain 100 goal scoring machine in Kim Cummings, all very talented local players.
Needless to say, that these athletes are as good as they come, it didn’t matter how big or little their schools were, they all fit in, and the Lions Cup is a great example of how well the players mesh with each other no matter what sizes their schools are. Sunapee has a school population of around 150 students, while Nashua South checks in with over 1900 students. Over in Vermont, Burlington has nearly 1000 students, while at the smaller end is Proctor with 129 students.
Note: Chambers and Stowell-Aleman will be roommates at Keene State College and will also be on the pitch for the Owls under new coaching combo of Matt Schmidt and Matt Caron. Local soccer legend Rick Scott announced his retirement as Keene State College soccer coach just days ago.
Father and son referee duo Blake and Jeremy Colter joined up for the women’s game after the younger Jeremy did the men’s game volunteering their time.
This was the first time in the Lions Cup history that Green Mountain had three players on the team with Mosher, Hance and Stowell-Aleman representing the Chieftains.
Biggest snuff in this reporter’s opinion goes to Windsor’s Elliot Rupp on the women’s side. I have no doubt that her speed and goal scoring ability would have been a difference maker for the green team.
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