Eventful Week in Local Sports: Soccer Closure, FH Schedules, Scrimmage Previews

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
Newport shuts it down, springfield men are back

Newport will be suspending their Varsity Men’s Soccer program this season because of a lack of numbers. Last year, Head Coach Caleb Godwin went door-to-door to find players to keep the program running, but this season it was decided to look to next year and build from a Junior Varsity level.

Newport isn’t alone as Windsor didn’t field a Men’s Soccer team last season, and is struggling to get enough players for this year’s team also. “We are holding out hope but it’s going to be tough,” said longtime Athletic Director Jim Taft.

In Springfield, Vermont, there was no Men’s Soccer team last year and this year it’s a whole different story, with 17 players so far. “Our kids are coming back, our numbers have increased,” said Springfield Athletic Director Rich Saypeck. Not just Men’s Soccer, but all programs seem to be on the rise in Springfield, with most teams above the 20 player level and rising.

Local school populations according to the VPA and NHIAA (vPA- Vermont Principals Association, NHIAA- New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association)

New Hampshire: Stevens-546(D3), Fall Mountain-501(D3), Newport-300(D3), Sunapee 133(D4)

Vermont: Springfield-269(D2), Bellows Falls-235(D3), Windsor-171(D3)

Field hockey schedules are set

Jody Wood and her Windsor Yellow Jackets will look to make it four state titles in a row, while Newport returns a ton of talent for Kaitlyn Porter and her Tiger squad. Bellows Falls is a favorite to return to the University of Vermont to battle for another championship, while Patty Deschaine at Stevens returns a very strong team that opened lots of eyes with a deep playoff run last season.

Stevens Cardinals

08/29/22 at Newport 4:00 PM 08/31/22 Winnisquam 6:30 PM 09/06/22 at Conant 4:00 PM 09/09/22 Hopkinton 4:00 PM 09/12/22 at Monadnock 4:00 PM 09/15/22 Kearsarge 6:30 PM 09/20/22 at Littleton 4:00 PM 09/24/22 at Kearsarge 12:00 PM 09/26/22 Monadnock 4:00 PM 09/29/22 Mascenic 6:30 PM 10/05/22 at Mascoma Valley 4:00 PM 10/07/22 at Mascenic 4:00 PM 10/10/22 Newport 6:00 PM 10/13/22 Conant 6:00 PM

Newport Tigers

08/26/22 at Hopkinton 4:00 PM 08/29/22 Stevens 4:00 PM 09/01/22 St. Thomas Aquinas 4:00 PM 09/06/22 at Kearsarge 4:00 PM 09/07/22 Gilford 4:30 PM 09/09/22 Monadnock 4:00 PM 09/12/22 Mascenic 4:00 PM 09/20/22 Conant 4:00 PM 09/22/22 at Mascenic 4:45 PM 09/24/22 at Monadnock 4:00 PM 09/28/22 at St. Thomas Aquinas 4:30 PM 10/01/22 at Franklin 3:30 PM 10/07/22 Kearsarge 4:00 PM 10/10/22 at Stevens 6:00 PM

Springfield Cosmos

9/02 at Bellows Falls 4:00 9/6 at Fair Haven 4:00 9/14 Home vs Fair Haven 4:00 9/18 at Woodstock 4:00 9/23 Home vs Bellows Falls 4:00 9/24 at Otter Valley 11:00 9/27 Home vs Windsor 4:00 9/29 at Brattleboro 4:00 10/3 Home vs Rutland 4:00 10/7 Home vs Woodstock 4:00 10/10 Home vsOtyter Valley 4:00 10/12 Home vs Brattleboro 4:00 10/17 at Windsor 4:00 10/21 at Hartford 4:00 Bellows Falls Terriers 9/2 Home vs Springfield 4:00 9/7 at Windsor 4:00 9/10 Home vs Rutland 8:00 am 9/13 at Brattleboro 4:30 9/15 Home vs Windsor 4:00 9/22 at Springfield 4:00 9/27 at Hartford 4:00 9/30 at Rutland 4:00 10/4 at Otter Valley 4:00 10/7 Home vs Burr and Burton 4:00 10/11 Home vs Hartford 4:00 10/13 Home vs Woodstock 4:00 10/19 Home vs Brattleboro 4:30 10/22 at Burr and Burton 11:00am

Windsor Yellow Jackets

9/2 at Rutland 4:00 9/7 Home vs Bellows Falls 4:00 9/9 Home vs Burr and Burton 4:00 9/12 Home vs Otter Valley 4:00 9/15 at Bellows Falls 4:00 9/20 Home vs Brattleboro 4:00 9/23 Home vs Woodstock 4:00 9/27 at Springfield 4:00 9/29 at Woodstock 4:00 10/4 at Fair Haven 4:00 10/12 Home vs Fair haven 4:00 10/14 at Brattleboro 4:00 10/17 Home vs Springfield 4:00 10/19 at Otter Valley 4:00

Cardinals set for scrimmage in the city

Josh Duford will step on the field as the new Stevens Cardinals Head Football Coach this weekend, as his team will face Mascoma at 10 AM, at Barnes Park in Claremont. After the scrimmage, there will be a barbecue..

Across the city, Stevens Men’s Soccer Coach Jason Stone and his Cardinals will welcome Hartford, also at 10 AM, at Monadnock Park as they prepare for Division 3 action this season.

The Cardinals Women’s Soccer team heads to Epping for an all day jamboree starting at 11 AM with Head Coach Tim St. Pierre driving the ship.

John Proper and his Newport Tiger Football Team will head south to Keene to take on the Owls on Saturday.

Next Weekend, Fall Mountain will be hosting a multi-team football jamboree on Saturday. Wildcat Head Coach Orion Binney is scheduled to have Stevens and the Wasps from Woodstock, Vermont in the house.