Bellows Falls Loses in Semis

By Christopher Shaban
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Top ranked Champlain Valley held off the Terriers 2-1 and will head to the Division 1 championship game on Saturday against South Burlington.

CVU looked right at home on the slick turf and kept the pressure on the Terriers

“We deserve to be in Division 1, now go and show everyone,” said Terriers Head Coach Bethany Coursen at halftime as the Terriers trailed the Redhawks 1-0. With all-state Danielle Gamelin playing one of her best games of her life from her defensive position, the Terriers offense sputtered all night long.

CVU would double their lead when Clair Marcoe planted the would-be game winner with five minutes showing on the clock making it 2-0 but Bellows Falls wasn’t done.

Terrier attackers Sadie Scott, Ava LaRoss, Max Maxfield and Emma Bazin kept digging and looking for a score, Coursen had told her team at the break it only takes one second to score and that’s exactly what happened with 2:02 left in the game. With a sea of purple shirts flooding the goal area off a corner, LaRoss put one in the back of the cage as the Terrier fans were on their feet hoping for only one more.

The Terriers were pushing players forward looking for that equalizer, but CVU stiffened and held possession for the last 45 seconds to secure the win. As the sprinkles started to fall on the green turf, the Terriers season came to a close as #1 CVU will take their nine-game winning streak to Burlington on Saturday to tangle with the #2 ranked Rebels after a 2-1 win over Bellows Falls.

Mary Wallace collected two saves for the Terriers as they closed out their season with a 12-3-1 record.

Note: This year is the first time since 2016 that Bellows Falls, as the smallest school competing in Division 1 won’t be in a championship game on the turf in November at the University of Vermont. Rumor has it that UVM will be replacing the carpet after this season is over with a new field.