Belmont, Hopkinton and Bow all reach Division III boys’ soccer semifinals

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The top-ranked Belmont boys’ soccer team will live to see another day in the Division III tournament after defeating No. 8 Prospect Mountain (10-7-1), 1-0, yesterday in the quarterfinals.

Austin Wilder was the lone goal scorer, notching his game-winning goal with three minutes remaining off a corner kick. Wilder took the kick from the corner and watched the ball roll around in the 6-yard box before finding its way into the back of the net. Coach Mike Foley was surprised with the way the Red Raiders won after hammering away at Timberwolves keeper Jake Towle for the majority of the game.

“We shot high quality shots and I tip my cap to their keeper because he made just outstanding saves,” Foley said.

Kaleb Brace secured his 12th shutout with a solid game between the posts for Belmont despite having only a few shots on net. Bret Spaulding, Aaron McLelland and Austin Haddock played tremendous defense in front of Brace, limiting the Timberwolves attack.

Wilder and Joe Boles played well in the midfield, while Brendon Johnson was an offensive spark creating many opportunities up front.

Belmont improves to 18-0 and will challenge No. 4 Fall Mountain Thursday at 6 p.m. in Exeter in the semifinals.

DIV. III BOYS’ SOCCER

No. 2 Hopkinton 1, No. 7 Raymond 0

The Hawks (16-1) stood tall in the backfield, only allowing two shots on net, to defeat Raymond (11-6-1) in the quarterfinals.

Brian Hauschild played excellent defense, while Bennett Mosseau, Ned Metcalf and Liam McNicholas played almost error-free defense in helping Rob Ferguson notch the shutout in net.

Steven Auger scored the game-winner in the 22nd minute with a header off a corner kick from Riley McNicholas.

“It was a thing of beauty,” Hopkinton Coach Scott Zipke said.

“In addition, we missed a PK, put a shot off the upright on another corner and were stymied on numerous breakaway chances. In the end, the one goal was all we needed to send us to the semis.”

The Hawks will face No. 3 Bow in Thursday’s 4 p.m. semifinal in Exeter. The teams split their first two meetings this season.

No. 3 Bow 5, No. 6 Gilford 0

Dan Crisman and Connor Rossignol each scored a pair of goals to lead the Falcons (16-2) over the Golden Eagles (14-4) in the quarterfinals.

Corey Plumb and Crisman scored a minute apart midway through the first half to give Bow all the offense it would need. Rossignol added his two in the opening seven minutes of the second half, and Crisman added one more late in the game.

Nikos Kalampalakis assisted on both of Rossignol’s goals, while Ian Avery, Sam Cheney and David Chern also provided assists.

Jordan Birtz recorded the shutout in goal, while Hunter Berke controlled the back line from the sweeper position.

Bow advances to the semifinals, where it will face No. 2 Hopkinton on Thursday in Exeter at 4 p.m.

No. 4 Fall Mtn. 4, No. 12 Kearsarge 0

The Wildcats set the pace for the game with a goal 90 seconds in to cruise to a quarterfinal victory over Kearsarge. The Cougars conclude their season at 9-8-1, while Fall Mountain improves to 15-3 and will take on No. 1 Belmont in Thursday’s 6 p.m. semifinal in Exeter.

Casey Laughinghouse was solid in net, turning aside eight shots, and Jeff Kozikowski led the defensive effort for Kearsarge.

DIV. II BOYS’ SOCCER

No. 14 John Stark 3, No. 11 Oyster River 2, 2OT

The Cinderella story continues for John Stark (9-9), which rallied to tie the game midway through the second half then won it in double overtime to reach the Division II semifinals.

With both teams trading possessions and opportunities throughout overtime, Stark finally put an end to things when Serge Boucher sent a ball over the defense and Josh Morin ran onto it and slipped it past the keeper about 10 minutes into the second 20-minute overtime.

Oyster River (9-9) had the better of play in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead 8½ minutes into the game and holding the advantage into halftime. But eight minutes into the second half, Nick Manna played the ball into the box from the left side and it went off the hands of the Bobcat goalie and across the line to knot the score at 1-1.

The Bobcats answered about six minutes later, but Stark responded once again when Jackson Easter sent the ball into the box and Sean Doherty knocked the ball out of a scramble and into the net.

Goalie Mike Prindiville turned in a solid game for the Generals, coming off his line a couple of times to snuff out breakaway bids. Tyler LeGrand, Thomas Zervos, Cam Williams and Adam Carr all had outstanding games, as well.

Up next for Stark is No. 2 Windham (14-3) on Thursday at 4 p.m. at Stellos Stadium in Nashua.

No. 2 Windham 3, No. 10 Coe-Brown 0

Coe-Brown could not find its touch in a tough quarterfinal match against the Jaguars.

The Bears end their season 9-9, while Windham (14-3) advances to the semifinals. Goalkeeper Beau Pingree made seven saves in net for Coe-Brown.

FOOTBALL

Plymouth 35, John Stark 21

The Generals ended their season (1-8) on the road after falling to the top team in Division IV.

Carson Dunn (125 yards on nine carries, including an 80-yard TD run), Colby Decotas (40 yards on seven carries) and Adam King (6-yard rushing TD) led the team offensively. Dunn also had a solid game defensively with nine tackles. Kellen Brien and Nic Lloyd played well on both sides of the ball for John Stark.

Plymouth Coach Chuck Lenahan earned his 343rd career victory to make him the winningest coach in New England. Lenahan passed Rod Wotton, who coached in Maine and most recently St. Thomas, for the top spot. The Bobcats finished the regular season 9-0.