The Hopkinton girls’ lacrosse team has some tough challenges ahead, but so-far the high-flying Hawks’ offense has helped Hopkinton soar to the top of the Division III standings.
The Hawks (8-0) took a 13-3 lead at halftime and finished with their second-highest goal total of the season, defeating a young Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough squad, 18-5.
“They’ve been really strong offensively,” Hopkinton head coach Tim Bassett said. “They move the ball well. They’re in position. They’re very smart about knowing where to be and moving the ball quickly.”
Leading the attack, as they have all season, were juniors Amelia Bassett (seven goals, three assists) and Lyndon Flanagan (five goals, five assists).
Sophomore Sophia Staples-Roy added three goals, while Anna Hoffman, Piya Bryant and Emily Metzger each added single tallies.
Sophomore goalie Elizabeth Berliner made five saves.
Reagan Buhrman had a hand in all five Inter-Lakes-Moultonborough (0-5) goals, scoring four times and recording an assist.
Hopkinton opened the season with a 20-12 win over Gilford and in the seven wins that have followed, the Hawks have scored at least 12 goals in each game. Besides a 17-16 victory over second-place Derryfield (8-1) in the Hawks second constest of the season, Hopkinton has won every other game by at least five goals.
While the offense has been particularly impressive on the scoresheet, Bassett also credits the strong defense and midfield for the Hawks getting to the top of the D-III standings.
“Defensively, we have several strong defenders who are able to hold strong players on the other side in check,” Bassett said. “We have five or six midfielders we can switch out and can constantly put fresh legs on the field.”
Hopkinton will need to put all those pieces together when the Hawks take on Laconia (5-1) on Wednesday and defending champions Kearsarge (5-5) on Friday.
John Stark 9, Hanover 6
Key players: John Stark – Rylee Ledoux (4 G, 2 A), Lexi Knapton (2 G), Autumn Nelson (defense), Oliva Sohl (defense), Allie McKean (defense), Avery Gorhan (defense), Samantha Porter (8 saves)
Highlights/key moments: Ledoux opened and closed the first half with goals, giving the Generals a 4-2 halftime lead. In the second half the Marauders upped the pressure but the Generals managed to extend the lead to 7-3 with 10 minutes left and sealed the program’s first victory over Hanover.
Coach’s quote: “The girls played hard, kept their composure under pressure and played as a team throughout.” – John Stark’s John Warner
Records: John Stark 7-0; Hanover 4-6
Milford 13, Merrimack Valley 8
Key players: MV – Abby Grandmaison (3 G, 3 A), Kallie Fisher (2 G, A), Kerragan McNeil (G), Sarah Bodien (G), Kaylee Magoon (G), Reilly Swislosky (A), Trinity Patrick-Bond (6 saves)
Highlights/key moments: The Pride won 13 draw controls between Chloe Rattee, Emily Koufos and Kaylee Magoon, but it wasn’t enough to top the Spartans.
Records: Milford 2-4; MV 1-7
Pembroke 24, Man. Memorial 13
Key players: Pembroke – Victoria Mabie (7 G, A), Kelly Wagner (4 G, 2 A), Alysse Cleasby (2 G, A), Savannah Wallace (2 G), Kerra Vallee (6 G, A), Ali Corriveau (2 G, 6 A, excellent draw control), Iso Gill (G, A), Kaylie Leblanc (3 A), Lindsay Hawkins (A)
Highlights/key moments: The Spartans snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the Crusaders.
Records: Pembroke 2-4; Man. Memorial 0-5
Bishop Brady 15, Trinity 2
Key players: Bishop Brady – Abby Tremblay (4 G), Sam Will (3 G), Allie Savage (2 G), Ashley Gearing (2 G), Jamie Chitakunye (G), Abby Scharpf (G), Molly Dexter (G), Kiley Sullivan (G)
Highlights/key moments: The Giants allowed two first-half goals, but shutout the Pioneers in the second half by controlling draw controls and several interceptions by Will.
Coach’s quote: “Another good all-around team effort. Continued improvement with every game and eight different players scored.” – Bishop Brady’s Katherine Stearns
Records: Bishop Brady 5-1; Trinity 0-6
Kearsarge 12, Bow 2
Key players: Kearsarge – Marissa Pickman (9 saves), Emilie Webster (5 G, 2 A), Brie Von Beren (3 G, A), Leslie Angus (G, 2 A), Ally Wilson (G, A), Libby Angus (G), Megan Norris (G)
Highlights/key moments: The Cougars evened their record at .500, while handing the Falcons their second loss of the season.
Records: Kearsarge 5-5; Bow 5-2
Gilford 14, Plymouth 10
Key players: Gilford – Shelby Cole (8 G, 3 A), Laurel Normandin (2 G, 2 A), Ashley Hart (G), Erin Hart (G, A), Sophie Leggett (G), Kolbi Plante (G), Taryn Fountain (A), Kyla Mercier (A)
Highlights/key moments: The Eagles moved the ball effectively, recording eight assists after not having any last week in a loss to Bow.
Coach’s quote: “We are having less brain freezes during games and the offense and defense are responding in a positive way while starting to work together. Good team win.” – Gilford’s Dave Rogacki
Records: Gilford 4-3; Plymouth 1-9
Concord 14, Bedford 0
Key players: Concord – Anita DiBuono (4-for-4, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Abby Rochette (3-for-5, double, 2 runs, 3 RBI; 5 IP, 11 K, 1 H), Nicole Cacciola (3-for-4, 2 runs, RBI), Autumn Nudd (2-for-4, double, run, RBI), Jaden Morin (2-run triple), Nicole LeBrun (RBI single; 1 IP, 3 K, 1 H)
Highlights/key moments: Concord came out swinging against the team that knocked it from the playoffs last year, scoring five runs in the first inning before finishing the game in six innings. Every player who batted had a hit. In the field, Rochette and LeBrun combined on the two-hit shutout, and Corbett anchored the defense by catching three foul pops behind the plate, including one diving catch.
Coach’s quote: “I like the attitude and the competitiveness we’re playing with every inning. We made a couple errors in the field, so there are still things to work on, but overall we’re playing very well right now.” – Concord assistant Sandy Smith
Records: Concord 7-3; Bedford 4-5
Hollis Brookline 13, Bow 2
Key players: Bow – Annika Geiben Lynn (4-for-4, run), Erin Boldwin (home run), Allie Beaudette (2-for-3), Maddie McSweeney (sacrifice RBI), Lauryn Colby (5 K), Shannon Ford (defense)
Highlights/key moments: Boldwin hit an inside-the-park home run, but it wasn’t enough as the Falcons fell to the Cavaliers.
Records: Hollis Brookline 3-4; Bow 2-7
Souhegan 4, John Stark 3
Key players: John Stark – Anna Stenger (1-for-2, double, BB, run), Sarah Ferguson (2-for-4)
Highlights/key moments: The Generals stranded the tying and go-ahead runners on second and third on a flyout to end the game, handing John Stark its first loss of the season.
Records: Souhegan 5-3; John Stark 7-1
Merrimack Valley 13, Kearsarge 0
Key players: MV – Molly McLaughlin (5 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 9 K; 2 hits, RBI), Miah Boucher (multiple hits), Lauren McLaughlin (multiple hits), Sarah Cook (multiple hits)
Highlights/key moments: McLaughlin’s one-hitter propelled the Pride to its second 13-0 victory over the Cougars this season. All three of MV’s win have been shutout victories.
Records: MV 3-6; Kearsarge 0-6
Pembroke 6, Kennett 1
Key players: Pembroke – Stephanie Berube (9 K, 5 H)
Highlights/key moments: The Spartans scored three runs in the top of the seventh to seal their sixth-straight victory.
Records: Pembroke 8-1; Kennett 4-7
Belmont 15, Newfound 1
Key players: Belmont – Julianna Estremera (6 IP, 1 H, 12 K, 4 BB, 2 HBP), Jordan Sargent (3-for-5, 2 doubles, 3 runs, 3 RBI), Jordan Lavallee (3-for-3, triple); Newfound – Kasey Basford (single, RBI), Kylee MacDonald (walk, run, steal)
Highlights/key moments: Belmont scored in every inning except the third, scored several runs with two outs and scored six runs in the fifth to close out the victory.
Coaches’ quotes: “Even some of our outs were hard hit balls. Glad to see we are starting to hit the ball throughout the lineup.” – Belmont’s Bill Clary
“Estremera pitched a great game. We knew going in that we would need to come up with hits to answer Belmont’s bats and strong defense to hold their offense where we could. Unfortunately we just weren’t able to execute.” – Newfound’s Kelly Meegan
Records: Belmont 6-2; Newfound 4-5
Bishop Brady 14, Monadnock 2
Key players: Bishop Brady – Jayden Johnson (4-for-4, 3 runs, HR, 4 RBI; 4 IP, 2 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 5 H), Halle Laramie (3 hits, 2 runs, RBI), Abby Santis (3 runs, 2 doubles, 3 RBI), Ami Rivera (2 triples, 2 runs, RBI), Aniecia Vargas (double, 2 runs, RBI), Kaitlyn Gleason (2 hits, run, RBI), Jess Beeso (RBI)
Highlights/key moments: Johnson hit a two-run homer in the first inning to give Brady a 5-0 lead. Monadnock scored two in the third, but the Giants answered with back-to-back doubles from Vargas and Santis, giving the Giants an 8-2 lead. Brady tacked on three runs in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.
Coach’s quote: “We had a great start to the game (19 hits overall) and Johnson had a solid pitching performance in the circle and at the plate. Laramie came into the game in the fifth and left the bases loaded to get out of a jam. Kudos to our senior catcher (Jamie Cookingham) for once again calling a great game.” – Bishop Brady’s Freddy Rivera
Records: Bishop Brady 5-2; Monadnock 2-6
Conant 3, Franklin 2, 8 inn.
Key players: Franklin – Meghan Johnston (11 K, 6 H; hit), Mariah Haney (2 hits)
Highlights/key moments: The Tornadoes went up 2-1 in the fifth, but Conant tied it in the bottom of the fifth to force extra innings. The Orioles scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth.
Coach’s quote: “Today was the first game where our pitching and defense both were clicking. We had the bases loaded in the top of the eighth but just could not produce that go-ahead run.” – Franklin’s Skip DuBois
Records: Conant 6-1; Franklin 2-4
Gilford 12, Winnisquam 0
Key players: Gilford – Ella Harris (5 IP, 1 H; 2-for-2, 2 BB), Jillian Lachapelle (3 hits), Karly Sanborn (2 hits), Randi Byars (2 hits); Winnisquam – Natalie Deshaies (hit)
Highlights/key moments: Alexis Lacrois had a two-run double in the first inning to open the scoring and the Eagles added seven more runs in the fourth, highlighted by Kasey Moore’s three-run homer. Lachapelle’s two-run single in the fifth inning ended the game via the mercy rule. Gilford connected for 13 hits.
Coach’s quote: “Give Gilford all the credit. They hit the ball well and their pitcher kept us off balance all day.” – Winnisquam’s Kevin Dame
Records: Gilford 6-2; Winnisquam 3-4
Hillsboro-Deering 11, Inter-Lakes 9
Key players: H-D – Erin Dean (7 IP, 5 H)
Highlights/key moments: Seven out of nine Hillcats in the lineup connected for hits as H-D snapped a three-game losing streak.
Coach’s quote: “Solid game overall.” – H-D’s Jim Bailey
Records: H-D 2-5; I-L 1-7
Derryfield 5, Hopkinton 3
Key players: Hopkinton – Megan Blanchette (2-for-3, double, run, RBI), Gabby Lajeunesse (triple, run) Katie Meserve (triple, RBI), Alexis Ferns (double, run)
Highlights/key moments: The Hawks put the ball in play but the Cougar defense was solid and a couple of unearned runs hurt Hopkinton’s chances.
Coach’s quote: “We ran into a hot pitcher and a good team today. We need to continue to focus for seven innings.” – Hopkinton’s Dan Meserve
Records: Derryfield 6-1; Hopkinton 7-3
Nute 10, Pittsfield 4
Key players: Pittsfield – Emily Thompson (2-for-3, walk, run), Destinee Ellis (1-for-3, 2 runs)
Highlights/key moments: The Panthers kept it close against the Rams.
Records: Nute 1-7; Pittsfield 0-9
Bishop Brady 5, Winnacunnet 4
Key players: Bishop Brady – Sydney Herrington (8-0 win at No. 1), Rachel Achong (9-7 win at No. 2), Manu Komma (8-3 win at No. 4), Mary Anne Wiley (8-2 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: Achong, Komma and Wiley all registered key victories to give the Giants a 4-2 lead after singles play. Achong overcame a 6-2 deficit, but stormed back to upset her opponent 9-7. Herrington and Achong closed out the match with an 8-3 win at No. 1 doubles.
Coach’s quote: “The match could have gone either way, but strong wins by Komma and Wiley, and Achong’s improbable victory, proved to be the difference.” – Bishop Brady’s Lee Herrington
Records: Bishop Brady 3-5; Winnacunnet 5-4
Bow 9, Monadnock 0
Key players: Bow – Gwen Molind (8-3 win at No. 1), Lara Chern (8-0 win at No. 2), Olivia Parzick (8-0 win at No. 3), Miah Munro (8-0 win at No. 4), Lauren Goyette (8-0 win at No. 5), Alyssa Harping (8-1 win at No. 6)
Highlights/key moments: The Falcons only dropped four games in singles and swept the doubles to decisively beat the Huskies.
Records: Bow 8-0; Monadnock 4-5