Boys’ soccer
Division III final
at SNHU, 1:45 p.m.
No. 5 Hopkinton (16-3-0) vs. No. 2 Stevens (17-2-0)
HEAD TO HEAD: The Hawks beat Stevens, 6-0, on Oct. 20.
PREVIOUS TOURNAMENT GAMES: Hopkinton beat No. 12 Conant, 7-1, No. 13 Inter-Lakes, 5-0, and No. 1 Derryfield, 2-1. Stevens downed No. 15 Sanborn, 5-0, No. 7 Campbell, 2-1, and No. 6 Belmont, 3-2.
NOTES: This is the third final in four years for the Hawks (they won it all in 2013 and lost in a shootout in 2014), so the team, especially the seniors, know all about performing in big games. “These guys know what it feels like, they know about the butterflies, they know what they need to do mentally to have a good game,” Hopkinton Coach Scott Zipke said. Senior Jacob Rockwood has been instrumental to the Hawks offense since returning from injury midway through the year. Normally an orchestrator, Rockwood scored against Derryfield, delivering from 30 yards out, as did junior Max Rossignol, who now has three goals in the playoffs. The Hawks will take some confidence from their 6-0 thrashing of Stevens on Oct. 20, but they also know regular-season results don’t matter much in the tournament since they lost to Derryfield, 5-1, in September but beat the Cougars when it mattered most.
Volleyball
Division I final
at Pinkerton Academy, 5 p.m.
No. 2 Concord (18-2) vs. No. 4 Hollis-Brookline (18-3)
HEAD TO HEAD: The Crimson Tide beat Hollis-Brookline, 3-1, on Sept. 28 in Concord.
PREVIOUS TOURNAMENT GAMES: The Tide had a first-round bye, beat No. 7 Salem, 3-2, in the quarterfinals and dispatched No. 3 Dover, 3-0, in the semifinals. The Cavaliers beat No. 13 Pinkerton, 3-2, in the first round, No. 5 Bishop Guertin, 3-1, in the quarterfinals and took down No. 8 Exeter, 3-0, in the semifinals.
NOTES: Despite facing deficits in all three sets, Concord rolled to a 3-0 semifinal win (25-20, 25-22, 25-14) over Dover, one of the two teams that beat the Tide this season. Concord was down 11-5 in the first set before Lauren Hatch (match-high 15 kills) led the comeback. Libero Brenna Vandersea (10 digs) and Maria Wimpey (100 percent serving) also played well for the Tide, as did senior leader Caitlyn Shea, who had 28 assists to give her a total of 77 in just two tournament games and put her 51 shy of the state record. After losing to Concord in the regular season, Hollis-Brookline had won 11 straight and the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents, 33-9, during that span.
Cross Country
Meet of Champions
at Nashua South,
2:30 p.m. (girls); 3:20 p.m. (boys)
Top 6 teams, 25 individuals qualify for N.E. Championships
BOYS’ TEAMS: Concord, Coe-Brown, Kearsarge
INDIVIDUALS: Concord – Forest Mackenzie, Jamie Wilkes, Ollie Spencer, Ryan Devine, Eli Boesch-Dining; Coe-Brown – Zach Richards, River Groves, Evan Tanguay, Tanner Richards, Davio Deluca; MV – David Reynolds; Kearsarge – Aidan Brooks, Andrew Shepherd, Mason Benedict; Hopkinton – Simon Doneski; Belmont – Ian Remenar, Nick Randos; Inter-Lakes – Ian Daly; Winnisquam – Kyle Mann; Bow – Robert Ciotti
GIRLS’ TEAMS: Concord, Coe-Brown, MV, Kearsarge
INDIVIDUALS: Concord – Jennika Mannesto; Coe-Brown – Alli Pratt, Sarah Dupuis, Elly McDonough, Hannah Daly, Abby O’Connor; MV – Kristie Schoffield; Kearsarge – Mya Dubie, Maggie Lee; Belmont – Alice Riley; Hopkinton – Emma Rothe, Sydney Stockwell; Inter-Lakes – Maya Weil-Cooley; Bow – Sarah Ciotti, Sohani Demian; Laconia – Delia Cormier
Football
Division II quarterfinals
Bow (7-2) at John Stark (8-1), 2 p.m.
HEAD TO HEAD: Bow beat the Generals, 14-6, on Oct. 22.
NOTES: Stark’s only loss of the season came against Bow, so this is either a tough draw for the Generals or a chance at redemption. The regular-season matchup between these two was the first game where Stark freshman Parker McQuarrie took over the quarterback duties from his older brother, Drew. And it was a wet and windy day, but the Bow defense still deserves plenty of credit for holding the Generals, who averaged 37.8 points per game this season. The Falcons got rushing touchdowns from Nate Alford and Jack Corriveau in the win against Stark and Bow will need another strong rushing attack and defensive effort to pull out another win in Weare.
Division III quarterfinals
Newport (5-3) at Bishop Brady (7-1), 2:30 p.m.
HEAD TO HEAD: The teams did not meet in the regular season.
NOTES: After losing to Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough in the second game of the season, the Green Giants have reeled off six straight wins and finished the season averaging an impressive 34 points per game, while giving up just 10.9. Brady has a nice balance on offense with Moses Murenzi running mixing both speed and power, Joe Bernard under center and Rich Sullivan a dangerous receiving threat. Brady also has multiple playmakers on the defensive side with linebacker Aidan Plumpton and lineman Kenny Fusco leading the way. Newport had to win its regular-season finale to ensure a playoff spot, and the Tigers came through under pressure with a 48-30 win at Newfound.
Winnisquam (5-3) at
Inter-Lakes/Moultonborough (6-2), 2 p.m.
HEAD TO HEAD: The two teams did not meet during the regular season.
NOTES: Winnisquam has been depleted by injury and other circumstances in the latter half of the season, but the Bears still found a way to beat Epping-Newmarket, 20-16, in the last game of the regular season to earn a postseason bid. The Lakers have been dealing with some injury issues of their own, which is why quarterback Ryan Kelly (ankle) sat out the regular-season finale against Kearsarge, a 37-14 loss. But Kelly was in uniform and could have played if the stakes were higher, so he will be back to lead Inter-Lakes’ dangerous passing attack against the Bears. The Lakers also have a game-changing running back in Andrew Brothers and a defense that held opponents to 13.1 points per game.