After graduating eight players from its lineup, the Concord golf team figured it was in for a rebuilding year – likely one that wouldn’t include any meaningful matches this late into the season.
But a 6-1 start to the campaign changed the outlook and provided a boost of confidence to the Tide, which weathered a rough midseason stretch against the top teams, finished 13-9 to sneak into the Division I championship as the No. 9 seed and rounded out the year by placing seventh in Tuesday’s state final at Stonebridge Country Club.
“We definitely did sneak in the back door there. We started out strong and then we hit some bumps in the road against some stiffer competition,” Concord coach Mark McDonough said. “But to finish seventh and better than our seeded position I think was good.”
Concord was pleased to be among the 10 teams to qualify for the championship match, but of course, would have still liked to finish a bit higher, especially after having its best result since 2007 last year with a runner-up showing.
The Tide concluded this year’s final with a combined score of 426, just a few strokes behind sixth-place Keene at 422.
Bedford, the favorite going in, took home the title with a score of 394, while Exeter (400) finished second and Nashua North (404) settled for third.
Timberlane’s Jack Pepin earned medalist honors after going low with a 70.
“Golf is one of those things where (you can have success) on any given day, but today just wasn’t our day,” McDonough said. “We had some kids that potentially could have played well but just didn’t have it going today.”
Leading the charge for Concord was sophomore Cameron Brown, who took several strokes off his practice round to card an 81 on the par-72 course in Goffstown. Brown was the lone member of the Tide to qualify for Sunday’s individual tournament, which will be held at Beaver Meadow.
Matt Burns finished out his round with an 84, Colin O’Brien shot an 85, Matt Hauschild finished with an 86 and Logan Otto rounded out the top five scorers for the Tide with a 90.
“The golf course was very, very tough today. The back nine at Stonebridge is a really challenging nine holes of golf with narrow fairways, tough greens, and a lot of undulation in those greens. They were moving very fast today,” McDonough said.
“It certainly wasn’t from a lack of effort. The weather was perfect for golf and the team was excited to get there and play. But the putts just weren’t falling and they weren’t putting the ball in play like they’re capable of.”
Concord will again take a big hit with the loss of six more seniors to graduation over the offseason, but much of the team’s young core will remain in place, providing an optimistic outlook for the Tide going forward.
“It’s tough to battle back from that but we’ve got some promising young talent on this team,” McDonough said. “If this young group of individuals on this team work hard during this offseason, through the summer, I feel like we can really come back next year and be competitive.”
Concord 4, Alvirne 1
Key players: Concord – Frank Mucyo (G, A), Alasdair Ferrier (G), Mosi Masimango (G), Nate Hewey (G), Becket O’Neil (A)
Highlights: Masimango, assisted by Mucyo, found the lower right corner with a hard shot from 20 yards out to give the Crimson Tide a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute. Ferrier, assisted by O’Neil, doubled the lead in the 20th minute, and Concord took that 2-0 edge into halftime. Danny Aybar and Matt Desrochers anchored the defense in from of keepers Abbas Abdulrahman (who played the majorioty of the game) and Riley Rollins.
Coach’s quote: “This was an important win for us, it puts us back in a position to make the tournament.” – Concord’s Scott Dunlop
Records: Concord 5-6-2; Alvirne 4-9
Plymouth 2, Coe-Brown 1
Key players: Coe-Brown – Jacob Radwan (midfield), Sam Lapiejko (midfield)
Coach’s quote: “Plymouth had the better of the match for the first 15-20 minutes. They came out with more energy and desire. It took us a long time to settle into the game. After that, we limited their chances and created numerous chances of our own, especially in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to get the result. Credit to their keeper for coming up big in key moments.” – Coe-Brown’s Christian Gompert
Records: Plymouth 6-6-1; Coe-Brown 7-6-1
Bishop Brady 9, Somersworth 1
Key players: Bishop Brady – Logan Hanningan (2G), Rollin Hughes (2G, 2A), Miles Lavoie (G, 2A), Jack Lyons (G, A), Jon Scrivens (G, A), Cole Chaudhari (G), Ariel Okinedo (G), Sal Aubin (A), Paul Cunningham (A), Evan Haas (A), Liam Masner (3 saves), Owen Pelletier (2 saves); Somersworth – Joey Collins (G), Gio Pano (A), Andrew Pincince (12 saves)
Highlights: Bishop Brady spread the wealth in goals and assists as they defeated a young Somersworth team in Concord on Tuesday afternoon. Rollin Hughes and Cole Chaudhari scored their first varsity goals for the Giants.
Coach’s quote: “After having a few days off, we are proud of the way the boys played today and we were able to get involved everyone in the win ranging from new up-and-coming freshmen to seasoned seniors. Somersworth is young and they have a lot of heart and tenacity, and we Giants tip our hat to the Somersworth team and the outstanding display of hard work and character presented by goalkeeper Andrew Pincince.” – Bishop Brady’s Mike Ling
Records: Bishop Brady 6-6; Somersworth 0-13
Belmont 4, Hopkinton 3, 2OT
Key players: Belmont – Nate Sottak (3G), Lucas Mathieu (G, A), Dylan Greer (A), Devin Bricknell (defense); Hopkinton – Garrett Fitzgerald (G), Derek West (G), Shea Dickson (G), Benny Madden (A), Steven Newton-Delgado (2 saves)
Highlights: Down 3-1 with five minutes to go, the Raiders mounted a dramatic comeback and won in double overtime. Lucas Mathieu scored on a direct kick, then with about 30 seconds left Sottak collected a loose ball from the keeper to tie it. Late in the second OT Sottak took a pass from Greer and hit a shot from about 35 yards out and snuck it under the crossbar for the game-winner.
Coach’s quote: “Soccer gods were on our side tonight. Crazy end to the game and overtime. We need to continue to finish strong.” – Belmont’s Michael Foley
Records: Belmont 10-3; Hopkinton 8-4-1
Concord Christian 12, Franklin 0
Key players: Franklin – Jadyn Lutz (offense), Danny Watts (offense), Marcus Marland (midfield)
Records: Concord Christian 7-1-5; Franklin 0-11
Hillsboro-Deering 2, Monadnock 0
Key players: H-D – Evan Winters (G), Troy Gould (G), Kieren Kenny (A)
Records: Hillsboro-Deering 7-6; Monadnock 1-12
Concord 3, Alvirne 0
Key players: Concord – Kat Potter (defense), Autumn Nudd (shutout), Ashley Plante (2G, A), Kayli Daigneault (G, A), Mary Martinson (A)
Highlights: Concord scored the first goal of the game just 20 minutes in. Plante cut down the line and crossed in a ball. The Alvirne keeper got her hands to it but the ball spilled right to Daigneault, who put it in the back of the net. Alvirne came out flying in the second half. But Daigneault was able to find Plante on a through ball for Concord’s second goal of the game. Finally, as Alvirne continued to push for a goal the ball popped out to Martinson, who found Plante over the top. She dribbled the keeper and found her second goal of the night.
Coach’s quote: “This was a great win for our girls. It’s always tough playing at Alvirne: those girls worked incredibly hard and fought to the end. I’m really happy with our defensive effort tonight. Girls like Kat Potter and Chloe Morgan came up big for us tonight. It’s our only game if the week so I’m excited our girls took advantage of the opportunity to get another win.” – Concord’s Phil Tuttle
Records: Concord 9-4; Alvirne 6-7
Bow 3, Souhegan 0
Key players: Bow – Lindsay Burnham (G), Kristina Pizzi (G), Anna Lafreneire (A), Taylor Burnham (G, A), Chloe Binder, Gracie Bresson, Tessa Thomas, Madison Roberge, Bella LaPerle, Madi Paul, Lyndsey LaPerle, Addie Trefethen, Emma Wilke (goalie)
Highlights: Lindsey Burnham volleyed a bouncing ball off a corner kick from Taylor Burnham 8:40 into the game. A very composed Pizzi chipped a shot over the keeper 2:13 into the second half, before Taylor Burnham finished the scoring with a PK with 17 minutes to go.
Coach’s quote: “We created a lot of chances today against a well organized and coached Souhegan team. This was a good win. We have things to work on but we are continuing to improve as a team which is our goal.” – Bow’s Jay Vogt
Records: Bow 12-1; Souhegan 8-5-1
Hollis-Brookline 4, Coe-Brown 1
Key players: Coe-Brown – Corinne Fernald (G), Sophie Laird, Amelia Brackett, Becca Scruton, Megan Edgecomb, Katie Messenger
Highlights: After a scoreless first half the host Cavaliers found the net twice in the first 12 minutes of the second half. The Bears answered with pressure and forced four corner kicks with one resulting in the goal by Fernald to make the score 2-1 with 20 minutes left. H-B increased the pressure up front and added two more to close out the game.
Coach’s quote: “Consistency is the theme. We need to play a full 80 minutes with consistency. We play 40 scoreless minutes of soccer with a top 5 team again and then allow ourselves to be taken out of the game with fundamental mistakes. We have the talent, skill, and ability. We have to prove to ourselves we can do it.” – Coe-Brown’s Josh Hils
Records: Coe-Brown 5-8
John Stark 2, Merrimack Valley 1
Key players: John Stark – Arden Ulmer (2A), Meghan Mefford (G), Sophia McGinty (G); Merrimack Valley – Alyssa Woodman (G), Hayley Kenney (A), Kerrigan McNeil (midfield)
Highlights: Woodman scored on a through ball from Kenney when she dribble around the keeper and finished from a tough angle. John Stark, though, scored twice with under seven minutes to play thanks to a pair of beautiful crosses from Ulmer.
Coach’s quote: “The girls never put their heads down and with the fluidity of the central mids they are creating plays and opportunities for the entire team.” – John Stark’s Chris Pike
“I thought we played a great and balanced game for 70 minutes. We did a nice job with the 50-50 balls with some decent build-up play. Just need to capitalize on our chances. They threw everything at us the last 10 minutes and we made a couple mistakes that they capitalized on. Tough one for us but hopefully we can learn from our mistakes and stay focused for a full 80 minutes going forward.” – MV’s Nick D’Agostino
Records: John Stark 7-5-1; Merrimack Valley 6-7-0
Pembroke 6, Sanborn 0
Key players: Pembroke – Bri Provencher (2G), Maddie Bailey (2A), Lauren Simmons (A), Abby Randall (G), Adrienne Dorr (G), Sam Muise (G), Hannah Brown (G), Jade Pescinski (A), Riley Kennedy (shutout)
Highlights: Provencher got the scoring started in the third minute on a feed from Bailey as Pembroke took a 4-0 lead by halftime. Kennedy recorded her second straight shutout in as many games and the team’s seventh overall. Morgan Ranfos, Anna Harlow, Adrienne Dorr, Kaylie Leblanc and Lindsay Hawkins combined defensively in the back.
Coach’s quote: “Another perfect fall day for soccer and for the Spartans. We played some beautiful possession soccer and it was great to see the scoring spread around once again. A great all around team effort.” – Pembroke’s Jess Kaufman
Records: Pembroke 12-1; Sanborn 1-13
Oyster River 3, Kearsarge 0
Records: Oyster River 8-5-1; Kearsarge 6-6-1
Belmont 1, Inter-Lakes 0
Key players: Belmont – Sana Syed (A), Sierra Bourque (G), Molly Sottak (defense), Rebecca Fleming (defense), Emma Cochran (8 saves, shutout)
Highlights: Scoreless for 72 minutes, the Raiders finally got on the board when Syed brought ball up and sent a through ball over to Bourque, who fired it into the back of the net for the game’s only goal.
Records: Belmont 10-3-1; Inter-Lakes 6-6-1
Kennett 5, Bow 2
Key players: Bow – Jocelyn Webber (G), Sarah Guerrette (G), Elizabeth Guertin, Emma Hilton, Megan Lavigne, Skye Nieves, Maddie Soucy, Maddie Tibbetts
Coach’s quote: “While we would have preferred to win on Senior Night, it was a good game against a tough team. The girls played especially well in the second half.” – Bow’s Rebecca Cleary
Records: Kennett 11-1; Bow 5-7-1
Mascoma 2, Kearsarge 0
Key players: Kearsarge – Marissa Pickman (12 saves), Eliza Cardillo (fullback)
Coach’s quote: “Mascoma is a strong and fast team. Our defense was able to hold them off for the first half. The offense had a couple of opportunities to score but weren’t able to find the back of the net.” – Kearsarge’s Chelsea Williams
Records: Mascoma 10-3; Kearsarge 5-7
Bishop Brady 4, St. Thomas 0
Key players: Bishop Brady – Riley Marsh (G, 2A), Halle Laramie (G, A), Margaret Sheehan (G), Meagan Stagner (G), Emily Beane (A)
Highlights: The Giants built a 2-0 lead by halftime and pulled away for a lopsided win.
Coach’s quote: “With some adjustments to be made the team responded and rose to the occasion. Overall team effort.” – Bishop Brady’s Kelly Owen
Records: Bishop Brady 11-2-0; St. Thomas 1-10-1
Merrimack Valley 4, Portsmouth 1
Key players: Merrimack Valley – Reilly Swislosky (G), Taylor Bailey (G), Sadie Barton (G), Alexa Prewitt (G), Emily Blanchette (defense), Grace Raymond (defense), Molly McLaughlin (midfield), Lauren McLaughlin (midfield)
Highlights: MV put one on the board first after a held whistle in the circle gave Swislosky a shot from the right side of the circle seven minutes in. Taylor Bailey found the back of the net off a rebound from the goalie’s pads with two minutes left in the 1st half. MV’s midfield and offensive presence test Portsmouth’s defense throughout the entire game. Sadie Barton and Alexa Prewitt both scored off redirects in the second half to cap the scoring.
Coach’s quote: “I’m very happy with how we played a complete game of field hockey. We’ve been working on stringing together two solid halves in order to compete at the level we know we are capable of. As always, it is nice to see four different people put us on the board. Very proud of the girls tonight. ” – Merrimack Valley’s Jen Colgan
Records: Merrimack Valley 8-5; Portsmouth3-9-1
Derryfield 1, John Stark 0
Key players: John Stark – Sydnee Pelletier (13 saves), Gracie Bolduc (midfield), Olivia Desainde (defense), Jackie O’Donnell (defense), Aubrey Fischer (midfield)
Highlights: John Stark went into the half tied with the undefeated defending state champs. The Generals competed hard through out the second half and kept up with the Cougars to the final buzzer.
Coach’s quote: “If a loss could ever feel like a win, today would be that day. This was arguably the greatest field hockey game ever played on our campus. Our girls played their hearts out as a team and went toe-to-toe with a tremendous team and program. Last season we lost to them 9-0 so this was an amazing improvement from our team and a major program building statement.” – Stark’s Dennis Pelletier
Records: Derryfield 13-0-1; John Stark 6-7
Winnisquam 3, Farmington 0
Key players: Winnisquam – Gabby Isabelle (12 kills, 8 digs), Emma Richardson (8 kills, 13 digs), Chloe Colarusso (24 assists, 6 digs, 5 aces), Emily O’Neil (5 kills, 5 digs, 8 aces), Olivia Dill (8 digs), Hanna Honeman (4 digs, 2 aces, 1 kill, 1 block)
Highlights: Winnisquam controlled all three games from start to finish, winning 25-14, 25-14 and 25-13 while building large leads and controlling the tempo of each game. Strong service and an efficient offense helped Winnisquam control the first game. In the second set, strong serving was the key to helping build the lead as nine of the 25 points were scored on service aces. The offense was led by Emma Richardson in the third set with five kills.
Coach’s quote: “This was one of our most complete matches of the season, controlling the match from the beginning with strong serving, balanced offense and good passing. I am hoping the team can maintain this level of play heading into the tournament.” – Winnisquam’s Mike Livernois
Records: Winnisquam 10-2; Farmington 8-4
Franklin 3, Raymond 0
Key players: Franklin – Fayth Kaspszak (22 service points, 4 kills), Raquel McCoy (5 kills, 7 digs), Olivia Wattendorf (5 kills)
Records: Franklin 5-6; Raymond 3-9