BRANDON — The Otter Valley Union High School field hockey team began its Division II title defense last week with a pair of convincing victories.
On Thursday, the Otters opened by blanking visiting D-III Fair Haven, 11-0, in a game played in four 15-minute quarters to give the players breaks from the heat.
Allison Lowell scored three of her six goals, all unassisted, in the opening quarter to give OV a 3-0 lead, and the Otters never looked back. Lowell added two assists. Her six goals broke the school single-game record of five previously held by OV Coach Stacey Edmunds-Brickell.
Also scoring for OV were Chelsea Reed, Sophie Markowski, Kaitlyn Anderson, Courtney Bushey and Isabella Falco. Morgan Laporte, Alyssa Falco, Meghan Hallett and Levia Bernhardt picked up assists. Myliah McDonough started and made four saves for OV, and Ellie Ross came on in relief and was not tested. Slater goalie Emily Clement made four saves in the opener for both teams.
On Saturday, the Otters went on the road to defeat D-I Brattleboro, 3-1. Bushey sparked the attack with a pair of goals, one in each half, and Markowski chipped in a late insurance score. OV controlled play, earning 19 penalty corners to the Colonels’ one and allowing only one shot on goal. Colonel goalie Olivia Weeks made five saves.