ADDISON COUNTY — The Middlebury union high school field hockey teams split a pair of road games late last week, but Otter Valley and Mount Abraham found tough going away from home against top opponents and came up short.
The regular season concludes this week, and the Vermont Principals’ Association will announce playoff pairings on this coming Monday.
TIGERS
On Thursday the Tiger offense erupted in a 5-2 victory at Burlington. Lily Smith paved the way with a hat trick, and Lexi Bartlett struck twice for MUHS, which picked up its second win of the fall over the 2-9 Seahorses. Goalie Bridget Audet backstopped the win with six saves.
On Saturday, host Champlain Valley (6-2-4) bested the Tigers, 4-2. Smith and Bartlett picked up the Tiger goals, and Audet blocked 24 shots. CVU goalie Kristy Carlson made three saves.
The 2-9 Tigers host Essex on Monday and visit South Burlington and Mount Abe on Wednesday and Friday, respectively.
OTTERS
On Saturday, host Division III Bellows Falls improved to 12-0 with a 4-0 victory, the Terriers’ second of the season over the Otters. Goalies Myliah McDonough (eight saves) and Ellie Ross (four) combined for a dozen stops for the Otters, who put two shots on the BF cage.
OV dropped to 6-5 with two scheduled games left: home vs. Mt. Anthony on Tuesday and at Rutland on Friday. A make-up date for a postponed home game with Woodstock has not been announced.
EAGLES
On Thursday, host Essex improved to 7-1-2 by edging the Eagles, 2-1. The Hornets’ Lucy Miguel scored in the second half to snap a 1-1 tie, and two Essex goalies combined for five stops. Olivia Young stepped into the attack to score for the Eagles, and goalie Chessley Jackman made 11 saves.  
On Saturday, host South Burlington moved to 10-1 by blanking Mount Abe, 5-0. Jackman stopped five shots in the setback, while the Eagles forced Rebel goalie Liz Sargent to stop four shots.
The Eagles are 5-6-1 heading into their final two regular season games, both at home: vs. CVU on Wednesday and MUHS on Friday.