CASTLETON — Two former Middlebury Union High School soccer standouts performed well on Saturday in the annual Twin State Lions Cup Matches, played this year on the campus of Castleton University.
Tiger goalie Santiago Fernandez played for the Vermont boys in the day’s second game, which finished in a 1-1 tie with all-stars from New Hampshire. Fernandez backstopped Vermont in a scoreless first half and made several saves, a couple of which were tough ones, according to Tom Haley of the Rutland Herald.
New Hampshire’s Taylor Silverstein converted a penalty kick early in the second half vs. Rutland goalie Ryan McKay, and Enosburg’s Noah Swainbank netted the equalizer with 27:24 to go.
New Hampshire defender Mike Fortin was named his team’s MVP, while Mount Mansfield’s Jacob Daigle earned that distinction for Vermont.
New Hampshire retained its overall lead in the boys’ series, 18-17-9.
In the opening game New Hampshire edged the Vermont girls 1-0. After that game Tiger midfielder Helen Anderson earned Vermont’s 12th Player Award.
New Hampshire’s Danielle DesRuisseaux scored the only goal in the 17th minute, beating Montpelier goalie Allison Chadwick from 18 yards out. Colchester’s Gabby Gosselin played well in goal in the scoreless second half. Champlain Valley midfielder Natalie Durieux was named Vermont’s MVP, while Meghan Blanchette earned New Hampshire MVP honors. Rebecca Milbury played the entire game in goal to earn the shutout for New Hampshire.
New Hampshire snapped Vermont’s three-game Twin-State winning streak and extended its overall lead in the series to 18-13-5.
Fernandez and Anderson both gradated from MUHS this past June.