BRISTOL — The top-seeded Mount Abraham Union High School field hockey posted its third shutout of the season over Middlebury on Friday, and this one by a 2-0 final over the No. 8 Tigers propelled the Eagles into a Division II semifinal.
The Eagle back line allowed the Tigers only two shots at senior goalie Chessley Jackman on Friday. At the other end senior Jalen Cook and freshman Molly Laurent triggered the offense.
Laurent scored the opening goal in the first half with an assist from Cook, and 30 seconds later Cook made it 2-0.
Tiger freshman goalie Cassie Bettis kept MUHS (2-13) within striking distance by making 10 saves.
EAGLE ELIZABETH PORTER defends Tiger Aby LaRock in a midfield battle during Mount Abe’s Division II quarterfinal win on Friday in Bristol. The Mount Abe field hockey and girls’ soccer teams, both Vergennes soccer teams, Middlebury football, and Otter Valley field hockey all won quarterfinals over the weekend.
Photo by Mark Bouvier
The Eagles will next face No. 5 Otter Valley (10-5) at South Burlington High School on Monday at 3:30 p.m. The winner of that game will play either No. 2 Burr & Burton (9-5-1) or No. 3 Woodstock (9-4-2) for the title on Saturday at the University of Vermont. Game time will be announced after semifinals in all three divisions are played.
The OV and Mount Abe programs have not met since the 2015 D-II final, which was won by the Otters, 1-0.
TIGERS PLAY-IN GAME
The Tigers had won their first-round Division II playoff game on Wednesday, 2-0, over No. 9 Springfield.
The Tigers controlled play and outshot the 2-12 Cosmos by 11-3. The midfield work of Anabel Hernandez,Kaitlyn McNamara andAby LaRock helped the Tigers control, and Maeve Hammel andPhoebe Smith consistently threatened and combined for the first Tiger goal, 11:57 into the first half.
TIGER KAITLYN MCNAMARA, left, and Eagle Jalen Cook battle for the ball as Tiger Lydia Deppman moves in during a Division II quarterfinal in Bristol on Friday. Cook picked up a goal and an assist in the Eagles’ 2-0 victory. The Eagles will play Otter Valley on Monday in South Burlington.
Photo by Mark Bouvier
Smith carried into the right side of the Springfield circle and served to the middle, and Hammel cut in from the left and one-timed the ball home past Cosmo goalie Anna Church (eight saves).
The Cosmos pressured for a stretch during the second half, and on a penalty corner nine minutes in defender Lydia Deppman made a defensive save. Deppman, moved to central defense due to an absence, played well, and JV callup Sarah Nicolai andKate Berthiaume were solid on the flanks.
Tiger goalie Ileigh Aube (two saves) made a strong stop on another corner five minutes later, but then the Tigers took charge. A few minutes later Grace Widelitz poked home a loose ball from close range to make it 2-0, and the Tigers locked it down from there.