BRANDON — The top-seeded Otter Valley Union High School field hockey team turned aside visiting No. 8 St. Johnsbury, 2-0, in a Division II quarterfinal.
The Otters improved to 12-2 and will take on No. 4 Burr & Burton in a Wednesday semifinal. That game will be played at 5:15 p.m. on South Burlington’s turf field. The 9-6 Bulldogs should pose a challenge: They reached the 2018 final, defeated OV in overtime in Brandon this season, and also play their home games on a turf surface.
St. Johnsbury (7-5-3) did not pose too tough a test for the Otters. The OV defense limited the Hilltoppers to one shot on goalie Ellie Ross, while St. J goalie Elizabeth Mastrianni-Douglas blocked 10 shots.
Coach Stacey Edmunds credited midfielders Alice Keith and Isabella Falco and central defender Livia Bernhardt for helping OV control play.
“The Otters dominated the game,” Edmunds said.
Still, the Otters did not score until three minutes into the second half, when Brittney Jackson converted a Riley LaPorte assist. Alia Edmunds added an insurance goal five minutes later, and the Otters coasted home.