ConVal’s first unified sports game since early 2020 took place in front of an electrified crowd Tuesday afternoon, as the Cougars hosted Hollis-Brookline in a unified soccer matchup that saw ConVal hang on for a 4-3 victory.
First-year head coach Emeric Szep may have spent more time with his team than any veteran manager; during ConVal’s remote learning school year of 2020-21, the life skills teacher and his students were basically the only people in the school building most days. And without a unified soccer or basketball season, the students were a bit restless.
“Frank Dinino was asking me every day,” Szep said, “‘When’s soccer? When are we going to do soccer? Basketball in the winter?’ So it just matters to get out and play on the field. That’s really the goal of this year, just to get out there and play together as a team.”
The team looked good on Tuesday, jumping out to an early lead that they’d never surrender. As their partners cheered them on or passed the ball their way, the Cougar athletes racked up four goals and withstood a late Cavalier attack that made it 4-3 in the final moments.
Sisters Angel and Priscilla St. Pierre both scored for ConVal, as did Parker Nason and Jack Ingram. Nason and Woodhouse combined to earn the win in goal for the Cougars.
ConVal had a strong cheering section Tuesday; along with the crowd of parents, members of the other Cougar sports teams took time out of their practices, stayed late or showed up early to rally on their schoolmates.
Szep and co-coach Zak Shapiro are grateful for the schoolwide support they’ve been receiving, from principal Heather McKillop’s turn on the field as a partner last week, or this Friday’s planned scrimmage against the boys’ junior varsity soccer team.
“If I was trying to do this by myself, or just me and Zak, we’d be in trouble,” Szep said. “Everyone in the school has been helping out, which is nice.
ConVal hosts Bow for senior night Oct. 13 at 4 p.m.
ConVal, Conant golf at Bretwood
The Orioles and Cougars finished their regular seasons Tuesday at Monadnock, where Conant (70) pulled off wins over Fall Mountain (63) and ConVal (40), finishing second behind Monadnock (78).
ConVal’s Wyatt Burbank had the best individual day, scoring 23 Stableford points to finish second behind medalist Mitchell Cormier of Fall Mountain (25). Marcus Somero was the Orioles’ best, finishing third with a 21.
Daniel McCall (10) and C0rey Guzman (7) also scored for ConVal.
Draven Seppala (18), Grant Ketola (16) and Jordan Ketola (15) rounded out Conant’s scoring four.
Both teams finished outside the Division III playoffs, but may enter two student-athletes apiece in next Tuesday’s divisional championship tournament at Laconia Country Club.
Mascenic wraps at Farmington
The Vikings concluded their regular season undefeated after winning at Farmington Tuesday. The final tallies were Mascenic 80, Woodsville 49, Farmington 39.
Mascenic defends their Division IV championship at Laconia Tuesday.
Mascenic 3, Sunapee 0
The Vikings improved to 9-1 on the year with another sweep of Sunapee Monday night.
Annika Martel had three aces and three kills; Lyla Buxton had seven kills and three blocks; Kenzie Cormier had 19 assists; Hannah Zina had six kills and an ace, and Delaney Traffie had three kills and an ace.
Mascenic was scheduled to play at Portsmouth Christian Wednesday and at Hillsboro-Deering Friday.
Mascenic 4, Prospect Mountain 3
Senior Sean Agonis scored all four Viking goals Tuesday as Mascenic weathered a Timberwolf comeback and hung on for the win.
Jack Cocozella and Matt Swanson had an assist each as the Vikings jumped out to a 4-1 lead before Prospect Mountain pulled within one in the final five minutes.
Keeper Jarred Sullivan played well in net, head coach Andy Helliesen said, and Joe Cocozella was all over the field making an impact.
“He has become our utility man,” Helliesen said, “playing anything from sweeper to mid to striker in a single game.”
Hayes Pearson also played well at right fullback.
Mascenic (3-6-2) hosts Newfound Friday at 4 p.m.
Goffstown 2, ConVal 0
Goalkeeper Makenzie Anderson made 25 saves at Goffstown Tuesday to keep ConVal in the game, but the Cougars only mustered four shots and no goals as they fell 2-0 to the host Grizzlies.
ConVal (3-8) hosts Lebanon Friday at 4 p.m.