Visiting Bow put an end to both ConVal’s 10-game soccer win streak and seven-game shutout streak Tuesday night, spoiling the Cougars’ senior night with a 1-0 victory in Peterborough.
“It’s a tough night,” said ConVal head coach Scott Daniels after the game. “We have 11 seniors – there’s a charged up atmosphere. I think the nerves kicked in. Everyone wants to do their best and we just fell a little short tonight. We shut off for the last five seconds of that first half and they capitalized.”
Bow had the majority of the chances in the first half and struck for the game’s only goal with just two seconds left before the halftime whistle as sophomore Luke Hartshorn punched in a loose ball past ConVal keeper Wyatt Beaulieu.
“That was a back-breaker,” Daniels said.
ConVal put the pressure on in the second half and drummed up what seemed like enough scoring opportunities to tie the game, but Bow keeper Aaron Barrieau was on his game, saving a near-goal by Garrett Rousseau and ripping a potential header away from Jake Daniels, and the Cougars couldn’t catch a break.
“All the respect in the world for [ConVal],” said Bow head coach George Pinkham. “They play with energy, they play with heart, they play with desire, they play for their coach. Today, the ball just bounced right for us in that last 20 minutes.”
The loss snapped several Cougar streaks; more importantly, it dropped them out of the top position in Division II, as ConVal (12-3) now trails Kingswood (12-2-1) and Oyster River (11-2-2). After 10 games on top of the world, coach Daniels hopes the senior night loss was the wakeup call the Cougars needed before the tournament begins next week.
“I’d rather get the loss out of the way now, before the second season starts,” Daniels said. “I told them out there, I want them to think about how it feels. We’ve got one more home game, in the playoffs, and that’s when we want to get the victory.”
ConVal finishes the regular season at Pembroke Friday.
ConVal 3, Fall Mountain 0
ConVal won their annual Pink Game against Fall Mountain Monday night in honor and remembrance of those who have been affected by cancer – and raised $578 to support the Side Out Foundation in the process.
Leading the Cougars to a three-set victory were Kendall Sullivan with 11 aces, seven assists and two kills; Ashlynn Williams had eight aces; Emma Rodenhiser had five kills on the night; Ivy Armstrong-McEvoy had seven kills; Aria Laurent had five assists and two aces, and Makaela Drummond had a pair of kills.
ConVal (11-4) was set to play at John Stark Wednesday and host their last game of the regular season Friday at 5:45 p.m. against Manchester Central.
Epping 2, Mascenic 0
The Vikings have just two in-division losses this year, and Epping dealt both of them, as the Blue Devils came to New Ipswich for a senior day shutout on Tuesday.
“They are a great passing team,” said Mascenic coach Joseph Hileman, “and are finding the spaces through my back line – which is hard to do!”
Mascenic (11-3) concludes their regular season at WLC Thursday evening.
WLC 6, Pittsfield 0
Wilton-Lyndeborough made strides towards a playoff berth with a blowout win over Pittsfield Tuesday evening.
Korey and Kenny Begley each scored twice for WLC; Rob Gagnon and Harry Krug added one each, and Alex Nelson and Austin Kimball provided assists.
Ben Jacob kept the clean sheet in net and gave way to Joe Krug, who closed the g ame out on senior night.
WLC (5-10) needs a win against Mascenic Thursday to clinch the DIV playoffs; with a loss and wins or ties by Somersworth or Lisbon, the Warriors would be out.