The Conant girls’ soccer team bounced back with a big homecoming win Saturday that helped keep their postseason hopes alive.
The Orioles dominated Belmont 9-1 Saturday, a start-to-finish victory that got everyone involved and even brought senior goalkeeper Violet Bennett out of the net to score a goal of her own.
“It was a good team win,” head coach Devon Spirka said, “and it’s always nice to see multiple scorers getting that taste of a goal.”
Ava Rollins (2 goals, 2 assists) Ella Derosier (2 goals), Amelia Hill, Riley Vitello, Jasmyn Aho Merry Hill and Bennett all got in on the scoring action in Conant’s much-needed victory. Spirka said her team was excellent in crashing the net for rebounds, scoring three of their nine in that fashion.
It was a far cry from Thursday’s 4-1 loss to visiting Prospect Mountain. Like Conant, the Timberwolves are a middle-of-the-pack Division III squad — beatable for the Orioles — but Prospect left Jaffrey Thursday with a win, thanks to a lackluster effort on Conant’s part when it came to 50/50 balls.
“It’s just the little things,” Spirka said. “The first half we were doing them, we were, and it doesn’t take a ton more effort. It’s just the decision to do it or not. If you’re not going to make that decision, the game’s going to start to go the other way. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Aho scored Conant’s lone goal Thursday, answering Prospect Mountain’s first score just seconds later, but the Wolves scored three straight to put the game away.
The one carryover from Thursday to Saturday was strong defensive play from the back line of Merry Hill, Josie Seppala, Elyn Vitello and Maggie Quiter and excellent goalkeeping from Bennett, which kept Prospect Mountain from running up the score and allowed Conant to blow out Belmont.
“Josie and Merry in the middle together, they’re so fast, both of them, and they’re both so competitive,” Spirka said. “You’re not going to beat them to the ball and you’re not going to get past them.”
That defense is a strength for Conant, and when the midfield and forward positions are playing well – like they were at homecoming – the Orioles can be a force. Seniors Ava Rollins and Amelia Hill are tough in the midfield, along with junior Rachel Wooster, and senior Riley Vitello is a strong and speedy forward capable of scoring in the blink of an eye. Add in the freshman scorer Aho and sophomore setpiece specialist Derosier and you can see the potential.
Saturday’s win improved Conant to 4-4-3, 14th in Division III. 16 teams will make the tournament, which starts Oct. 28. The Orioles have an immediate test on Tuesday when they host a rematch with St. Thomas (10-1-1), as the No. 4 Saints handed Conant a 5-1 loss in their first meeting. Above St. Thomas in DIII are undefeated Stevens, Raymond and Campbell; Conant will face both Raymond and Campbell before the end of the regular season.
