Varsity Boys postponed again

The Varsity boys were postponed for the second time this young season as their game with Green Mountain was cancelled as a result of yesterday's weather. Friday's scheduled game with South Royalton also has been moved as a result of a conflict in So. Ro's. schedule. The Boys next game is scheduled for the 22nd at Lake Region.

Lady Raptors get dropped by Lake Region

On Tuesday evening the girls varsity team lost a 48-22 decision to the pre season #1 team in division 3. Trailing by just 5, 19-14, at the half, the Raptors were outscored by 29-8 in the second half. Dsteck lead the scoring for the girls with 11 points and her sister Jstek contributed 5. The Ranger's Abbey LaLine led all scorers with 15 points. The girls travel to Concord on Thursday.

Raptor Boys get edged out by the Olympians

The Raptor Boys Basketball team hosted the Olympians from Oxbow on Monday and lost on a closely contested game 51-49. The action was fierce and furious as both teams had to work hard to put points up on the board. Zach Klunder got himself into early foul trouble which effected the Raptors board game. Will Tifft and Billy Ross paced the scoring for the team. The boys are scheduled to travel to Green Mountain on Wednesday.

Lady Raptors over Stowe

On December 13th the mighty women Raptors flew into the Stowe gymnasium and took a bite out of the Crusaders. The bald eagle, Dstek, tore apart Stowe's 2-3 zone with 11 points in the first quarter, helping RA jump out to an 18-6 lead. Jasmine "the Raven" Harrington lead the second quarter with 5 points and helped push the halftime lead to 36-16. The little "eaglets", freshmen Smiley Brooks, Amber Brooks, and KMac had 1, 6, and 12 points respectively.

Stow'e Julia Scrubbs lead the way for the Crusaders with 27 points. JStek hawked her up and down the court. With the help of the eagle and the raven, she held Scrubbs to 9 of 51 shooting for the game. Defensively, Rivendell will have to im prove as they host a strong Lake Region team on Tuesday.

In other game news, Red Rooster Ameden went down in the 3rd quarter with a knee injury. All of us birds of prey will be eagerly awaiting her return, especially Vulture Carter.

( this report was submitted by Russell " chicken little" Wilcox.

Girls season opener vs. Oxbow

The Girls basketball team opened their season at Oxbow on Friday night and played reasonably well in a 33-25 loss. Deva Steketee paced the way with 9 points and 12 rebounds. Kathleen McCarty finished with 8 points and 4 assists. Oxbow jumped out to an 11-2 lead after one quarter and lead 18-8 at the half. The second half was fairly even with both teams trading hard fought baskets. RA did not succomb to Oxbow's intense full court pressure, but will need to find easier ways in the future to score against aggressive 1/2 court pressure. The Raptors have a week to work it out before travelling to Stowe for a Boys and Girls double header on Saturday the 13th.

Varsity Boys suffer a tough loss at BMU

The JV and Varsity Boys Basketball teams opened their season at Blue mountain last evening and came home with mixed results. The JV boys won the preliminary game 50-37. The team played very well together and worked very hard at both ends of the court. The back court play of Kyle Huntington and Andy Eaton the front court combination of Travis Streeter and Marshall Ivey proved to be too much for the Bucks to handle.

The Varsity Boys lost a very tough contest 48-47. BMU's Charlie Jobin netted 25 points and was instrumental in the Buck's comeback success. The RA boys worked hard and held an eight point lead at halftime but ran into trouble handling the press during the third quarter. The Boys experienced difficulty at the charity stripe throughout the game as they only tallied 9 free throw points for the game. Billy Ross lead the scoring with 13 points. Zach Klunder (8), Cody Thurston (7), Will Tifft(6), Tyler Farnham (3), Shane Kilduff (3), Dylan Pelletier (3), Aaron Hibbard (3), and Daniel Gray (1) also contributed to the cause. Cody, Zach, Will, and Shane also worked hard on the boards. Cody also registered 3 blocked shots.The next game for the Boys is on Thursday, December 11th vs. Lake Region. The JV boys play at Whitcomb on December 10th.

HS Basketball games begin this week

The Basketball season goes into full swing this week as the Varsity and JV Boys open at Blue Mountain on Wednesday ( jv @ 5:30, varsity @ 7:00 ). The Girls travel to Oxbow on Friday (jv @ 6:00 and varsity @ 7:30).

The Boys kick off the week as they host Littleton HS for a scrimmage. The Varsity will play at 5:00pm and the JVS will follow at 6:30pm.

High School Basketball kicks off on November 17th

The High School Basketball season begins on Monday, November 17th as members of the boys and girls teams meet with their respective coaches and begin their pre-season program. All practice times and game schedules will be available on the Rivendell web site. They will be available on this site as well. Players and their parent(s) must meet with their coach before being allowed to participate.

Basketball meeting, Monday, November 10th

The High School Basketball Coaches will be conducting a meeting for all players, and their parents, who intend upon playing basketball this coming season. Attendance is required. Permission forms, pre-season practice schedules, and game schedules will be handed out. New members to the coaching staff will be introduced and topics such as team and player expectations and basic rules will be discussed. Please contact the office if you are unable to attend so that an alternate meeting can be scheduled. A meeting has to take place before a player can participate.

HS Soccer Dinner Buffet November 11th

The High School Soccer teams and their families will be getting together on Tuesday, November 11th at 6:00pm in the RA cafe to celebrate the successful season that we all enjoyed being part of. The evening will kick off with appetizers that will be provided by the sophomore players, followed by the main dish offerings of the freshmen class. Beverages are being brought in by the juniors and the seniors will be amazing us with their creativity by capping off the meal with dessert offerings.

After dinner, the teams will split up, with their respective coaches and family members for the team awards portion of the evening. The evening finale will feature a slide show presentation of the season. Please plan on joining us for a fun and eventful evening. Thanks to all the Parents who are making this event possible.

Three RA soccer players earn All State honors

Three of our HS players have been honored as members of the Vermont All State Soccer teams for the 2008 season. Jess Steketee, Jesse Oakes, and Tyler Wood were named as members of their respective girls and boys All State teams at the Vermont Soccer Coaches meeting that was held in Middlebury last weekend.

As a result of being All State honorees, the players have been invited to try out for the Vermont Lions Cup teams. Those players that are selected will compete against the New Hampshire teams next summer. Well done Kids!! Thanks for representing us so well.

HS Soccer players earn CVL honors

The RA High School Soccer teams were very well represented at the league level as a significant number of our varsity boys and girls received 1st and 2nd CVL team honors.

For the girls, Kye Ameden, Autumn Brooks, Deva Steketee, and Jess Steketee were placed on the 1st team and Amber Brooks, Shelby Brooks, and Erica Preston earned 2nd team honors.

The boys also placed four players on the 1st team as Evan Madden, Jesse Oakes, Tyler Wood and Aaron Hibbard were recognized for their achievements. 2nd team honors were presented to Cody Kendall, Shane Kilduff, Dylan Pelletier, and Michael Langely.

Congratulations to all of our honorees and all the other athletes that represented Rivendell Academy so well this season.

Varsity Soccer teams suffer first round losses

The Varsity Boys soccer team travelled to Peoples Academy on Tuesday and were handed a 7-0 prelim state tourney defeat. Although the Peoples side was certainly stronger both technically and tactically, the Raptors played nearly even ball for the first thirty minutes of the contest. Trailing 1-0, the flood gates opened as Peoples scored four goals in a six minute span leading up to the intermission. The boys regrouped and regained their composure during the break and played fairly well during the second half but gave up two goals late in the game. Although it was a tough way to conclude, it didn't take away from the gains and success that the boys experienced throughout the regular season.

The Varsity Girls team journeyed to Enosburg and fell 2-0 to a very good squad. After giving up two relatively early goals, they played even ball for the last sixty four minutes of the contest. At times, the girls carried play and put considerable pressure on the Enosburg defense. The played hard and competed right up to the finish, as Deva drilled a shot on net at the final horn. Congratulations for a season well played by the Raptors side. Considerable achievements were experienced by all members of the team throughout the season.

varsity soccer pairings set

The VPA has published the pairings for the girls and boys State Soccer Tournament. The varsity boys finished 9th overall and travel to Peoples Academy tomorrow ( Tuesday ) for a 3:00pm match up. If they win they will play the winner of South Royalton and Thetford on Friday at 3:00pm.

The girls finished 10th overall and travel to Enosburg on Wednesday at 3:00pm. If they win they will play the winner of BFA Fairfax and Windsor on Saturday at 3:00pm.

Varsity Soccer teams complete the regular season

The Varsity Soccer Boys and Girls teams finished their regular season schedules on Saturday by hosting the South Royalton sides. The boys won their encounter by a score of 2-1 to finish at 10 wins and 4 losses. The girls lost a hard fought match 3-1 and finished at 9 wins and five losses. Both teams are awaiting the final seeds to determine where they will placed for State Tournament play. Pairings are scheduled to be released some time on monday. The boys prelim game will be played on Tuesday and the girls on Wednesday. Opponents, game sites and starting times will be posted later.

The girls lost a tough game as Autumn Brooks recorded their only score of the game. Jess Steketee hit the crossbar twice, however, neither ball crossed over the line.

The boys play was somewhat sporatic as they outscored So. Ro. by one which was good enough to move them up to ninth place in the state standings. Evan Madden and Tyler Wood notched goals with Evan and Jesse Oakes being awarded assisits. Team play was brilliant at times and uninspiring at other times during the run of play.

Varsity Girls stun Chelsea

The Varsity girls brought their complete package to the game field yesterday as they hosted the Red Devils from Chelsea in a rematch from earlier in the season. The first game resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Chelsea side, but yesterday, the Raptors desire and enthusiasm resulted in a double overtime 3-2 victory as Jess Steketee deposited a corner kick into the side net.

Although controlling play for most of the half, the only scoring came off the head of Deva Steketee as she took a corner serve from "younger"sister Jess. Early in the second half, a skipper of the wet surface found the Raptors net and Chelsea knotted the score at one apiece. A few minutes later Chelsea scored once again on a twenty five yard chip shot over the out stretched hands of Erica Preston. Late in the contest, Hope Amanatidis took one for the team as she was aggressively taken down outside the box. Deva neatly deposited the direct kick into the side net to even the score at 2-2. Erica made one more sensational save that allowed the game to go into overtime.

After a scoreless first overtime of play, Jess scored the winner moments into the second to clinch the game. The win runs the girls record to 9-4 as the head into the final game of the regular seson vs. South Royalton on Saturday at 2:00pm.

JV Boys finish their season on a great note

The JV Boys Soccer team finished their season in great style by compilying a 5-0 victory vs. The Sharon Academy. The teams had tied earlier in the season but the Raptors showed the benefits of their hard work throughout the season by scoring consistently throughout the game and playing a disciplined and coordinated style of defense. Daniel Gray started and completed his first game as a keeper and earned the shut out. On the offensive end of the field, Johnny Milnes (2), Dylan Pelletier, Kyle Huntington, and Mark Frazee recorded. goals. Congratulations to Coach Huntington and his boys for a terrific season.

MS Teams split vs. Oxbow

The MS Soccer teams hosted Oxbow on Wednesday and two very exciting games were played. On the Girls field, timely offense and a stingy defense were the answer to a 2-0 win for the Raptors. Meanwhile, on the Boys side, aggressive spirited play on both halves of the field resulted in a 2-1 double overtime win for Oxbow. The teams close out their seasons at home vs. Lisbon on Friday. The game is scheduled for 4:00pm, but will start a few minutes late due to bussing conflicts at Lisbon.

High School Soccer teams have a dinner date tonight

The High School Boys and Girls Soccer teams, and their families, will feast on a pasta dinner this evening at 6:30pm in the Academy cafe. The event has been organized by Michelle Oakes and the other Parents of our teams captains and is an opportunity to continue the efffort of exemplifying the total program concept. It has been a terrific season for both the Girls and the Boys as each group has experienced success and recognized and supported each others efforts and accomplishments. Thanks so much for the Parent's support throughout the season and for their efforts that make evenings such as this one possible.

Varsity Boys victorious over Concord

Perhaps remembering last year's disappointing tie at the end of the season, the Raptor boys took care of business early vs. an undermanned Concord squad on Tuesday as they ran their record to 9 - 4 with a 9-0 win. Goals were scored by Evan Madden (2), Jesse Oakes (2), Aaron Hibbard, Shane Kilduff, and Tyler Wood. Also finding the net with their first varsity goals were Daniel Gray and Dylan Pelletier. assisting on the oals were Aaron (3), Shane, and Tyler Wood. Mark Frazee and Jesse shared the shut out in net. Next game is Saturday at 2pm vs. ever dangerous South Royalton.

Varsity Girls have their way vs. Concord

The Varsity Girls team scored early and often against Concord on Tuesday as they coasted to a 6-0 win. It was the girl's third consecutive victory which ran their record to 8 - 4. Goals were scored by Deva (2), Autumn (2), Jess, and Alexis. Assists were awarded to Jess (2), Alexis, Tori, and Haley LeBlanc. The team held a 40 - 4 advantage in shots taken and took a whopping 16 corner kicks.

The team meets a much tougher foe tomorrow as they host the undefeated Chelsea side at 4PM.

JV Boys show well vs. Twinfield

The JV Boys Soccer team played very well vs. a determined Twinfield side on Saturday morning . On the strength of scoring during a corner kick, they went into the break sporting a 1-0 lead. However, Twinfield scored mid way through the second half to even the score and notched another with only two minutes remaining to earn the victory. It was a great effort by the Raptor side. They distributed the ball well and played solid defense throughout the match.

Varsity Boys get back on track vs. Danville

After suffering consecutive losses for the first time all season, the Varsity Boys returned to the win column with a convincing victory vs. Danville. Tyler Farnham set the pace six minutes into the game by finding the back of the net after collecting a pass from Evan MAdden. Shane Kilduff upped the score to 2-0 seven minutes later as he netted a blast from twenty five yards out.

In the second half Jesse Oakes scored on the best offesive play of the day as he one timed a great crossing pass from Evan into the back of the net to extend the lead to 3-0. A bit of a mental lapse allowed Danville to get on the scoreboard at the seventy eighth minute, but all in all, it was a solid and complete game for the Raptors as they ran their record to 8 wins and 4 losses.

Varsity girls cruise by Danville

The Varsity Girls Soccer team won their second consecutive game with a convincing 6-2 victory vs. Danville. After allowing a goal :30 seconds in to the game , the ladies stormed back and took a 5-2 lead into the intermission. Autumn Brooks (3), Hope Amanatidis ( 1st career goal), and Deva Steketee all found the net in the first half with assists going to Amber Brooks, Autumn, Melanie Emerson, and Alexis Pratt. Deva scored again later in the game after taking a feed from sister Jess.

The second half was all about defense as Amber was moved back and worked along with Marie Wurtz, Kye Ameden, Deva, and Shelby Brooks who all combined to keep the goal area free from dangerous attacks. Keeper Erica Preston did not have to face a shot in the second half of play.

The victory was historic in that Coach Tenney collected his 400th career win. He was pleased to share his accomplishments with his friends, and co-coaches, Heidi Nichols and Tim Goodwin, and with this Rivendell team that has responded so well to the demands and expectations that have been asked of them.

team picture day

Reminder that team picture will be taken today for all of our fall teams. The MS teams will have their shots taken at 2:15 and will board the bus between 2:30 and 2:45 for their respective games vs. Sunapee.

Varsity Boys fall vs. Oxbow

The Varsity Boys played host to the Olympians on Tuesday and lost 4-1, as Aaron Hibbard recorded the only score of the day for the Raptors.. The Oxbow side was very deserving of their first win as they hustled and communictaed very effectively throughout the contest. The Raptors demonstrated very little of the emotion and desire they expressed vs. Thetford. Perhaps this will be a good wake up call for the team as they enter the last week of the regular season in preparation for the state tournament. Both Varsity teams host Danville on Friday.

MS teams tie Lisbon up

The MS soccer teams travelled to Lisbon on Monday and competed very strongly vs. the Panthers. Playing what Coach Hibbard called their best game of the season, the boys result was a 2-2 tie on the strength of excellent defensive play and team work. Jack steketee and Nathaniel Eastman netted the goals for the Raptors.

In a similar fashion, the girls went into two overtimes and came away with a hard earned 1-1 tie. The two sweeper defensive system continues to be impressive as does the hustle and overall performance of all the players involved. Coach Pierson and Coach Hibbard are doing a great job of preparing their teams for the next level of play. Their next game is today at Sunapee.

VG score huge win over Mill River

The Varsity Girls Soccer team travelled to Division II Mill River on Monday and came home with a tremendous 3-2 victory over their 4th ranked opponent.

The girls needed a win after suffering two tough losses last week in games where they controlled the tempo but had difficulty in finding the net. Despite having played very well, the Lady Raptors found themselves down 2-0 by halftime yesterday. The ladies came out in the second half with a positive attitude and began dominating play. In the :44 minute Jess Steketee found the back of the net after taking a terrific pass from from sister Deva to make the score 2-1. Mill River pressed and got a point blank shot moments later but was shut down on the attempt by a great stop by keeper Erica Preston.

The mid field control play by Deva and Autumn Brooks allowed Jess and Alexis Pratt to keep pressure on the Mill River backs. At the :64 minute, Deva found Mel Emerson on a delayed run down the side line. Mel deftly one touched the ball to Jess who buried the ball to knot the game.
With 1:06 remaining, Coach Tenney called a time out in order to draw up a throw in play which was executed to perfection when Tori Hebb took a weak side pass fom Jess and scored the game winner with :59 seconds remaining. Terrific defensive play by Kye Ameden, Shelby Brooks, Brooke Maddock, Deva, and Marie Wurtz limited Mill River to six shots in the second half. Erica Preston was credited with seven saves, none bigger than the point blankstop.A great team effort on a cold, windy day.

reminder: team pictures on Thursday

Remember that team pictures for all fall sports will be taken on Thursday, October 9th. The MS teams will be taken at 2:15, prior to leaving for their games at Sunapee, followed by the Boys JV and Varsity teams at 2:30, X Country at 2:50 and HS Girls Soccer at 3:00.

All team should be dressed in their white uniforms for these pictures.

MS teams split vs. Haverhill

The MS Soccer teams hosted Haverhill on Wednesday and split the twinbill. The boys received restitution for an earlier season 2-0 loss as they responded by outplaying their opponents and racking up a 4-0 win. Although Coach Hibbard only has 13 to 14 able bodies on any given day, he credits his team as a hard working group of players who play well together and understand the concept of team play. Their next game is on Monday the 6th of October at Lisbon at 4:30pm..

The Girls lost a hard fought match by a goal but hustled throughout the contest and carried play for the better part of the match. They also travel Lisbon on the 6th.

JV boys defeat Twinfield

The JV Boys Soccer team travelled to twinfield on Wednesday and came home with a 3-2 victory. Kyle Huntington scored the winning tally just with just two minutes remaining in regulation. Daniel Gray was factor in all three goals scoring once and assisting twice. The boys have played very well lately and are beginning to mesh as a unit. Their next game is Wednesday, October 8th home vs. Lisbon at 4:30pm.

VG and VB teams get edged out by Thetford

Both the Varsity Girls and the Varsity Boys Soccer teams played very well vs. Thetford on Friday only to see their efforts result in identical 1-0 final scores in favor of the Thetford sides. Both games were decided in the second half of play as the Thetford Girls scored in the :56th minute of play and the Boys in the :59th minute of play. Jesse Oakes played in goal for the injured Mark Frazee and was very active between the posts while making a number of spectacular saves. The defense, especially Cody Kendall, did a great job in containing a number of the Panthers " dangerous " players. Aggressive and determined play kept the boys in the game and the result was in question up to the end.

On the Girls side, much was the same except that the Lady Raptors had the territorial and statistical edge throughout the match except in the goals scored column.

The atmosphere was electric as the best crowd of the season gathered to witness playoff type soccer. Congrats to both teams for games well played.

VG Soccer team nearly pulls off the upset of the season

The Varsity Girls soccer team came within a minute and a half of upsetting the Lady Olympians from Oxbow on Tuesday but came up short in overtime, losing 3-2. The Olympians came to town sporting a 6-0 record and had only given up one goal thus far this season. After a hard fought, scoreless, first half of spirited play, the Lady Raptors came out and scored twice in the first nine minutes of the second half. Melanie Emerson was credited for both goals with Jess Steketee assisting on the first. The Olympians pulled within one goal at approximately the :63rd minute and scored the equalizer on a disputed corner kick within the last 2 minutes of play. The game winner was tallied in the :82 minute. Coach Tenney was pleased by the overall play of his girls given that they were short handed as a result of a number of players being unable to play due to various injuries.

It was an awesome game to watch and the spectators were very actively involved as fans from both sides were very vocal in supporting their respective teams. The members of the Varsity and JV Boys teams did a great job in initiating schoolspirit from the student section. The girls play host to Thetford on Friday at 4:30.

MS Soccer games rescheduled

The MS Soccer games that were postponed on September the 12th have been rescheduled for Saturday, October 11th at 12:30 on Community field.

jv boys soccer show well vs. Thetford

The JV Boys Soccer team travelled to Thetford on Monday and played an intense, evenly matched game vs. the Panthers for eighty minutes. Dressing only twelve players, the Raptors held their own by playing tough, disciplined defense and challenging the opponents defensive third of the field throughout the match. The game was scoreless until the seventy seventh minute when Thetford scored the game winner on a nicely placed shot from the top right elbow of the penalty area.

Eric Perry played very strongly in net, turning away several difficult shots. The defensive unit kept Thetford at bay while the transition game produced a number of quick strike opportunities at the Thetford end as Kyle Huntington just missed on a couple of occasions. It was a terrific game to watch. The team travels to Twinfield on Wednesday.

Team photos

Team pictures will be taken by LIFE TIME PHOTOS on Thursday, October 9th. Middle School and High School Coaches will be distributing picture forms to their athletes within the next week. LIFE TOUCH will be taking school pictures on that day as well. Please remember that if your child(ren) play a sport, there will be two picture forms to fill out. The athletic form needs to be returned to the players coach.

Varsity boys thump Blue Mountain

The Varsity Boys Soccer team travelled to Blue Mountain on Thursday seeking to gain restitution for an earlier season loss. Taking a chance and opting to play into the wind, the boys broke out into an early lead in the 6th minute of play when Aaron Hibbard took a nice feed from Jesse Oakes and finished the play for a 1-0 lead. Three minutes later Tyler Wood deposited a through pass from Hibby to push the lead to 2-0. That lead held up as the boys played hard the remainder of the half. Mark Frazee made some terrific reads on some dangerous balls and kept Blue Mountain out of the net.

The second half was a reflection of the first in that Tyler and Aaron each scored with Aaron getting the assist on Tyler's goal and Dillon Miller( 1st varsity point) setting up a well placed serve from a free kick for Aaron's second finish of the day. Shane Kilduff played another strong game in the midfield as did the backfield combination of Mike Langley, Josh LeBlanc, Cody Kendall, and Dylan Pelletier. Mark Frazee recorded his 3rd shut out of the season. It was a boost to have Jesse back on the field after having missed the Thetford game due to injury. The game was very physical, and heated at times, as the BMU side accumulated two yellow cards for rough play. The boys did well to maintain their focus and composure. The next varsity game is next Friday (10.3) at home vs. Thetford.

MS Boys prevail over South Royalton

The MS Boys soccer team travelled with the girls to South Royalton and on the strength of a 5-0 result came home with their second win of the season . Ryan Farnham, Luke Bell, Jack Steketee, Nathaniel Eastman, and Andrew stimson recorded goals during the contest. Coach Hibbard was pleased by the balanced play and the ball distribution throughout the contest. The boys record now stands at 2 wins and 3 losses. Their next game is also next Wednesday vs. Haverhill.

MS Girls PK their way past South Royalton

The MS Girls soccer team travelled to South Royalton on Wednesday and took on the Lady Royals. The RA girls took the lead early in the first half when Addie Lyndes took a pass from Molly Pierson and buried the shot. The Royals tied the game with only a few minutes left in the half. Midway through the 2nd half Megan Perkins scored on a penalty kick to put the Raptors back on top 2-1. Playing strong controlled defense the remainder of the game allowed the RA side to maintain that lead and to run off the field with the win.

The close score doesn't reflect how well the girls played throughout the contest. They limited the Royals to three shots on goal and played ball control throughout much of the match. Since adopting the two sweeper format that the varsity plays they have controlled the flow of their games, except for the first half of the Haverhill game and the first fifteen minutes of the Thetford match. Coach Pierson credits the team for learning the new system so quickly and for playing so well together. The win against the Royals brings their record to 2-1-2. Their next game is at home Wednesday, October 1st at 4:30 vs. Haverhill.

MS soccer games vs. Oxbow changed

The MS Soccer games that were scheduled for Thursday, September 25th have been moved to Monday, October 20th at 4:00pm

Varsity boys fall at Thetford

The Varsity boys soccer team lost their game at Thetford 4-1 on Tuesday. The first half of play saw Thetford's Shawn Thurston score two goals and assist on two others as he and Joel Harris created many opportunities and were dangerous during the first :40 minutes of play. Evan Madden broke into the scoring column as he finished a nice pass from Tyler Farnham in the :28th minute of play and brought the deficit to within one goal.

The second half of play was scoreless as the boys worked hard and covered their marks much more effectively than in the first :40 minutes. Cody Kendall played perhaps his best varsity game as he continually snuffed out Thetford opportunities with tough, physical defense. The result of the game was disappointing but it did provide an opportunity for us to experience what teams like the 8-0 Panthers bring to the table. We need to be pleased with the manner in which we played in the second half. The team as a whole competed until the final horn. Next game is Thursday at Blue Mountain. Game time is 4:30.

Varsity girls come home victorious over Thetford

The Varsity girls soccer team ran their record to 5 wins and 2 losses with their 2-1 victory over Thetford on Tuesday. The team had juggled up their line with the hopes of improving it scoring opportunities. Jess Steketee scored the first goal of the afternoon by netting a penalty kick opportunity. Amber and Autumn Brooks,having been moved to the front line as part of the the restructuring process, accounted for the second goal of the day as they were both involved in crashing the goal after Jessica's shot rebounded off the post. Both girls had a chance on the rebound and had touches on the ball but Amber was credited with the game winner.
Thetford made it interesting with three minutes remaining as a defensive clear rebounded off a Thetford player and found the net.

Coach Tenney is pleased with the terrific defensive play that the team has demonstrated and is optimistic with the potential that the shuffling of players will have on the offensive potency on the other end of the field. As the teams moves into the second half of the season, the coaching staff is fine tuning the combinations at both the offensive and defensive ends of the field. The staff is very pleased with the effort and determination of their team.

Varsity boys slip by Twinfield

The varsity boys soccer team played host to a determined Twinfield club on Saturday and prevailed 4-3 in the :93 minute ( 2nd overtime ) on the strength of Evan Madden's second goal, assisted by Aaron Hibbard, of the day. The Hibbard / Madden combination opened the scoring in the 6th minute of the game. Twinfield tied it up in the 33rd minute but once again was on the short end of the score a minute later as Jesse Oakes sent Aaron a through ball which he deposited in the back of the net. Shane Kilduff stretched the lead to 3-1 two minutes into the second half but Twinfield struck in the 61st and 73rd minutes to knot the score at 3-3. After the teams exchanged challenges in the first 10 minute overtime the game was sealed in the 3rd minute of the 2nd overtime. The win closes out the first half of the season with the boys sporting a record of 6 wins and 1 loss. The boys and girls play at Thetford on Tuesday.

Good luck Bert-o

Robert Valenti is undergoing a surgical procedure today and is expected to miss a number of days of soccer participation as a result. His coaches and team members wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to his return.

Good luck Kristina

Kristina Otis is scheduled to have surgery on her damaged ACL this morning. She was named an honorary Captain by Coach Tenney last week as he has been impressed by her spirit and willingness to remain an active teammate even after realizing that her season as a player was over. The members of the boys and girls team wish her good luck and a speedy recovery. She is very much looking forward to playing softball in the spring.

varsity girls stumble in South Royalton

The Varsity girls travelled to South Royalton and suffered a 3-1 loss to the undefeated (7-0) Royals. After trailing 2-0 at the half, Jess Steketee scored on penalty shot in the :55th minute but the play of the Royals Shanna Duffy ( 3 goals ) proved to be too much. The girls did pick up their intensity in the second half and played even ball with thier opponents. They know that they can compete with this team and the talk on the bus ride home was very positive as they look forward to the rematch on the last game of the regular season on Saturday, the 18th of October. NOTE: The starting time for the games on the 18th of October have been moved to 1pm as a result of PSATS being administerd in the morning.

Varsity boys sting South Royalton

The varsity boys soccer team traveled to South Royalton on Thursday and came home with a
4-1 victory. Both teams played very well in the first half playing scoreless ball until the :37th minute when Tyler Wood broke the ice with a nice shot from the right elbow of the 18 after receiving a pass from Shane Kilduff. Our boys took command of the game early in the second half as Cody Thurston collected his first varsity goal with a header off a pass from Tyler Wood in the :44th minute and Evan Madden buried a shot ( assist to Shane Kilduff) in the :47th minute. Aaron Hibbard closed out the scoring, assisted by Jesse Oakes in the :53rd. The team played a solid balanced game, distributed the ball well, and gave up but a few offensive opportunities to SoRo. Tyler Wood came home with a great deal of satisfaction having played very well on the same field where his season ended last year as a result of a broken leg. Defensively the back four combination of Sam Sanborn, Josh LeBlanc, Marshall Ivey, and Michael Langley teamed up and held SoRo to 9 shots on goal. Mark Frazee was brilliant in the goal when he needed to be. The boys host Twinfield on Saturday at 10:00am.

varsity girls drop 1st game at Chelsea

The Varsity girls soccer team travelled to Chelsea on Tuesday and suffered their first loss of the season 3-0. Coach Tenney described the Chelsea side as aggressive and attributed the outcome of the game to being out hustled, particularly in the first half. The team has had a tremendous start this season. After notching four consecutive shutouts,Chelsea was the first team to have scored on them. The girls travel to South Royalton today. Game time is 4:30pm.

varsity soccer boys outlast Cabot

On Saturday the 13th the varsity soccer boys hosted Cabot and came away with a hard fought 4-3 win. A wild first half sent the boys into intermission nursing a 3-2 lead. Evan Madden and Jesse Oakes staked the team to an early 2-0 lead only to have Cabot respond with a goal of their own. Evan quickly answered that with his second strike of the day but Cabot again scored to draw within one. Cabot tied the contest in the :48 minute. Aaron Hibbard scored the game winner in the :54 minute as the team held on the remainder of the game to come away with the win. Assisting on the goals were Cody Thurston, Evan Madden, Aaron Hibbard, and Shane Kilduff. The boys play next at South Royalton next Thursday, the 18th.

Varsity boys stumble vs. BMU

The Varsity boys soccer team fell 2-0 vs. a very competitive Blue Mountain side and as a result suffered their first loss of the season. The first forty minutes of play was dominated by BMU as they outstepped the Raptors and won most of the 50-50 balls that were up for grabs. After the intermission the boys showed a bit more spunk but were unable to finish on a number of good offfensive opportunities. While disappointed by the outcome, the boys were very much aware that they were outplayed and look forward to the rematch later in the season.

The boys play again Saturday at 10:00am vs. Cabot.

Varsity girls soccer continues to roll

The varsity girls soccer team is riding high after their 7-0 win over Blue Mountain on Thursday. The team has not given up a goal while streaking out to a perfect 4-0 record. The Raptors provided a lot of offensive pop as Melanie Emerson, Alexis Pratt, Autumn Brooks, and Deva Steketee tallied goals while Jess Steketee recorder her fourth consecutive hat trick. Assisting in the scoring were Jess, Alexis (2), Kye Ameden, and Hope Amanatidis.

Coach Tenney was pleased with the balanced attack but was quick to praise the defensive effort as Shelby Brooks completely shut down BMU's leading scorer Katie Thompson. Hope Amanatidis started her first varsity game and was essential to the success of the team by playing stellar defense and contributing with an assist on Deva's goal. Spirits are high and the confidence is building as the team is off to their best start ever. The girls play again Tuesday at Chelsea. Game time is 4:30pm

Reminder: Bridge Closing

If you are planning on attending the MS soccer games on Friday at 4:30pm or the boys varsity soccer game at 10:30am on Saturday remember that the Fairlee/Orford bridge is going to be closed from 4:00pm on Friday through 7:00am Monday.

MS soccer teams open the season at Haverhill

RA's Middle School soccer teams opened thier season at Haverhill on Thursday the 10th. Both teams played very well as the girls lost 2-0 and the boys 1-0. Although the results of the games were disappointing, both teams exhibited a great deal of hustle, team work and sportsmanship. Both teams host Thetford on Friday at 4:30pm.

XC @ Thetford; Ariel Pratt places 5th

Our XC girls, Christina Fulford, Ariel Pratt, and Lindsey Carter ran very well at their meet at Thetford on Tuesday the 9th. Chrisitina is the only returning runner from last year. RA can't compete as a team at these meets due to not having the minimum number of five runners, however they are able to represent RA as individual competitors. Ariel, running in her first event ever, placed fifth overall completing the 3.1 mile course in 24:16. It was a terrific showing. Christina placed twenty second with Lindsey close behind at twenty fifth. The girls continue to train rigorously daily under the guidance of Coach Barber. They compete again on the 16th of September at Windsor.

RA Varsity teams double up on Craftsbury

The varsity boys and girls soccer teams played host to Craftsbury on Tuesday, September 9th and came away with 6-0 and 7-0 victories respectively.

In the girl's game, Jess Steketee ( 3 goals, 2 assists) lead the scoring with her third consecutive hat trick followed by her sister Deva ( 2 goals and 2 assists), and Alexis Pratt (2 goals and 1 assist. Tori Hebb contributed to the scoring spree by assisting on two of the goals. Coach Tenney was quick to credit the defensive play of Brooke Maddock and Shelby Brooks along with keeper Erica Preston who made one difficult save that preserved her third shut out of the season.

The boys began the game very aggressively which resulted in early strikes by Evan Madden (4th minute) and Jesse Oakes (7th minute). Jesse scored his second goal in the 36th minute of play. Learning from their flat start in the 2nd half of the Danville game, two quick strikes in the 41st and 42nd minutes by Tyler Woods and Jesse Oakes (1st career hat trick)put the Craftsbury side in a deep 5-0 deficit. Aaron Hibbard completed the scoring in the 58th minute. Assisting the goals were Cody Thurston (2), Aaron Hibbard (2), and Evan Madden. The strong defensive play of Josh LeBlanc, Will Tifft, Shane Kilduff, and Cody Kendall helped keeper Mark Frazee record his second shut out of the season.

Both teams host Blue Mountain on Thursday at 4:30pm.

Road trip to Danville

The Varsity Boys and Girls soccer teams traveled to Danville on Wednesday the 3rd of September for their second games of the season. It was a great bus ride home as both teams notched their second consecutive win. The boys game was a 6-2 result with the girls coming out on top 3-0.

The girls team was lead offensively by Jess Steketee's 3 goal performance ( her second hat trick of the season.) She was assisted twice by her sister Deva and once by Melanie Emerson. Coach Tenney was very pleased by the defensive effort in general ( two shut outs in two games) and particularly with his five defensive backs, Amber and Autumn Brooks, Shelby Brooks, Kathleen McCarty, and Brooke Maddock. The girls have a JV game vs. Sunapee on Friday and are preparing for their next varsity match vs. Craftsbury on Tuesday, September 9th at 4:30pm.

The boys opened the game very quickly scoring three times in the first twelve minutes. Danville created some anxious moments as they scored two minutes into the second half, but the kids regrouped and took back control by scoring three more times to put the game away. Goals were scored by Jesse Oaks (2), Tyler Wood, Shane Kilduff, Tyler Farnham, and Aaron Hibbard. Assists were awarded to Cody Thurston (2), Tyler Farnham, Aaron Hibbard, and Josh LeBlanc.
Defensively the fellows played very well once again with Keeper Mark Frazee being the backstay and Will Tifft giving terrific directions from his central back position. Shane Kilduff was a workhorse playing out of the back and wing midfield positions. The team is preparing for their next encounter on Tuesday the 9th also at home vs. Craftsbury. The JV team plays at Lisbon on Moday the 8th.

MS Soccer begins

The Middle School boys and girls soccer teams began practice on Wednesday, August 27th and are working hard in preparing for their season opening games at Haverhill on Wednesday, September 10th. The boys are being coached by Lawrence Hibbard and the girls by Todd Pierson. The first home game is on Friday, September 12th vs. Thetford at 4:30pm.

Opening games for Varsity Soccer

The Varsity Boys and Girls Soccer season opens today as both teams host Whitcomb HS at 4:30pm at Community field. Both teams have been preparing for the season since August 11th. They have worked hard by practicing twice daily prior to the opening of the school year. The program welcomes our new Girl's Coach, Hank Tenney. Come on over and support your teams today.