By Roger Brown
MaxPreps.com
The regular season is complete, and the second season in Vermont high school football will begin this weekend.
Twelve teams – four in each division – advanced to postseason play, and the Vermont Principals’ Association released the semifinal-round matchups Monday.
• The Division I playoffs will feature fourth-seeded South Burlington (6-3 overall, 5-3 in Division I) at top-seeded Hartford (8-0, 8-0) on Friday (7 p.m.); and third-seeded Essex (7-2, 6-2) at second-seeded Rutland (7-2, 7-1) on Saturday (6 p.m.).
• In Division II, fourth-seeded Lyndon (6-3, 5-2) will play at top-seeded Mount Mansfield (7-2, 6-1) on Saturday (1 p.m.); and third-seeded U-32 (6-3, 6-2) will travel to second-seeded Spaulding (8-1, 7-1) on Saturday (1 p.m.).
• The Division III playoffs have fourth-seeded Montpelier (4-5, 4-3) at top-seeded Springfield (9-0, 7-0) on Friday (7 p.m.), and third-seeded Windsor (7-2, 5-2) at second-seeded Burr and Burton (8-1, 6-1) on Saturday (8-1, 6-1).
The semifinal winners will advance to their respective championship game. The title games will be played either Nov. 7 or Nov. 8. The sites and times have not yet been determined.
Bob Johnson, the VPA’s director of student activities, told the Burlington Free Press that Burlington, Essex, Windsor, Mount St. Joseph and Fair Haven are possible locations for the championship games. Burlington, which plays its home games on a turf field, could be the site for more than one game.
Johnson said it’s unlikely Essex or Windsor would be allowed to play for a championship on its home field.
Because teams don’t all play the same number of games within their division, a Quality Point Rating (QPR) is used to select the playoff field in each division. The QPR is a formula that reflects a team’s record within its division and its strength of schedule.
Six officials will be used for each playoff game – one more than is used during regular-season games.
Field Hockey: CVU, Harwood and Rice Win Titles
Field hockey champions were determined in each of the state’s three divisions last Saturday.
Division I: Second-seeded Champlain Valley (12-2-3) made its first trip to the Division I championship game a memorable one by knocking off top-seeded Hartford (15-1-1), 3-0.
Champlain Valley took a 2-0 first-half lead when Emmaleigh Loyer and Katie Longshore each converted on a penalty corner. Louise Gibbs capped the scoring in the second half.
Champlain Valley coach Kate McDonald also guided the Redhawks to the Division II title in 1998.
Division II: Top-seeded Harwood overcame a one-goal deficit to beat second-seeded Woodstock, 2-1, and complete its season with a 16-0 record.
After Woodstock, the defending Division II champion, grabbed a 1-0 lead on Callie Bellimer’s goal 3:19 into the contest, Harwood responded with goals by Jill Pierce and Karli Stempel.
Woodstock finished with a 13-4 record.
Division III: Rice claimed the Division III championship in dramatic fashion. After Heather Bradford gave Stowe (10-7) a 2-1 lead with 3:19 to play, Rice’s Emma Meyer converted a penalty corner as time expired to force overtime.
It remained a 2-2 game after two five-minute overtime periods, and Rice (14-3) then claimed the title by winning a penalty-stroke shootout, 3-1.
Alyssa Bachand, Molly McClintock and Jenna Durkee scored shootout goals for top-seeded Rice.
Soccer: The End is Near
State championships will be decided in boys and girls soccer Saturday.
The Division I boys and girls championship games will be held at Burlington High School. The Division II, III and IV championship games (boys and girls) will be played at sites to be determined.
