Telegraph photo by TOM KING Hollis Brookline's Paige Mello, left, and Souhegan's Alexis Yakovakis during Saturday's 2-0 Cavs win in Amherst.

AMHERST – The Hollis Brookline High School girls soccer team was one of the best in the area last fall.

And you know what? The Cavaliers just may be that again, as they looked polished Saturday in edging area rival Souhegan 2-1 in the season opener for both at Saber Field.

The win gave the Cavs a soccer sweep, as the HB boys team edged Souhegan 1-0 in the first game of the twinbill.

You’d figure that both girls teams, with no scrimmaging allowed during the 10-day preseason, would have kinks to work out.

“We feel great, and we were concerned about that,” Cavs coach Peter Clarke said. “Our last regular season game was here last year on this turf, and the challenge was step out. We have all but one starter had been on the team last year, so we said ‘Let’s maintain that kind of shape, that coordination’, which we did.”

The Cavs got a first half goal by Paige Magnuszewski, partially deflected but with enough force to still get past Sabers keeper Hunter Stonebreaker (six saves). That was all the scoring in the first 40 minutes.

But then Rene LeBlanc, the Cavs’ leading goal scorer last season, got a huge goal out of the gate in the second half, just 1:01 in, with an assist from Sophia Warren, for a 2-0 lead.

“That second goal we felt really good about, two passes for a wide open finish,” Clarke said. “If you play like that, one or two times it’s going to pay off.”

“I think that can often deflate the sails a little bit,” Hansberry said. “But I thought the girls responded well, we were able to get one back and we kind of pushed back toward the end of the game.”

Yes, Saber Natalie Patnaude made things interesting as she scored a rebound goal during a flurry in front of HB keeper Maggie Crooks (four saves) at 10:25 of the second half, cutting things to 2-1. Jackie Hayden got the assist.

“I think we responded pretty well,” Sabers first-year head coach Steve Hansberry, a former Souhegan boys assistant. “We made some adjustments at the half. We made it a competitive game. First game of the season, hopefully we can be competitive.”

The Sabers certainly looked like they will be. With just under three minutes remaining, Saber Anna Goyette made a nice rush but was turned away by HB back Nicole Heiter.

Clarke also said he challenged first year varsity player Maddie Boudreau, a freshman, to mark arguably the Sabers best overall striker, Greta Caulton, “and she did. All game long and her teammates backed her up. I think that was the key in our ability to contain Souhegan.”

No matter the winner, both teams were just glad to be playing competitively.

“I think the girls are really greatful to get out and play, just have some soccer,” Hansberry said, “which is great.”

“The most important thing for me this year is to just watch nice soccer being played,” Clarke said. “These guys nailed that today.”

XXXXXXXX

In the boys game, HB senior Liam Troddyn scored the game’s lone goal from on top of the 18-yard box off a Hunter Crea pass.

Cavs goalie Jackson Koopman got two saves for the shutout in his first varsity start while Ethan Smith, Danny Sattler, and Jesse Gerts also helped contribute to the HB win.

Ethan Littlefield, Ethan Lim and Joe Bemasconi played well for the Sabers.

XXXXXXX

In other games played Friday and Saturday:

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

MILFORD 3,

CAMPBELL 2

The Spartans, who took a 2-0 lead by identical 25-19 set scores, took the needed fifth set 15-7 after the Cougars rallied with 25-21 and 25-20 wins to even the match.

Izzy Unsworth led the way for Milford with 12 kills, eight aces and 20 digs. Also helping out were Emma Tronkowski (13 assists, nine digs, three aces), Sophie Palmer (19 digs) and Lilly Worrall (10 digs, five aces).

For the Cougars, Tori Allen, Morgan Bruner, Catherine Carignan and Chloe Steiniger all played well.

FIELD HOCKEY

HOLLIS BROOKLINE 6,

MILFORD 1

The Cavaliers rolled in the season opener for both with the scoring spread around. Delaney Weimer netted two goals, while Kaitlyn Castriotta, Sam Croteau, Valerie Labak, Ann Marie Trembly, and Allie Wood all chipped in with one a piece.

Cavs goalie Devon Kuchta commanded the defense from the cage.

The Cavs will take on the Souhegan Sabers next Saturday at home.

Milford’s lone goal was scored on a penalty corner by Allison Demmons with an assist by Ella Forrence.

Milford freshman goalkeeper Aliah Gagnon was constantly busy, making 14 saves.

BOYS SOCCER

MILFORD 2,

PELHAM 0

The Spartans got goals from Noah Matthews and Sam Williams, while Conor Sullivan assisted on both.

Milford keeper Reilly Hansen needed to make just one save as the Spartans pumped 12 shots on goal.

Newsletter