The Nashua Seventh Grade Crusaders topped the Salem Rams in a Pop Warner quarterfinal playoff game last weekend, 19-13.

The game went back and forth all night, as it seemed like the team with the ball last would prevail. Nashua trailed 6-0 after the first quarter and led 7-6 at the half. Both teams scored again in the third quarter. Nashua pulled ahead for good in the fourth.

Defensively, Nashua received multiple tackles from Andrew Penkala (sack), Brendan Frost (sack), Brandon Martin (Sack), Max Stevens and Jaylan Paccheco. Cole Desmond, JJ Arnesen, and Mark Lagasse also had big stops during the game. Casey McNally and Zach O’Neil held back Salem’s offense with big tackles as well.

Nashua was led offensively by the team’s three headed monster of Tanner Plourde, Pacheco, and James Ferrance, each with a TD.

The Nashua offensive line was solid and powered by Braden McDonnell and Brandon Martin. Also blocking well were Arnesen, Tim Santerre, Josh McElligott, Adam Paquette, Allen Godfrey, and Quincy Cotto. Tom Cullerton, Gabe Perrault, and Alex Fortier also played well as receivers.

Nashua’s game captains were Ferrance, Stevens, and Martin.

The Seventh Grade Elks Crusaders ended their regular season with a 40-16 victory over the Hudson Bears

The Crusaders found the end zone in each quarter and received touchdowns from Andrew Penkala, James Ference, Brendon Frost (one each) and three TDs from Jaylan Pacheco The team also got extra point runs from Tanner Plourde (three) and Pacheco (one).

The Crusaders defense gave up eight points in the first quarter but then held Hudson to only eight additional points for the rest of the game. Defensively, the Elks were solid from start to finish and received big plays from Frost, who hauled in a TD after stripping the ball, and Gabe Perrault with an interception. The Elks also received multiple tackles from Zach O’Neil, Casey McNally, Cole Desmond, Mark Lagasse , Allen Godfrey, Brandon Martin, Braden McDonnell, Tom Cullerton, Alex Fortier, Max Stevens, Pacheco, Plourde, Penkala, and Ference.

The Nashua offense received strong running performances from Plourde who had a 70 yard run to set up a TD, as well as Ference and Pacheco. The Nashua offensive line was tremendous all game and was led by Josh McElligott. Also blocking well were JJ Arnesen, Tim Santerre, Adam Paquette, Allen Godfrey, and Quincy Cotto, Cullerton, McDonnell and Martin.

The game captains were Plourde, Desmond, and McNally.

YOUTH HOCKEY

Cavalier Pee Wees win

In Valley League Youth Hockey action the Southern NH Cavaliers turned in their best performance of the season defeating the Concord-Carlisle Pee Wee AAA team 6-3. Concord-Carlisle jumped out to an early 1-0 lead but the Cavs Isaac Rogers answered back off a feed from Chris Haley and Joe Roth.

The Cavs’ Austin Ciszek added the only tally in the second period to give the Cavs the 2-1 lead. The Cavs opened up the scoring early in the third with TJ Vitullo notching one from linemate Damien Barahona and Csizek added his second of the game from Nic Miller and Haley, putting the Cavs up 4-1.

However, Concord-Carlisle was not done and quickly added a pair to close the score within one. Cavalier forwards Damien Barahona, TJ Vitullo, Max Sears, Austin Ciszek, Haley and Rogers took control of the neutral zone while defensemen; Joe Roth, Sean Kelly, Ruthvik Yenisetti and Nic Miller did an excellent job with puck control in the defensive zone.

Cavs goalies Ben Goolsby and Nick Hall both had strong performances in between the pipes, making several critical saves to help preserve the lead. Rogers would add a pair of goals for the hat trick in the final two minutes cementing the victory.

Cav Squirt Blue stays unbeaten

The SNH Squirt Blue rolled over the Greater Lowell Squirts 15-2. Just seconds into the start of the game , the Cavaliers got a hooking call that resulted in Greater Lowell getting a penalty shot. Cavaliers goaltender Matthew D’Ortona stood his ground between the pipes and made the save.

Later, Greater Lowell broke in on the Cavs and scored off a rebound, going up 1-0. Andréa Ducharme stormed right back off the ensuing face off tying the game at 1-1. The Cavs found their game and mounted another quick goal from Ducharme assisted by Jack Conmy 2-1.

The Cavaliers then continued the offensive attack as forward Ryan McInnis’s soft touch pass to a streaking Chase Devins put SNH up 3-1. Cavaliers defensemen Thomas Cahill’s skillful work at the blue line put the Greater Lowell squirts offside, resulting in a neutral zone faceoff. Ducharmes’s push up ice off the faceoff gave the Cavaliers a commanding lead with his third goal (hat trick), assisted by Conmy.

Still in the first period, Ethan Gaffney put the Cavaliers up 5-1 with a wrist shot from the blue line, assisted by McInnis. Late in the period the Cavs’ Matthew MacBean scored on the power play from the point for his first goal of the season, assisted by Aidan Rowe. MacBean went on to score two more goals resulting in his first hat trick of the season. Forward Ryan Kelley’s strong play in the neutral zone helped set up an unassisted goal by Ducharme ending the first period 7-1.

SNH put up five goals in the second and three more in the third. Goals and assists went to Will Dodge (two goals and three assists), Aidan Rowe (two goals), Matthew MacBean (two goals, one assist), Ducharme and Ryan McInnis, one goal each.

The Cavaliers Beat the SMS Squirts 4-1 in the second game. At 1:28 of a defense-dominated first period, Cavalier forward Jack Conmy moved the puck up from deep in his own end to Ducharme .who went the length stick handling through the defense for a 1-0 lead.

The Cavaliers, with a short bench ,rotated three defenseman – Aidan Rowe, Thomas Cahill and Matthew MacBean. Rowe blocked an attempted clear by the SMS Squirts and played the puck to Ducharme, who scored putting the Cav’s up 2-0.

SMS offense mounted a comeback back with a rush up ice, cutting the lead 2-1. But early in the third, Rowe and Cahill killed off a 5-on-3 penalty giving the Cavs’ forward line of Ryan Bizier, Will Dodge and Matthew D’Ortona momentum. Dodge found an opening and scored, putting the Cavs up 3-1.

Goaltender Ethan Gaffney made several key saves to keep the Cavaliers on top. Nate Bizier later stole the puck , setting Ryan Bizier up for a goal with an assist going to Dodge. A potential fifth goal was disallowed due to an equipment violation.

Nashua Middle School Girls field hockey

The Nashua Middle School field hockey team recently finished out their season with a game against Andover. Zoe Fillebrown and Abbey Rowe had fantastic games in net and combined for a total of 15 saves. Eighth graders Gabby Paquet, Elise Yabroudy, Arianna Roberts, Hannah Hansen, Danielle Upton, Zoe Fillebrown, Grace Tomasetti and Abbey LeClair finished the season with a strong showing and great stick skills.

The much improved 7th grade players included Paige Callahan, Julia Gagnon, Vanessa Norton, Abbey Rowe, Victoria Gates, Sarah St Pierre, Hannah Fortin, Kayleigh Eckinrode, Calley Goulet, Emerson Martin, Stella Liakakos, Maria Alton, Michela Moffet, Natalie Green, Erin Sewell, Paula Durant and Alise Kaplan.

The future of Nashua Field Hockey were the following hard working sixth graders :Madision Sewade, Kirsten McIntire, Jazmyn Siraco, Theresa Ellison, Britney Pearson, Hannah Muchemore, Maddie Rowe, Emma Tomasetti, Kaylie Keagan, Olivia Kingston, Gabby Laferriere, Maya Krishnan and Liv Hlebichuck..

NE Future Stars hockey registration

For the first time ever, six of the NE Future Star league’s 10 franchises will be welcoming a “girls-only level” into the NEFS fold. Open to all girls from the 2000 and under age group (born after December 31, 1999), teams from Taunton, Plymouth, West Roxbury, Marlboro, Revere and Natick will now get the chance to be counted amongst those who get to call themselves “Future Stars.”

Tryouts for the boys Squirt, Peewee and Bantam levels will begin in late January, Girls U14 in Mid-February and the Varsity tryouts will begin in late March. Forr more information visit www.nefuturestars.com or call 888-74-SKATE.