Thanks in large part to a strong second half defensive effort, and an offensive explosion by Kody Lopez, the Pennichuck Middle School boys soccer team completed an undefeated Division II Tri County League season by defeating cross town rival Nashua Catholic 5-1.

The victory secured the first ever boys soccer championship for the Raiders.

Pennichuck (11-0-1) struck 40 seconds into the game to go up 1-0 as Rory Curran collected, and deposited his ninth goal of the season off a right side cross by midfielder James Bolton. Nashua Catholic leveled the score at 1 during the 20th minute as Finn Rice headed in a cross by Colin Miller. The score remained tied going into the halftime break.

The Raiders broke the tie in the eigth minute of the second half when Bolton sent a ball into the right corner that Lopez crossed to a waiting Tyler Downing at the far post. Downing knocked in his eighth goal of the season to give the Raiders a lead they would not relinquish.

The next nine minutes belonged to Lopez. He scored the first of his goals at the 17 minute mark off a throw-in by Downing, and then struck again just one minute later off a feed from Thiago Ferreira. Lopez finished off his hat trick with his 15th goal of the season in the 26th minute off a cross from Downing, pushing the Raider lead to 5-1.

The defensive back line of Austin Hall, Colin McMahon, Gabe Buxton, Joey Morse, and Michael Poublon helped goalie Matt Wall stifle the Nashua Catholic offensive attack, with Wall continuing his season-long dominance in net. Wall finished the season with seven shutouts, and a 0.45 goals against average to help lead Pennichuck to the title.

Goalie Cam Tomko played valiantly in net for the 9-3-1 Nashua Catholic team.

“I am so proud of these kids,” PMS coach Josh Downing said. “Regardless of how much playing time they were receiving, they always showed up to practice ready to work.

“We had 25 kids on the roster and it was a pleasure getting the chance to coach each and every one of them. This was a very special team to be a part of!”

The full Pennichuck roster includes:

Eighth graders – Tyler Downing, James Bolton, Thiago Ferreira, Matt Wall, Kody Lopez, Austin Hall, Alex Kedzierski, John Mendes, Gio Navarrette, and Andrew Frost.

Seventh graders – Ryan Downing, Michael Poublon, Rory Curran, Colin McMahon, Joey Morse, Gabe Buxton, Josh DeMoura, Andrew Schott, Justin Velazquez, Cam Maloney, and Severi Sutenin.

Sixth graders – Connor Dunning, Quinn Hilger, Brendan McMahon, and Stephen Norris.

BULLETIN BOARD

Registrations

Nashua Sports Academy
open for business

The Nashua Sports Academy is are now accepting registrations for the following programs:

C4 Youth Flag Football Program Boys/Girls ages 8-14; Youth Rec League Hoops Boys/Girls ages 7-14; C4 Indoor Soccer Boys/Girls ages 6-13; Youth Lacrosse Skill and Drills Boys/Girls ages 8-15;Youth Girls Field Hockey Skills and Drills ages 11-15; C4 Baseball Infield Skills and Drills Boys ages 10-18; and NSA Men’s Mon Night Indoor Hoop League (A/B/C Divisions).

Also, C4 Performance Training for Youth Athletes (10-22 years old), Adults (23 and up), and private workouts. For information, click on http://nashuasports
academy.com/new.php.

Baseball

NH Knights openings

The New Hampshire Knights have a few openings for their 13U team that finished third in the New England AAU Regionals last year as a 12U team. This team will be attending Baseball Heaven in New York in the spring. All home games are played at Academy Field in Hollis, so there is little travel.

Features of the program include twice a week off-season training with a flexible schedule, camps and clinics for specific positional play, complete uniform and a strength and conditioning component. Ages are determined May 1, 2015.

Contact Coach Loftus for a tryout at nashuabaseballacademy@comcast.net or call 603-233-5587 Financial aid is available based on financial need. For more information, go to www.nashua
baseballacademy.com.

NH Grizzlies openings

The New Hampshire Grizzlies U14 baseball team has a few openings left for the 2015 season.

This is a full year program with winter workouts starting in October. Managers are not parents and all practices are at the team’s private indoor facility.

For more information, email teamnhbaseball@comcast.net or call 577-1772.

Over 100 members have played on collegiate teams at all three divisions, some with scholarships.

John Roper pitching lessons

The John Roper Pitching School, run by the former Major Leaguer and Nashua Pride hurler begins in November, consisting of private and semi-private pitching lessons.

Pitching classes include pitchers fielding practice, pick off moves, covering bunts etc. There is a maximum of 10 students per class. Group pitching lessons will be a maximum of six students. For more information, go to leaguelineup. com/teamgid or email jcrope1@yahoo.com.

Softball

NH Hammerheads seek players

The NH Hammerheads Softball Club, a competitive travel softball program in the Manchester area, is looking for a few 16U players to fill their 2014-2015 roster.

If interested, please contact Andrea to schedule a individual tryout at nhhammerheads@yahoo.com or 860-6872.

Comets 16U White has openings

The New Hampshire Comets 16U White ASA softball team is looking to add a pitcher, a catcher, and a strong infielder to our roster for the 2015 season. Contact Comets manager Bill Varnell at wdv1@comcast.net or 219-5452

Comets 16U Blue needs catcher

NH Comet 16U Blue Fastpitch team is looking for a catcher to share duties for the 2015 season. The Comets are based out of Bow with winter workouts at New England College.

Those interested or looking for more information can email manager Peter Jenovese at pjeno@msn.com or text at 724-5023.