FOOTBALL

Crusaders take state title

The Nashua Crusaders sixth-grade football team defeated the Plymouth Huskies, 20-18 to be crowned state champions with a 10-0 record. Sunday the Crusaders, ranked 10th nationally, are representing New Hampshire in the New England Regionals, facing off against Rhode Island in the Regional Semifinals.

Nashua has outscored its opponents 298-48, winning by 28 or more points in seven of its games which were shortened by the mercy rule.

Some key members of the team, coached by Jim Summers, include QB Chris Keefe, defensive standouts Jason Compoh and Kobey Marshall, and backs Curt Harris and Michael Robbins.

SOCCER

Pennichuck unbeaten

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 Two Tri County Athletics 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 his ninth goal of the season off a right side cross by midfielder James Bolton. Nashua Catholic leveled the score at 1-1 during the 20th minute as Lucas Finn headed in a cross by Colin Miller. The score remained tied going into the halftime break.

The Raiders broke the tie in the eighth 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 ninth 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 Raiders lead to 5-1.

The defensive back line of Austin Hall, Colin McMahon, Gabe Buxton, and Mike 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, but he could not hold off the Raiders and their ball control, team oriented attack.

An elated, and somewhat relieved PMS coach Josh Downing was beaming with pride after the game.

“I am so proud of these kids!” 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.”

Pennichuck roster8th graders

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

7th graders

Ryan Downing, Mike Poublon, Rory Curran, Colin McMahon, Joey Morse, Gabe Buxton, Josh DeMoura, Andrew Schott, Justin Velazquez, Cam Maloney, Severi Sutenin.

6th graders

Connor Dunning, Quinn Hilger, Brendan McMahon, Stephen Norris.

Head coach Josh Downing, assistant coach Jeff Morse.

HOCKEY

Southern NH Cavs Squirt AA2

In Valley Hockey League competition, the Southern NH Cavalier Squirt AA2 team outscored its opponents 23-2.

First, the Cavaliers shut out the East Coast Wizards, 10-0, as defenseman Thomas Cahill and forward Jack Conmy both scored their first goals of the young season.

The Cavaliers had points by 12 of 13 players in a shutout win for goaltender Matthew D’Ortona.

The scoring was led by Will Dodge with three goals and an assist, while Colon Flood provided two goals.

Other contributors included Ryan Bizier (one goal,two assists), Cahill, Aidan Rowe and Bryson Giersch (each with a goal and an assist), Ryan Kelly and Matthew MacBean (two assists each), and Jonathan Childs, Jayke Lacasse and D’Ortona (one assist each).

The Cavaliers went on to another huge win over Concord Carlisle, 13-2 as Rowe and Childs each had four goals.

D’Ortona scored two, Isaac Windsor and Bizier had a goal each with two assist, while Dodge added a goal and an assist.

Also, MacBean and Bryson Giersch pitched in with two assists each while single assists went to Cahill and Colin Flood. Lacasse played well in goal.

Cav Squirts recover

After a tough loss to Lexington/Bedford with the winning goal coming with just a minute left to play, the Cavaliers surged back to defeat Burlington, 5-2.

Nick Bono got things started for the Cavs with an unassisted goal six minutes into the first period.

Two minutes later, Jesse Gertz and Chase Devins took advantage of a two-on-one opportunity with Gertz drawing the defender to him then passing to Devins who scored over the left shoulder of the Brookline goaltender.

The second period featured superb goaltending on both ends of the ice. Gertz and Devins struck again with just a few minutes left in the second period, this time with Devins making a blue line to blue line pass to Gertz driving to the net and scoring.

Kevin Sullivan of the Cavs scored again just minutes later on an unassisted wraparound.

Cavaliers goaltender Cavan Quinn kept Brookline off the board until late in the third period and Chase Devins added an insurance goal just prior to the buzzer on an assist from Nick Bono.

CHEERLEADING

Cavs win titles

The Hollis Brookline Jr Cavaliers Cheerleading Division 8 and Division 12 teams captured state titles at the recent New Hampshire State Cheerleading Championship at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.

The Cavs competed against 74 other teams from the state, with over a thousand athletes participating.

Both Jr. Cavalier teams will move on to the to the AYF/AYC New England Regional Championship held at Manchester’s Verizon Wireless Arena on Nov. 22.

BULLETIN BOARD

Lacrosse

Free Lacrosse Clinic at Hampshire Dome

There will be a free lacrosse clinic at the Hampshire Dome at 50 Emerson Road, Milford on Saturday, Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon for girls grades two through eight. There will be college coaches and collegiate players giving instruction. To register, go to www. GSE-Sports.com, and for more information, email mckinley.curro@gmail.com.

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 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.