The Blast U15 Purple Girls improved to 3-0 on the season with a hard-fought, physical 11-5 win against a good Bedford team.

Julia Cote got the party started for the Blast 2:30 into the contest with an aggressive drive and jump shot goal assisted by Bailey Morin.

Cote would then feed Mel Hutchinson, who fired a low laser two minutes later to make it 2-0.

Taylor Guilfoil then scored for Nashua driving to goal from behind the net and evading a defender with just under 14 minutes to go in the half. Kirsten McIntire would score next unassisted to extend the lead to 4-0 at the 8:46 mark on a nice spin move in front of the net.

The Blast’s trademark slide-and-help defense was impenetrable for the first 17 minutes, as goalie Payson Mooso made three great saves before Bedford scored with three minutes left in the half. Nashua ended up taking a 4-3 lead into intermission.

In the second half, Cote wasted no time scoring her second goal after she won the draw and raced downfield, firing a hard lefty shot just 17 seconds in.

Two minutes later she fed Guilfoil, who found a hole in the defense and exploited it to push the lead back up to 6-3. With 19 minutes to go, Hutchinson passed to Kaylie Keegan who made a great catch and ripped a top-shelf goal.

The Blast scoring continued as Sarah Signorello found the back of the net on an unassisted lefty shot nearly four minutes later. Bedford scored the next two goals with their last one coming with 9:08 left.

Theresa Ellison, Maddie Sewade, Elinor Addonizio, Morin and Emily Colburn anchored the stingy defense. Morin took two charges and also had an interception. Midfielders Amelia Piercy, Lindsay Hult and Britney Pearson ran hard, played tremendous defense and transitioned the ball well all day. Piercy led the team in ground balls.

The Blast would add to its lead with eight minutes left as Hult fed Keegan for her second goal of the game making the score 9-5. McIntire scored her second goal of the game unassisted with six minutes left after a good looking face dodge freed her up to drive. Guilfoil added her third goal of the game with 3:30 left on a beautiful jump shot assisted by Keegan.

Mooso, meanwhile, finished the day with a .500 save percentage stopping 5 shots on 10 attempts. Nashua next travels to Exeter.

BULLETIN BOARD

Softball

Nashua Park-Rec Softball Clinics

The Nashua Parks and Recreation Department will be running several free softball clinics this spring, with focus on fielding, hitting, pitching and catching.

The clinics are open to any Nashua girls ages 7-15 and all clinics are free of charge.

The clinics will use a multiple station format, keeping the girls in constant motion, and will work drills for both novice and advanced skill levels.

Contact the Nashua Park-Rec office for future clinic dates.

MYA Elections

The Merrimack Youth Association (MYA) will be having elections for positions on the MYA Executive Board on May 12 at the MYA Building.

The Nominating Committee is now accepting names for the following two-year terms: vice-president, assistant secretary, and member at large.

To place a name in nomination, contact committee chairperson Gary Krupp at 424-3732 or myawrestling@gmail.com.

All volunteers and parents of an MYA participant are eligible to vote in this election. All are welcome to attend our monthly meetings, the second Thursday of every month in the MYA building.

For more information, call 424-3732.

Basketball

Milford Summer League registration

Registration for the 19th annual Milford Summer Basketball Leagues will be held at the Light of the World Christian Church on Saturday, May 7 (9-11 a.m.), Thursday, May 12 (6-8 p.m.) and Saturday, May 14 (9-11 a.m.)

Space is limited in the league (108 slots) and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Boys and girls who are either age 10-14 as of Aug. 1, 2015 or currently in grades 5-8 are eligible to sign up.

For more information go to www.msbl
hoops.com.

Football

HBJC Football and Cheer Registration

The Hollis Brookline Jr. Cavaliers Football and Cheer Program registration is open for the 2016 season.

For more information on registration please go to the website hbjrcavs.com and review the registration process located under FAQ tab as well as what forms are required.

For information regarding football, contact Fred Hubert at fhubert67@yahoo.com and for information regarding cheer, contact Robin Giaconia at argiaconia@yahoo.com.

HB Jr. Cavs Coaches Needed

The Hollis Brookline Jr Cavaliers Football and Cheer Athletic Program (HBJC) is currently seeking applications for all levels of football and cheer coaching positions.

These positions include head coaches, assistant coaches and junior demonstrators.

For information or to complete an application, go to www.hbjrcavs.com.

For football related questions, contact football director Fred Hubert at fhubert67@yahoo.com. For cheer coaching questions, contact cheer coordinator Robin Giaconia atargiaconia@yahoo.com.

Tennis

Granite State Kids Tennis Registration

Granite State Kids summer junior tennis program is currently accepting registration.

It provides tennis instruction and match play for youths ages 5-18, for all levels, beginner through competition.

Beginner play is Monday and Wednesday mornings. Intermediate practice is Tuesday morning with match play on Thursday.

The season starts June 27 and continues through Aug. 4. The season winds up with a Tennis Carnival and NH JTT State Tournament.

Registration and more information is available on www.granitestatekids.com.

Soccer

Revolution holding contest

The New England Revolution, in conjunction with Papa Gino’s, will be having its annual "Play, Eat, Score" contest that awards five local New England youth soccer teams with the prize of a visit from a Revolution player and a pizza party at their soccer practice.

Coaches, players and family members can nominate teams to win via an entry form at www.revolutionsoccer.net/play
eatscore. Winners will be selected and awarded through June.

Fundraisers

Nashua Crusaders seek donations

The Nashua Elks Crusaders, a non-profit youth football and cheer organization, is seeking help from the community in purchasing new equipment and uniforms.

Donations can be made to Nashua Crusaders P.O. Box 7248 Nashua, NH 03063. Also, for more information on sponsorship opportunities, email necpresident15@gmail.com or deniserosher@comcast.net.

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