Girls’ soccer: Kearsarge comfortably beats Hillsboro-Deering, 5-0

Midfielder Carly Grant (8) leads the pack during first-half action against Hillsboro-Deering on Tuesday.

Midfielder Carly Grant (8) leads the pack during first-half action against Hillsboro-Deering on Tuesday. GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff

Teammates surround Bella Collins (center laughing) after she scored a goal against Hillsboro-Deering on Tuesday.

Teammates surround Bella Collins (center laughing) after she scored a goal against Hillsboro-Deering on Tuesday. GEOFF FORESTER photos / Monitor staff

Kearsarge forward Katie Walkinshaw shoots against Hillsboro-Deering goalie Alexis LaPorte.

Kearsarge forward Katie Walkinshaw shoots against Hillsboro-Deering goalie Alexis LaPorte.

By ALEXANDER RAPP

Monitor staff

Published: 10-02-2024 1:23 PM

Modified: 10-02-2024 9:58 PM


NORTH SUTTON – Senior midfielder Carly Grant’s hat trick was the highlight of a stellar outing on home soil by Kearsarge to beat Hillsboro-Deering, 5-0, on Tuesday afternoon.

She opened the scoring on a solo run and finished easily one-on-one with the goalkeeper, Alexis LaPorte. Her other two goals came from similar situations late in the second half where she weaved through the back line and found pockets in the goal.

“There were freshmen that were open, and I would have rather seen them score, so I was trying for that. But when you see an open goal, you see an open goal,” said Grant.

The Cougars (5-3-1) had possession of the ball, scored three goals and were able to contain advances by Hillsboro-Deering (0-8-1) past midfield in the first half. The team moved the ball well at the top of the box, and although the Hillcats’ back line of Molly Smart, Stacia Murdough, Emery Greene and Penelope Bowes closed in well on many balls they could not fully contain the attack.

“Our girls competed hard and stayed positive through the game. Kearsarge had a strong offensive presence, but our midfield and defense did a great job trying to adjust positioning to limit their chances. I am proud of the efforts from today,” said Hillsboro-Deering head coach Jenna Rheault.

Sophomore defender Bella Collins scored the second goal on a masterful overlapping run on the right side and sent a rocket into the top right corner of the near post assisted by midfielder Ava Shapiro.

“I think our passing today was really good, and I think our team effort is starting to come together after our loss to Gilford. I think our hopes were down, and a game like this just really brings us together as a team, and makes everyone get in the play,” said Grant. “Everyone was passing, everyone was taking shots.”

Senior midfielder and captain Ellie Wimer scored the third from a long shot that rolled into the far right corner shortly after, and with that lead Kearsarge was positioned to manage the game.

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“Effort was definitely an improvement over our last game, last couple games, actually. The energies building back up, the positive talk and communication really helped work the ball around,” said Cougars head coach David Smith.

The Hillcats’ goalkeeper LaPorte had a heavy workload with 26 saves throughout the game and was very secure in goal despite the score.

“We’re very fortunate because we have a very solid goalie. We do have a lot of young players in the back, so just teaching them how to support each other, how to hinge backwards, to support each other,” said Jenna Rheault.