Seven area soccer players participated in Saturday’s Twin State Lions Cup all-star games featuring top players from New Hampshire and Vermont. In the boys’ game, New Hampshire lost, 5-2; in the girls’ game, the Granite State was defeated, 1-0. Both games were played at Hanover High School’s Merriman-Branch Field.

Area participants included Aaron Barrieau (Bow), Colby Boissy (Hopkinton), Colby Smith (Bow), Somer Loto (Coe-Brown), Melody Couturier (John Stark), Whitney Vaillant (Concord) and Sidney Roberge (Bow).

Among the notable headlines, area goalkeepers Barrieau and Boissy had the chance to play together in the boys’ game.

Although five goals was certainly far more than either keeper hoped to allow, both stood out among area goalies during the 2023 season.

Barrieau backstopped Bow to a Division II state championship, while Boissy stood on his head in a tough loss to Campbell in the Division III semifinals last fall.

Both saw Saturday as a welcomed opportunity to learn more about the game of soccer.

“Goalie is one of those positions where you don’t play with them, so I enjoyed being around him,” Barrieau said of playing with Boissy. “He’s a great kid. He made some good saves. He definitely deserved to be there. He was very good.”

Added Boissy: “It was great. It was an unreal experience. Just playing with all the best players in the state, coming from D-III, you don’t get to play with that type of skill a lot. Getting to get in there in the second half was great.”

Barrieau will continue his soccer career at NHTI, while Saturday was Boissy’s last time playing organized soccer, for now at least, as he pursues a career in the trades.