High Schools: Leonard leads Bow boys’ soccer to OT win vs. MV

• Merrimack Valley goalie Mason Boudreau knocks the ball away for a save against Bow during Friday’s game. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

• Bow’s Dan Leuchtenberger (18) collides with Merrimack Valley’s Jack Davis (4) while going for a ball during the first half of a Division II boys’ soccer match on Friday in Bow. The Pride struck first, but the Falcons battled back in the second half and won, 2-1, in overtime. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

• Merrimack Valley goalie Mason Boudreau gets some help from midfielder Matt Renfors as they both knock the ball away for a save against Bow on Friday, September 27, 2019 GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

• Bow’s Matt Selleck (6) battles Merrimack Valley midfielder Matt Renfors for the ball during the first half on Friday, September 27, 2019. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

BOW – Ryan Leonard didn’t know if anyone was there. The Bow junior blindly crossed the ball into the box and back up field, hoping one of his teammates was making a run. Matt Selleck answered his hopes.

“Someone has to be there,” Selleck said.

After sprinting from midfield to be there, Selleck one-timed Leonard’s bouncing pass with his left foot and tucked it inside the near post and just out of the reach of Merrimack Valley’s outstanding goalie, Mason Boudreau, giving the Falcons a 2-1 overtime win on Friday.

“Great win because MV is a quality team,” Bow coach George Pinkham said.

It’s also a good rebound win for the Falcons (5-2-1), who were coming off a 3-0 loss to Lebanon. Plus, it’s a local rivalry, and these two teams are jockeying for position near the top of the Division II standings. The Pride is now 6-3 after dropping three of its last four – at Milford (3-2 on Sept. 17) vs. Oyster River (4-0 on Sept. 21) and at Bow.

“When you face a top team like (Bow), a team that steps to every ball and wants every ball, you’ve got to match them step for step, and we just haven’t done that,” MV coach Ken Fuller said. “We didn’t do it against Oyster River, we didn’t do it against Milford and we didn’t do it again here today.”

They did, however, take advantage of an early opportunity for a goal against the run of play. A Bow foul gave the Pride a free kick from 35 yards out, and Matt Renfors dropped the ball perfectly into the mixer at the far post. MV senior Logan Cassin worked through the crowd to touch it home and give the Pride a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute.

The Falcons pressured throughout the first half with midfielders Matt Ferland and Dan Leuchtenberger buzzing all over and creating chances for the team, but no one could find the finishing touch against a gritty Pride defense in the first half. Boudreau (10 saves) stopped multiple shots that looked like goals, including two from Leuchtenberger. And the MV keeper got last-ditch help from Renfors, Dylan Campbell and Jesse Hirwa, who all made plays to break up golden scoring opportunities for Bow.

So the Falcons carried that 1-0 deficit into halftime, and they weren’t happy about it.

“I personally thought I didn’t play a very good first half, so I was a bit upset at halftime and some of my teammates were upset, too, being down 1-0 and coming off a loss in our last game,” Leonard said. “So we just wanted to turn the momentum around.”

Leonard did just that eight minutes into the second half when he ripped a wicked shot from 25 yards that tied things at 1-1. Moments before, Leonard had run into open space in the box and was calling for the ball, but he didn’t get it. So when it came to him just outside the box, Leonard figured he’d better shoot while he had the chance.

“I had some space and not many people were open, so I just decided to take a shot and it happened to dip under the bar,” Leonard said.

The Falcons had more possession for the rest of the second half, but not the kind of advantage they enjoyed in the first 40 minutes. MV’s Coby Mercier and Cassin created several good chances, but Bow keeper Kyle Martin and the Falcon defense were up to the task. Mercier even got behind Martin on one play, but Bow’s Connor Wachsmuth was there to cover.

The Falcons looked ready to score at the end of regulation, particularly Ethan Berrigan, who had one wicked shot stopped by the cross bar and another by Boudreau in the final three minutes. Berrigan didn’t get discouraged, and it was his well-weighted pass to Leonard that started the game-winning play in the third minute of overtime.

After gathering Berrigan’s pass, Leonard held off a MV defender, took a touch around him and then cut his cross back through the box just before he went out of bounds. The ball was out of Boudreau’s reach, and when it went past the Pride keeper, the only one running onto it was Selleck, who didn’t miss the finish.

“That was a big-time play by Ryan Leonard in game that felt like a tournament game, really, and that’s the kind of play it takes to win a tournament game,” Pinkham said. “And for (Selleck), the left-footed finish was great, but just being there to get the pass was the big-time play.”

(Tim O’Sullivan can be reached at 369-3341 or [email protected] or on Twitter @timosullivan20)Football

Bow 33, Gilford-Belmont 6

Key players: Bow – Steven Guerrette (2 TD, 2 INT), Andrew Bliss (2 INT), Sebastian Beaulieu (passing TD, rushing TD), Cooper Larrabee (receiving TD), Hunter Laflamme (blocked punt), Chris Wheeler (TD),

Highlights: Touchdowns from Guerrette and Larabee gave the Falcons a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, and that went to 26-0 by halftime. Wheeler scooped up Laflamme’s blocked punt and scored in the third quarter to make it 33-0. Gilford-Belmont found the end zone later in the third – it was the first touchdown the Bow defense has allowed this season.

Records: Bow 4-0; Gilford-Belmont 1-3

Girls’ Soccer

Coe-Brown 10, Manchester West 0

Key players: Coe-Brown – Morgan Burnap (2G, A), Izzy Myers (2G, A), Sophie Laird (G, 2A), Sam Troy (G, 2A), Corinne Fernald (G, A), Lain Welch (G), Jaden Boulanger (G), Kendall Nester (G), Mary Thoms (A)

Highlights: Manchester West held tight for 20 minutes but the pace of play took its toll as Coe-Brown struck for five goals before the half. The midfield for the Bears controlled the game moving forward.

Coach’s quote: “This was a total team effort and the unselfish play was excellent. With eight different players scoring and ball movement throughout, we were able to get everybody involved. We need some momentum to head into the last half of the season.” – Coe-Brown’s Josh Hils

Records: Coe-Brown 3-5; Manchester West 0-9

ConVal 1, Merrimack Valley 0

Key players: Merrimack Valley – Alyssa Woodman (forward), Hayley Kenney (midfield), Elizabeth Philbrook (defense)

Highlights: ConVal scored with two minutes left in the first half on a bouncing ball that went off a defender that was finished over the keeper in the box.

Coach’s quote: “A well-played game by both teams, but a tough loss for us. ConVal played very well defensively and has a few skilled players that drive the ball well. We generated some quality chances but just couldn’t capitalize. ” – Merrimack Valley’s Nick D’Agostino

Records: ConVal 5-3-0; Merrimack Valley 3-5-0

Field Hockey

Bow 3, Hollis Brookline 0

Key players: Bow – Sarah Guerrette (2G), Madeleine Kropp (G), Megan Lavigne (A), Jocelyn Webber (midfield), Falon Labrecque (forward, midfield), Sarah Vozzella (defense)

Coach’s quote: “We had a slow start this afternoon, but we found our rhythm, especially in the second half. Once we settled in we had great play from everyone on the team.” – Bow’s Rebecca Cleary

Records: Bow 4-4; Hollis Brookline 0-8

Merrimack Valley 4, Pembroke 0

Key players: Merrimack Valley – Alexa Prewitt (G), Caitlyn Fortier (G), Reilly Swislosky (G), Molly McLaughlin (G)

Highlights: Merrimack Valley scored once in the first half when Prewitt put the ball in the net after a scrum in the middle of the circle. MV moved the ball much better in the second half, executing on shots from McLaughlin and Swislosky. Fortier also put one in the goal off a rebound, and Ellie Doody played solid on defense making several key stops.

Coach’s quote: “We came out very slow today. We weren’t moving the ball like we should have been. The second half we were much better with our ball possession and aggressive play in the circle.” – MV’s Jen Colgan

Records: Merrimack Valley 3-5; Pembroke 0-8

Bishop Brady 7, Littleton 0

Key players: Bishop Brady – Libbey Hicks (2G, A) Ashlyn Toupin (2G, 2A), Halle Laramie (G, 2A), Jill Weaver (G, A), Becca Murphy (G, A), Julie Blais (2 saves, shutout) Littleton – Emily Tholl (14 saves)

Highlights: The Green Giants stormed out to a 4-0 lead by halftime and cruised to the victory.

Coach’s quote: “Great team win with contributions from every member of the team this afternoon. Their journey continues along with the confidence they are all developing with one another.” – Bishop Brady’s Kelly Owen

Records: Bishop Brady 8-1-0; Littleton 1-7-0

Golf

Bow 74, Stevens 59, Laconia 41,

Key players: Matt Lamy (medalist, 23 points), Jake Mielcarz, Cam Evans, Amelia Soucy

Coach’s quote: “Lamy played one of the best rounds for us this year on Thursday. The conditions were brutal and he stayed mentally tough the whole round. Love that our team overcame the challenge of the weather and continues to play well.” – Bow’s Matthew Davis

Records: Bow 20-1

Girls’ Volleyball

John Stark 3, Pelham 0

Key players: John Stark – Lillian Stogner (11 kills, 3 aces), Riley Lord (7 kills, 5 aces, 13 digs), Paige Hamel (5 digs, 1 kill), Lauren Desrosiers (first kill, 2 aces)

Highlights: John Stark took an early lead in the first set and cruised to the win, 25-19. The second set was a battle, but John Stark calmed down and served out the set for the 25-23 win. John Stark took control in the third and final set and breezed to a 25-9 win to close the match as all players received some playing time.

Coach’s quote: “Great first half of the season. I couldn’t be more excited about the way we’re playing. Hopefully we can keep our momentum through the second half and into the playoffs.” – John Stark’s Jeff McClellan

Records: John Stark 7-1; Pelham 1-7

Milford 3, Coe-Brown 1

Key players: Coe-Brown – Anneliese Wade (12 kills), Niki Smith (9 kills, 3 blocks, 5 digs), Abby Jerome (9 kills, 13 digs), Kaitlyn Miller (31 assists, 3 aces)

Highlights: The Bears kept things close against a tough Milford team before falling, 28-26, 25-19, 14-25, 25-17.

Coach’s quote: “We knew Milford would be strong and came ready to battle tonight. The team had a goal of starting strong and did just that. They fought through long rallies and some deficits to put up a solid offensive and defensive effort. When the team is aggressive, they are hard to stop. ” – Coe-Brown’s Renee Zobel

Records: Milford 7-1; Coe-Brown 5-3

Prospect Mountain 3, Franklin 0

Key players: Franklin – Raquel McCoy (4 kills), Fayth Kaspak (6 kills), Abby Sylvester (8 service points)

Records: Prospect Mountain 7-0; Franklin 2-5