Harwood Girls, Boys Soccer win spots in D-II state title matches on Saturday
November 2, 2023 | By Lisa ScagliottiUPDATE: You can watch recording of this week’s girls and boys semifinal games online at MRVTV.com.
Harwood's Steele Nelson (center) and Zachary Smith (right) celebrate a goal against Middlebury as Brycen Scharf (left) cheers. Below, Harwood striker Eloise Lilley (right) gets a hug from Quinn Nelson after landing a goal against U-32 on Tuesday. Photos by Sarah Milligan
Harwood Boys and Girls Soccer teams are both headed to the Division II State Championships on Saturday to be held at the Maxfield Sports Complex in White River Junction.
The No. 4 seed Girls Soccer team plays No. 2 Milton at 11 a.m.
The No. 3 seed Boys Soccer team plays No. 9 Rice at 2 p.m.
Both teams cleared their semifinal matches this week, winning spots in the final round of the Vermont Principals Association Tournament.
On Tuesday, the girls traveled to Williamstown High School where they met top-ranked U-32. Harwood prevailed 4-2 handing U-32 its second loss for the season after winning their first matchup as well. U-32 finishes with a season record of 13-2-1. Harwood girls, 12-4-1, now go into the title match against Milton, 14-2. The Highlander girls program has only once won a state championship – in 2010 against Milton High School. Harwood girls most recently played in the final round in 2019 when they fell to Rice Memorial.
Read the Times Argus report from Tuesday’s semifinal here and the Oct. 27 quarterfinal 2-0 win over Mt. Abe here.
The weather took a sharp turn from Saturday’s warm, sunny D-II boys state quarterfinal at home against No. 6 Stratton to snow showers in Middlebury for Wednesday’s semifinal match against the No. 2-seed Tigers. Saturday’s 4-0 win was the 15th straight for the Highlanders, teeing up a hard-fought semifinal that earned Harwood a spot in Saturday’s title game.
With a season record of 12-1-4, Harwood now meets Rice Memorial, 10-6-1, on Saturday. Harwood in 2022 competed for the division title against Montpelier and settled for runner-up. The Highlanders’ last championship win was in 2018 against Woodstock.
Read the Times Argus recap of the boys semifinal 4-3 win over Middlebury on Wednesday here and their Saturday 4-0 quarterfinal victory over Stratton here.
Also, Mad River Television now has posted video recordings of both semifinal matches from this week. Watch them online at MRVTV.com.
On the left, Zachary Smith fights to keep possession against Middlebury. In the same game, Caleb Brookens (right) keeps his eye on the ball during snow showers. Photos by Sarah Milligan
Details for Saturday’s games
Harwood Athletic Director Ian Fraunfelder shared details on Thursday for Saturday’s games.
Maxfield Sports Complex is located at 120 Lesle Drive, White River Junction.
For the 11 a.m. girls game, fans will be allowed into the venue starting at 9:30 a.m.
For the 2 p.m. boys game, fans can enter starting at 12:45 p.m.
Tickets, programs, livestream & t-shirts
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance. Sales also will happen at the field. Prices are $10 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. No screenshots of tickets will be allowed. Do not click “use ticket” after purchasing; that will be done by game staff when entering the event.
The link to purchase tickets for the girls game is here and the link for the boys game is here.
Fans who cannot make it to the games can watch a livestream online on the NFHS Network. The VPA website has a link to the livestream details here.
Tournament t-shirts will be for sale at the venue for $20, cash or Venmo.
A program for all of the championship games has been produced digitally and is available on the Vermont Principals Association’s Tournaments page here.
Harwood boys run to fans after their quarterfinal win over Stratton on Saturday, Oct. 28. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Seating
Fans are encouraged to bring chairs as bleacher seating is limited. Harwood’s fan section will be from midfield to the Harwood starting goal. The student section will have bleachers and will be located by the corner flag (no students allowed behind the goal).
After the game, rushing the field is not allowed. Award presentations are done immediately following the game. Fans will be allowed onto the field after awards.
More information is online on the Vermont Principals Association website Tournaments page.
Harwood girls join fans in a cheer after their Oct. 11 win over Stowe. Photo by Lisa Scagliotti