Around the Granite State: Bow field hockey advances in D2 playoffs

Ella Gray scored two goals Thursday to help lead the Bow High School field hockey team to a 2-0 win over Hanover in the Division II preliminary round.

Gray put the No. 6 Falcons (11-4) up 1-0 in the second quarter, scoring off a feed from Maia Kimball. In the third quarter, a shot by Josie Johnson was deflected by Shire Kelley and then tipped in by Gray to give Bow a 2-0 lead over the No. 11 Bears (7-7-3).

Kimball was strong in the midfield, creating scoring opportunities, while freshman Madelyn Hebert played her best game of the season, leading the defense, along with goalie Kayla Croscut.

Bow will take on No. 3 Oyster River in the quarterfinals Sunday at 2 p.m.

No. 8 Portsmouth 3, No. 9 Merrimack Valley 1

Sydney Moreau and Audrey Walsh each had a goal and an assist to lead the Clippers to a playoff win over the Pride.

Clara Daw also scored, giving Portsmouth (9-5-1) a 1-0 lead with 5:40 remaining in the first quarter, and with Shiloh Weinstein getting an assist. Kaiya Mercier tied the game for Merrimack Valley (7-6-2), scoring off a feed from Jules Guertin just 2:09 into the third.

Walsh scored, off an assist from Moreau, just 2:21 later to give Portsmouth the lead for good, and Moreau added an insurance goal with 1:03 remaining in the game. Walsh and Weinstein each had an assist.

Reese McCauley made four saves for the Clippers while Irie Weinstein, Maggie Conklin and Sam Ruel played well defensively.

Portsmouth advances to face No. 1 John Stark in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Sunday.

No. 3 Oyster River 3, No. 14 Pembroke 0

The Bobcats dominated possession for most of the game to get the playoff win over the Spartans.

Mia Weglarz gave Oyster River (12-3) the only goal it would need in the first quarter, scoring off a feed from Olivia Anderson.

Eliza Farrell made it 2-0 in the second quarter, with Nora Rogers picking up an assist, and Sadie McLeod added a goal off a penalty corer in the third.

The Bobcats defensive effort was strong enough goalie Brooke Emond had just one save.

Oyster River hosts No. 6 Bow in the quarterfinals at 2 p.m. Sunday.

No. 4 Souhegan 1, No. 12 Derryfield 0

Ori Dart had the game’s only goal to help the Sabers advance in the playoffs past the Cougars.

Caitlin Ridings had an assist on the goal for Souhegan (11-2-2).

Souhegan moves on to the quarterfinals, where it will host No. 5 Goffstown at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Girls Volleyball

Hollis Brookline 3, Nashua North 0

The Cavaliers wrapped up the regular season with a sweep of the Titans. Game scores were 25-23, 25-20 and 25-18.

Annette Schlunk had 10 kills, three blocks and four aces while Anika Carlson had five kills and three blocks for HB (16-2). Maggie Noble had five kills and two aces and Maia Schnieder had 11 digs and three aces.