Around the Granite State: Somersworth denied hockey merger

Stories from around the world of New Hampshire high school sports.

• The NHIAA denied a petition from Somersworth and Coe-Brown Northwood Academy to create a co-op boys ice hockey team for the 2011-12 season. Somersworth, the defending Division III champion, could have as few as 11 players tryout for the team this year. (Foster’s Daily Democrat)
• The Pinkerton Academy football team sits atop a couple of football power polls again this week, while Bishop Guertin dropped in both following an out-of-state loss. (Union Leader, New Hampshire Notebook)
• Keene prepares to defend its Division I golf championship, when the tournament begins on Thursday at the Nashua Country Club. (Keene Sentinel)
• The Belmont girls soccer team has learned to live with change this season, and did so Tuesday in a 5-1 win over Inter-Lakes. (Concord Monitor)
• Portsmouth picks up a big win over Merrimack Valley in Division II girls soccer action. (Portsmouth Herald)
• Somersworth and Stevens football are still on hold after a neutral field was deemed to wet to play. (New Hampshire GameDay)