Fall Sports Season is Wrapped in Success
by Edd Merritt

Two state titles and three near misses make the 2009 fall sport season a highly successful one for Redhawk athletes. The women cross country runners started the ball rolling for CVU this fall with a team state championship. They were followed in order by the men’s soccer title, then runner-up slots in field hockey, women’s soccer and football.

Men’s soccer shows superior skill and finesse.
It is probably due to a mix of good coaching and skills developed over a number of years, but CVU’s soccer men demonstrated the height of achievement in Vermont high school soccer this year. Charlotte’s Nick Spencer, up front, and Andrew Blake, sweeping in the backfield, excelled. Williston junior Tino Tomasi added both speed and foot skill as he chipped a neatly placed shot into the corner of the net to start CVU’s 2-0 victory over Burr and Burton Academy for the Division I title. In the semi-final blowout of BFA-St. Albans, Spencer was part of a text-perfect give-and-go that resulted in the team’s third score. The play’s beauty resided in the two quick touches that required little more than a tap into the net by Zach Blanchard.

Defense! Defense! is the chant in women’s soccer.
Strength without the ball worked in the semi-final win over Rice as the Redhawks once again kept state scoring leader and former Charlotter Brittany Pfaff off the board. Lindsay Hawley’s goal in the second half proved a winner as CVU topped the Green Knights 1-0 to move on to the finals against Burlington. Both teams displayed strong defenses in the championship game. Although CVU dominated play, a BHS goal half way through the second period proved to be the winner, even though it was the only shot on net for the Seahorses.

Football falls just short in first year of Division II.
Despite the soggy weather and wet, muddy field at Essex, CVU’s football team came within a touchdown of tying Colchester for the state title in Division II. Having won only three games in their first four years of existence, and given the relative youth of the team, the Redhawks were pleased with their progress. Charlotte freshman Tyler Barnes, called up to the varsity half way through the fall, stepped in immediately on both defense and offense.
The Redhawks clipped Mount Mansfield 21-14 to gain a spot in the final against Colchester. CVU’s offense struggled early in the game, even though they controlled play through much of the first half. Defense was key until the offense, led by junior quarterback Konnor Fleming, could get on track. Fleming paced the running attack, and Barnes scampered behind trap blocks from six yards out for the second touchdown.
Rain and sloppy field conditions were clearly factors in the final against Colchester. CVU led by six points at halftime. However, a mishandled kickoff starting the second half foreshadowed Colchester’s comeback. The Redhawks’ luck failed them again in the third quarter as a tipped pass ended up in the hands of a Laker for a touchdown. CVU’s last-ditch attempt to score in the game’s closing moments fell short as Colchester held on for a 22-14 title win.

Women cross-country runners lead Vermont in New England championships.
Division I state champions, the CVU women’s cross country team was the top Vermont squad, placing 11th overall in the New England championships held in Connecticut. Summer Spillane and Adrienne Devita placed in the first 100 individual finishers. The CVU men came in 27th overall with Charlotte’s Zach Pete again leading Redhawk runners with an 87th place finish. Zach also was named Burlington Free Press Athlete of the Week on November 6th for his state-championship victory.