Edd’s Sports Report

Champlain Valley Union High School senior Tori Bergstein of Charlotte with the CVU varsity and JV volleyball team members at the Spin for Celiac. Bergstein raised more than $9,500 for celiac disease research as her Graduation Challenge project. She combined her interest in medicine and her love for her sister, Rachel, who has celiac disease. Her successful spin-a-thon for celiac disease research was held at The Edge in Essex on Sunday, Sept. 17.

Sports at CVU “ain’t what they used to be!”
As we move along in the fall sports season, it is interesting to note in the years since my sons played for the then “Crusaders” how new teams have developed. Both of them played soccer in the days when CVU actively focused on the sport, both men and women. “Soccer Central’s” men’s coach managed to keep football off the gridiron for fear of losing some of his players. Golf and volleyball were not yet on the horizon. I believe field hockey had begun, even though it held the lower hand, and cross-country running was gaining real prominence. I am going back to the 1990s, however, which seems a century ago

Women’s soccer has yet to hear the word “lose”
This year the Redhawk women’s soccer team stands without a loss through the end of September, even though it took two overtimes Saturday to finally beat South Burlington 1-0 on Sara Kelly’s goal. Prior to that, CVU gained a shutout over Essex, 2-0. Charlotte Hill and Natalie Durieux were the two goal scorers, but, again, the Redhawk defense stood its ground, as two goalies combined for only one save while the Essex tender was called upon for 18. The same sort of strong midfield play was apparent in the Hawks’ previous win against South Burlington as the two CVU goalies combined for three stops, the Wolves’ goalie, 15.

Men’s soccer bites the pipe for the first time
While their female counterparts rolled over the Hornets in a shutout, the men, too, ended in a shutout but at the wrong end. Essex gained a 1-0 win to split the season series with CVU at one game apiece. Both goalies made five saves, showing the closeness of the contest.

Back from an injury, Nate Coffin shows his stamina
The Burlington Free Press sports section of September 27 featured Nate Coffin, a CVU soccer senior who returned this year from a season-ending leg injury last year in which he suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg from crashing with an Essex player. As of the Free Press article, midfielder Coffin had scored three goals while adding two assists.

CVU golfers are Northern Vermont Athletic Conference (NVAC) champions
Thirteen high schools sent golfers to the NVAC Championships in Williston near the end of September. CVU came out victorious through its consistency. Ben Gramling and Hank Caswell needed only 83 strokes over 18 holes; Andrew Wilkinson and Nate Godbout each shot 84s. The medalist from South Burlington shot a very low 77.

In a women’s tournament at West Bolton, the Redhawks placed second among seven schools, paced by Elena Godbout’s 48 for nine holes, followed by a 67 from Alexander Wainer.

Field Hockey stays even
After splitting its late September games into a win and two losses, the Redhawk field hockey team stood at three wins and four losses at the end of the month. Their final loss came at the hands of Essex who, through the 2-0 win, extended their victory streak to seven. In the prior game, a late period 2-1 win over Colchester on Lydia Maitland’s penalty-corner, CVU had evened its year series to date.

Coaches rank CVU women’s cross-country team number 1 in the state.
CVU runners are gearing up for the state and the New England tournaments as two of their top runners from last year’s team that took both tournament titles will return.

Burlington passes CVU by in football
Passing was the name of the game for both teams last Friday as the Seahorses bested the Redhawks 27-7 on the Hinesburg field. The win helped Burlington improve its season record to five victories and no defeats. It is fair to say that CVU was without its starting quarterback, Graham Walter, and its starting split end, Liam McCue. Back-up QB Jake Sweeney did throw a 66-yard pass to Tommy Zych that knotted the game in the second quarter. CVU’s running game, however, was stymied by the Burlington front seven who made the Redhawks rely on passing. The Seahorse defense down field was stubborn.