Sports Report – April 18, 2019

CVU lacrosse and tennis attack their seasons
Both men’s and women’s lacrosse teams opened the 2019 season against Rice. As was their offense last year, scoring was spread among a number of attack and midfielders for the men’s 14-7 win. Nate Cuttitta scored four goals, Jack Schaefer had two goals and five assists, another two tallies and two assists from Charlie Averill plus dual goals from Charlotte’s Sam Sturim. James Bernicke and Charlotter Max Gorman each hit the net twice and added an assist. Goalie Bobby Spencer was called upon for 10 saves.

The Redhawk women have not fared as well, losing to the Knights 14-4 in game one of the season, to South Burlington 16-7 in game two and in overtime to Burr and Burton Academy, 7-6. CVU’s Sophia Cresta paced the Hawk scorers in the opener with two goals, and goalie Lena Ashooh stopped 11 Rice shots. The loss to South Burlington followed five goals and two assists from sharp-shooter Kate Hall; Mia Bromsted netted a hat trick to lead the scoring for CVU, and goalie Ashooh’s eight saves was one better than the Wolf tender’s. Petra Kapsalis’s hat trick and Ashooh’s 18 saves still were not quite enough to avoid the loss to the BBA Bulldogs.

Not a Joseph on the court but victory just the same for women’s tennis
After having the Joseph sisters lead the way for CVU women’s tennis for a number of years, there isn’t a Joseph name in the lineup in 2019. That did not seem to deter the Redhawks, however, as they traveled to the kingdom to face St. Johnsbury Academy and came away victorious, 5-2. Sophie Dauerman, number 2 singles player last year moved to number 1 this year, led off with a 6-2, 6-3 win, followed by Kate Gruendling and Julia Grant winning third and fifth singles matches respectively. Both doubles teams also topped their Academy opponents—Charlotte’s Lindsay Beer and her partner Julia Blanck winning 6-2, 6-3, and Riley Boucher and Abigail Harkness requiring three sets before victory, 6-3, 5-7, 10-8.

Redhawks on all-star, all-state rosters
Since the snow has melted (at least momentarily), let’s look at the high school coaches’ picks for all-state Alpine ski teams. CVU women downhillers show five Redhawks on the first team and one receiving honorable mention. Charlotte’s Binney Patton joined Claire Smith and Olivia Zubarik on the first team, while Emily Marvin gained honorable mention. Turner Barbour was the only Redhawk man on the all-state roster, earning first-team honors.

On to basketball where The Burlington Free Press’ all-state teams were displayed April 12. Needless to say, several CVU names appeared as the Redhawks went through the regular season undefeated again this year, only to lose to St. Johnsbury in the Division I state championship.

A 5-foot, 7-inch sophomore guard, Catherine Gilwee was CVU’s “most prolific scorer,” according to coach Ute Otley. She stood out among shooters in a balanced attack that has been characteristic of the Redhawks for a number of seasons. Another 5-foot, 7-inch guard, junior Mekkena Boyd, earned second team honors. Otley said her strength was being unafraid to drive physically to the basket, a “component that gave our team the offensive balance that we needed.” A third guard, senior Harper Mead, gained honorable mention.

Junior Flynn Hall, captain of the women’s hockey team, received honorable mention on The Free Press all-state women’s hockey roster, and junior guard Ethan Harvey received the same honor on the men’s list.