With its first two matches of the 2016 season under its belt, it looks like the Londonderry High girls’ soccer squad is going to be a productive and exciting team to watch this fall. Veteran coach Derek Dane’s Lady Lancers got the campaign rolling last week by routing the Spaulding High Lady Red Raiders in Rochester and then rebounding from a halftime deficit to wallop the visiting Winnacunnet High Lady Warriors and begin the season with a 2-0 record.
In the season-opening road match at Rochester Tuesday, Oct. 30, the Lady Lancers potted a half-dozen goals in collecting a convincing, 6-0 victory.
Londonderry potted its first two goals of the contest with Gretchen McGrath and Sammi LeClair doing the scoring, and Emmy Dumaresq setting both of them up. The locals then put the match away for good and all in the second half with LeClair bagging her second and third goals of the day, Ali Nelson scoring once, and freshman Olivia Stowell netting her first varsity goal in her first varsity game. Stowell also assisted on a tally, as did Sarah Desmarais and Devyn Enwright.
The victorious locals pounded 20 shots on the Spaulding net, and LHS goalie Ryann Boudreau made three stops in helping her side to its first shutout. In its home-opener against Winnacunnet of Hampton Friday afternoon, Sept. 2, the Lady Lancers showed their ability to rebound from a deficit by coming back from a 2-1 deficit to win 4-2.
Freshman standout Stowell bagged the first Londonderry goal – helping her team knot the score at 1-1 – with an outstanding shot from long range, just out of reach of the Warrior goaltender. Dumaresq got the assist. But the Lady Warriors scored again in the 35th minute of the period to carry a lead to the half.
The hosts managed three unanswered goals in the second half to snag the 4-2 win. Those markers were managed by Desmarais (assisted by Erin Barnes), Hailey Laliberte (from Stowell), and Andi Nelson (from Kat Rivard) as the local girls remained undefeated. LHS keeper Boudreau contributed two saves in the winning effort. The Lady Lancers rolled into this week looking at contests against Bishop Guertin in Nashua on Tuesday, Sept. 6 after Londonderry Times press time, and then at home against Concord this Friday, Sept. 9.
Caption: Lady Lancer standout Samantha LeClair makes her way down field against Winnacunnet defensive pressure late last week.
Photo by Chris Paul