Merrimack Valley, Bow advance to D2 field hockey final

EXETER - Brianna Durgin scored the game's only goal to lead No. 4 Merrimack Valley past No. 8 Souhegan, 1-0, in the Division II field hockey semifinals Thursday at Bill Ball Stadium in Exeter.

No. 3 Bow knocked off No. 2 St. Thomas, 2-1, in the other semifinal, meaning the Falcons and the Pride will meet at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Bedford High School in the Division II championship game.

Durgin's goal came with 8:47 left in the game, on a play that developed in a somewhat odd fashion. When she got the ball near midfield, Durgin found no one in front of her, so she decided to run with when it. She whiffed on her first shot attempt, but recovered quickly.

"I missed it at first, but my first instinct was to push it again," Durgin said. "I didn’t think it was going to go in but it did. My goal was to just get up the field, but when no one was there, I figured I’d just carry it all the way."

In the other semifinal, Bow became just the second team this season to score more than one goal against St. Thomas, doing so in a span of less than four minutes in the second half. The Falcons then held on the rest of the way to reach the championship game.

Sabers fall in semis - Nashua Telegraph

Bow ousts St. Thomas in semis - Foster's Daily Democrat