SO. BURLINGTON–After tying Woodstock 2-2 in their season opener, the North Country boys hockey team was on the road facing the Wolves of South Burlington on Saturday evening.
Tied 0-0 after one, and 1-1 after two, the Falcons would strike twice in the third period while holding the Wolves scoreless to secure that all important first win of the season by the score of 3-1.
“I’m very pleased with how well we played as a team tonight,” said Falcons coach Ryan Paul. “Top to bottom of the lineup everyone was giving it their all.”
The Wolves would win the race to the scoreboard in this one, as they were able to sneak one past NCU keeper Kai Tuominen just a shade over a minute into the second period.
Three minutes later Tripp Roberge tied things up with Bode Rivard drawing the assist.
Still knotted at 1-1 two minutes into the third, Zac Griffith, who returned after missing all of last season, set up Trenton McNally for the eventual game-winning goal.
With time winding down the Falcons added a little insurance, with Zak Fortin icing the game away.
Tuominen finished the game with 23 saves for NCU.
Now standing at 1-0-1, the Falcons will return to the ice after Christmas, as they will travel to take on Spaulding on Saturday the 27th.
Puck drop is set for 3:15.
COLCHESTER–The North Country boys basketball team was on the road for the first time this season, heading west to play the Colchester Lakers by the shores of Lake Champlain.
Things would not go well for the Falcons in this one, as they found themselves trailing 17-4 after one, and from there Colchester would stay in the driver’s seat, eventually winning 59-22.
“They were just the better team on the day,” said Falcons coach Brett Roy. “We will continue to work hard every day and try to use the loss as a learning opportunity.”
The Falcons first-quarter points came on a field goal from Kasen Goulet, and free throws from Trey Patten and Scott Kingsley, who was making his season debut.
Things were a little better in the second, as the Falcon defense limited the Lakers to thirteen points, while the offence totaled seven points on Tristan LeBlanc’s first four varsity basketball points, a free throw from Gage Beaumont, and another bucket from Goulet.
The Falcons scored seven points again in third, this time with baskets from Patten, Kingsley, and Alex Lancaster, and another free throw from Beaumont.
However, Colchester dropped in 19, and this game was out of reach.
In the fourth Bryson Poginy and Talen Thurston combined for four points, and that would be all she wrote in this one.
LeBlanc and Goulet paced the team with 4 points each, while Patten, Kingsley, and Poginy each had 3.
The 0-2 Falcons will be back inaction on the 27th at home against MMU.
Tip-off is set for 12:30.