Lebanon
Finally: Lebanon captures first boys soccer state title in 30 years
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 Look… if you had one shot, or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted, in one moment Would you capture it, or just let it slip? – “Lose Yourself”, Eminem (2002) NASHUA – Lebanon High senior Krists Putans munched on an oatmeal cookie Friday…
Read MoreCan longtime rivals create a hometown advantage on the road?
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 Interstate 89 South traffic will be a bit busier than usual Friday afternoon. That’s because the Hanover High and Lebanon boys soccer teams are playing for state titles, back-to-back at Nashua’s Stellos Stadium, the Marauders in NHIAA Division I and the Raiders in Division II. Third-seeded Lebanon faces…
Read MoreRaiders break through Knights’ armor, advance to state soccer finals
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 NASHUA, N.H. – Rob Johnstone couldn’t believe it. The longtime Lebanon High boys soccer coach had seen his third-seeded team utterly dominate Kingswood during the first half of a Tuesday NHIAA Division II semifinal at Stellos Stadium and now… this? On the artificial turf, Raiders netminder Easton Wykes…
Read MoreLebanon boys punch semifinal soccer ticket via penalty kicks
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 LEBANON – Twilight descended Friday afternoon as Lebanon High soccer standout Ryan Oliveira prepared for a penalty kick against visiting Bow. The familiar foes had produced a 1-1 tie through 100 minutes and now the midfielder could end the NHIAA Division II quarterfinal playoff match in front of…
Read MoreLebanon, Stone dominant during 42-0 football defeat of Hanover
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 HANOVER – You can’t stop Lebanon High’s Jack Stone on a football field. You can only hope to contain him. Hanover, like every other team the Raiders have played the past two seasons, couldn’t do either, falling, 42-0, in the Principals Cup rivalry game Friday at Merriman-Branch Field. …
Read MoreRaiders boys soccer toppled in clash of Division II titans
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 MILFORD, N.H. – You can only play the hand you’re dealt, but that doesn’t make Wednesday’s 2-1 loss at Milford any easier for the Lebanon High boys soccer team to absorb. The Raiders (11-2) drew a bad beat when senior goalkeeper Colbie Delisle suffered a broken ankle last…
Read MoreRaiders boys soccer rallies after first setback
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 LEBANON – Late in the Lebanon High boys soccer team’s 4-0 defeat of visiting Stevens on Saturday, a blue SUV sped past the field on adjacent Old Etna Road. The vehicle’s occupants laid on the horn, blew through the Heater Road intersection and its four stop signs and…
Read MoreRaiders rumble to 41-0 victory
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 LEBANON – Lebanon High football coach Chris Childs believes his 5-0 team needs two more victories to guarantee itself an NHIAA Division II playoff berth. After yet another Raiders rout Friday, this one a 41-0 shellacking of visiting Souhegan, it’s hard to imagine postseason entry being any sort…
Read MorePutans preys on Lebanon soccer foes
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 LEBANON – Scoring is the hardest part of soccer. So how does Krists Putans make it appear so easy? The lanky Latvian exchange student, who’s been at Lebanon High for less than two months, would stand out even if he weren’t such an offensive threat. There’s his 6-foot-4…
Read MoreRoyals remain winless; Raiders still unbeaten
By Tris Wykes Copyright Octopus Athletics 2021 LEBANON – The Mascoma High field hockey team’s bus became entangled in backed-up traffic near the intersection of Route 120 and Heater Road on Wednesday evening. A fender bender by Evans Drive caused congestion that left the Royals time to ponder a 3-1 loss to Lebanon that dropped…
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