The New Hampton Huskies defeated the Tilton School Rams in the annual Powder Keg Tournament and returned to New Hampton with the Powder Keg in possession for the 6th year in a row. Students and athletes returned home filled with school pride as the School was once again victorious.
Beyond the athletic victories, the day showcased what it means to be a husky. As Mr. Arsenault pointed out at Monday’s school meeting, he had to make additional trips back to New Hampton School for a second fan bus, with so many students wanting to attend and cheer on their classmates. The brisk weather didn’t quell the school spirit, and fans kept themselves warm throughout the day with cheers and laughter as they supported their teams.
The opening ceremony was followed immediately by the Women’s Varsity Field Hockey competition on Tilton School’s Burch Field with an even back-and-forth with both teams fighting to make their way into scoring range. Tilton broke through and scored the first goal of the game but New Hampton secured a victory with a final score of 3-1 with McKenzie Haberl ’19 scoring all three goals for a hat-trick. Haberl was assisted by Maddy Young ’21 while Captains Meg Evans ’18 and Caelin Flaherty ’18 worked tirelessly in midfield repelling Tilton’s counterattacks. Captain Savannah Norcross ’18 led the forward line with poise and leadership to their victory. The team faces Canterbury School in the NEPSAC quarterfinals on Wednesday, November 15 at Deerfield Academy.
Men’s and Women’s Varsity Soccer
Fans were energized despite the cold temperatures and continued to support the Women’s and Men’s Varsity Soccer teams on the lower fields. As is tradition, the oldest players on the women’s team, including Seniors Eva Hodgson, Nikki Guttadauro and Ronja Orpo, started the game. The Huskies struck early with Kylee Bowen ’19 securing the first goal and maintained most of the possession throughout the game resulting in a 2-1 victory over Tilton. Men’s Varsity Soccer wasted little time starting the game with a goal in the 6th minute by Jake Rockwood ’18. They continued to put pressure on Tilton’s defense with frequent shots on goal and much competition from Tilton. The team came out on top with a 5-2 win.
Varsity Football
While the keg was already secured after sweeping victories by Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams and the Women’s Field Hockey team, it did not deter the Varsity Football team from unleashing an offensive and defensive performance. Seniors Jake Dulac, Ian Gobbi, Matt Narewski, and Matt Brehon dominated the field and the defense forced 5 turnovers resulting in a 47-20 victory to round out the Powder Keg competition. The Huskies finish the regular season 7-1 and will play Brooks School in the Ken O’Keefe Bowl on Friday, November 17.
A highlight of the evening was the dance-off at halftime between Rusty the Ram and Harry the Husky. The playful energy between mascots throughout the day exemplified the strength of the tradition behind Powder Keg and the camaraderie that goes hand in hand with the spirited rivalry.
Two New Hampton School teams will play in the NEPSAC Tournaments following their successful fall seasons. You can view the tournament schedule for Women’s Field Hockey and Varsity Football on the school calendar and watch the events on Livestream.
Congratulations Huskies! Great performances and great school spirit!