Unbeaten Slaters cruise past Otter Valley

BRANDON — You are not going to score on Otter Valley goalie Linnea Faulkner from the perimeter so Fair Haven used high-level skills to advance the ball very close to the goal before shooting. The formula was successful on Saturday in the Slaters’ 6-0 victory over OV.

“We have been working on shooting closer,” Fair Haven coach Teri Perry said. “We use a lot of film and analyze where our shots are coming from.

“Linnea is maybe the best goalie in the state.”

Perry also has a standout goalie with Kate Hadwen.

Perry, in fact, has what OV coach Tammi Blanchard would like to have — an elite goalkeeper who returns next year. Hadwen is a junior and Faulkner is in her final go-round.

“She will be tough to replace. I don’t envy Tammi at all on that one,” Perry said.

The game was an attractive showdown on paper with Otter Valley bringing a 5-1 record into the day and the Slaters a 5-0 mark.

But soccer games are not played on paper and it became evident early that the Slaters were the stronger team.

It began with Elizabeth Love scoring four minutes into the contest and from there the Slaters built a 4-0 halftime lead.

The Otters did their best to slow down Fair Haven’s high octane attack. Michelle Hendee blocked two hard shots in a row by the Slaters and Faulkner made the difficult saves that she is known for,

Faulkner even thwarted a penalty kick with a diving deflection.

But Love scored again, working the ball in very close to the goal line before finishing it off.

Maddy Perry made it 3-0 with 12:51 to go in the half. Faulkner had to vacate the goal and Perry stayed composed, simply tapping the ball into the empty net.

Love scored from point blank range to account for that 4-0 halftime score.

The Otters pushed hard to try to get on the board before the break. Mallee Richardson and Allie Charbonneau both came close.

Briggs also came close to tacking on a fifth goal for the Slaters just before the half but was robbed by Faulkner.

Lily Briggs scored the two-second-half goals.

Savanna Cook was a rock on defense for the Otters. She won balls, went through balls with hard tackles and sometimes made runs up the field, one of those nearly the length of the field.

But there are not many defenses that can slow down this Fair Haven offensive machine.

“This was a good test. OV is having a great season,” coach Perry said.

The defense has also played outstanding for the Slaters, something that has allowed Perry to keep Love up on the line.

“I warned her before the season that I might have to move her back on defense but I have not had to do that,” Perry said.

Love is following in the footsteps of her sister Brittney Love who is in the throes of an outstanding freshman season for the Vermont State University Johnson women’s soccer team.

“Elizabeth is one of the most technically strong players I have ever coached,” Perry said. “Brittney was amazing but Elizabeth is right there with her.”

Defenses can’t key on a certain player when going against the Slaters because they have several numerous scorers who have contributed to the 45-goal output this season. Briggs has 14 goals, Perry 10, Love six and Ayame Merkel five.

The Slaters would like to be challenged some more before the Division III playoffs and just such a test could come on Tuesday under the lights of LaPlaca Field. Mount Anthony will be the opponent, a team that the Slaters beat 3-1 in Bennington.

This second meeting with the Patriots should provide a good barometer.

Otter Valley, which had a three-game winning streak ended, will try to start a new one on Tuesday when Woodstock pays a visit to Markowski Field.