Adam Aucoin
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Sports Editor @RutlandHerald | Former stops: @banner_news, @MDCollegian | Proud UMass Amherst alum | Retired intramural floor hockey defender
Articles by Adam Aucoin
Eagles fly out of Westside with wins
WEST RUTLAND — In the fall of 2018, Arlington Memorial High School pulled off the double, winning a boys and girls soccer state championship on the same day. Arlington has a pair of teams that are hoping to be in that mix once again this fall. Both teams find themselves in the upper echelon of Division IV in their respective genders so dreams of being there come state championship day are not far fetched.
Middle of Division I standings, a dogfight
If there has been one thing that has been clear about the first five weeks of Vermont high school football, it's that Burr and Burton Academy and St. Johnsbury Academy are in a tier of their own among Division I's best teams. It would be a smart guess to say that both of those teams will be playing at home in the first week of the Division I playoffs, unless something goes seriously wrong in October.
OV's LaPorte buries winner in OT
FAIR HAVEN — Ryleigh LaPorte was a standout field hockey player at Otter Valley, before going onto play in college Colby-Sawyer. Turns out her little sister has some of that magic as well. Georgia LaPorte, an Otter Valley sophomore, played the role of hero on Monday, scoring the overtime goal in a 2-1 Otters victory over rival Fair Haven. The win gave Otter Valley the edge in the season series, with the clubs having tied earlier in the season in a game played on the turf at Middlebury College.
Middle of Division I standings, a dogfight
If there has been one thing that has been clear about the first five weeks of Vermont high school football, it’s that Burr and Burton Academy and St. Johnsbury Academy are in a tier of their own among Division I’s best teams. It would be a smart guess to say that both of those teams will be playing at home in the first week of the Division I playoffs, unless something goes seriously wrong in October.
Otter Valley football guts out 10-0 win
BRANDON — The Otter Valley football team's offense has been impressive, having averaged 29.7 points coming into the week, but arguably even more impressive has been its work on the other side of the ball. Since giving up 14 first-half points in Week 1 to rival Mill River, the Otters' first-team defense has been a puzzle no opponent has been able to solve. The defense shined once again on Saturday night, leading the Otters to a 10-0 shutout victory against Windsor at Markowski Field.
Crane free kick lifts Rutland to win
Soccer can be a frustrating game. You can have all the possession in the world and put the opponent under loads of pressure, but there are times when the goal just won't come. The Rutland girls soccer team knows that to be true. RHS was in complete control of its rivalry matchup with Mount Anthony, but had come up empty on the scoreboard for 79 minutes. Luckily for them, there was one more pesky minute to be played.
OV comes back to sweep Slaters
FAIR HAVEN — The Otter Valley girls soccer team knows that if it wants to run the table and head into the Division II playoffs undefeated it will need to be at its best day in and day out. The Otters began what figures to be the toughest part of their regular season schedule, playing at rival Fair Haven. Following the game with the Slaters, a three game stretch of Hartford, Mount Anthony and Hartford again awaited OV.
Barrel Bowl set for Saturday in Lyndon
The Lyndon Institute football team has been playing St. Johnsbury Academy for well over 100 years, but is has another rivalry that spans more than a century. That is the one it has with North Country, and with that school's forerunner Newport High School. Since 2005, a trophy has been on the line for the games between North Country and Lyndon, that being a maple wood barrel. The game is known as the Barrel Bowl. The Barrel Bowl is set for Saturday afternoon at Robert K.
Barrel Bowl set for Saturday in Lyndon
The Lyndon Institute football team has been playing St. Johnsbury Academy for well over 100 years, but is has another rivalry that spans more than a century. That is the one it has with North Country, and with that school’s forerunner Newport High School. Since 2005, a trophy has been on the line for the games between North Country and Lyndon, that being a maple wood barrel. The game is known as the Barrel Bowl. The Barrel Bowl is set for Saturday afternoon at Robert K.
Rutland field hockey upsets Hartford
What a difference two days can make. On Monday, the Rutland field hockey team struggled mightily, losing by eight goals to rival Burr and Burton Academy. On Wednesday, RHS was going blow for blow with Division II contender Hartford. Rutland picked up one of its biggest wins in recent years, knocking off Hartford 1-0 Wednesday afternoon.
Rutland avenges loss to Brattleboro
The first half of the regular season saw the Rutland boys soccer team struggle to string together momentum. RHS is determined to make sure that won't be a season-long struggle. Rutland avenged a one-goal loss to Brattleboro, topping the Bears 3-1 Tuesday night at Alumni Field. the win was the second in in a row for RHS, giving it its first winning streak of the season. Brattleboro is having a great fall, coming into Tuesday's game at 6-1-1, but RHS knew it could go blow for blow with the Bears.
Six unbeatens left at halfway mark
The next time Vermont high school football teams suit up for a game the calendar will have turned to October, meaning the stretch run of the regular season is just around the corner. Six teams have reached the halfway mark of the season with a perfect record still intact, establishing themselves as the cream of the crop in their respective divisions.
Six unbeatens left at halfway mark
The next time Vermont high school football teams suit up for a game the calendar will have turned to October, meaning the stretch run of the regular season is just around the corner. Six teams have reached the halfway mark of the season with a perfect record still intact, establishing themselves as the cream of the crop in their respective divisions.
OV girls top MRU, stay unbeaten
BRANDON — There is something special in the air in Brandon this fall. The Otter Valley girls soccer team is in the midst of its best start in program history and continues to raise the bar. The high mark for wins in a season in team history is 10, which OV had in 2015. The calendar hasn't even turned to October yet and the Otters are already inching close to that number.
Fair Haven takes over in second half
FAIR HAVEN — The Springfield boys soccer team arrived in Fair Haven for a matchup with the Slaters with just one win in its back pocket, but that doesn't tell the story how competitive the Cosmos have been. Every single one of Springfield's losses going into Friday came by two goals or less, meaning taking them lightly is a bad idea. The Cosmos' talent made it even more impressive how the Slaters were victorious on Friday, topping Springfield 4-1 under the lights of LaPlaca Field.
MSJ girls avenge loss to Proctor
PITTSFORD — Familiarity can often bring an extra dose of competitiveness out of athletes. If you are close to the people on the other side of the field, you want to make sure you're the one walking away with the bragging rights. That was the case in Thursday's girls soccer matchup between Proctor and Mount St. Joseph, where many of the girls are teammates on the Phantoms' softball team. MSJ earned a hard-fought 4-3 win over Proctor at Taranovich Field.
Hartford sweeps series with Slaters
FAIR HAVEN — There has been many a fall where the Fair Haven girls soccer team has had rival Hartford’s number. The Slaters have made been one of the measuring sticks for elite soccer in the Southern Vermont League for many years. This fall, Hartford has turned the tables. The Hurricanes finished off a season sweep of Fair Haven, topping the Slaters 4-2 Tuesday night at LaPlaca Field. The Hurricanes bested Fair Haven 1-0 earlier in the season in White River Junction.
Perennial contenders eyeing first wins
There are some towns in Vermont where high school football just means more. Three of those towns are White River Junction, Woodstock and Fairfax. Hartford, Woodstock and BFA-Fairfax/Lamoille are used to supporting teams that are competing for state championships. All three have seen a rocky start to the 2026 campaign and are hoping this is the week where it gets back on track with their first win.
Hartford sweeps series with Slaters
FAIR HAVEN — There has been many a fall where the Fair Haven girls soccer team has had rival Hartford's number. The Slaters have made been one of the measuring sticks for elite soccer in the Southern Vermont League for many years. This fall, Hartford has turned the tables. The Hurricanes finished off a season sweep of Fair Haven, topping the Slaters 4-2 Tuesday night at LaPlaca Field. The Hurricanes bested Fair Haven 1-0 earlier in the season in White River Junction.
Twin Valley escapes with OT victory
POULTNEY — The Poultney girls soccer team hasn't found the same kind of winning success as it did last year, but the heart of a champion still beats. The defending Division IV champion Blue Devils gave one of the teams hoping to dethrone them one heck of a test. Twin Valley came to Poultney with just one loss and left there the same way, but it wasn't coming easy. Twin Valley outlasted Poultney 2-1 in overtime, winning its sixth game in seven tries to open the regular season.
Football teams earn important first wins
There were a bunch of teams that were staring down the barrel of an 0-3 start going into this past weekend’s Vermont high school football games. Losing the first three games of the season isn’t a death sentence, but it certainly makes the climb back to a respectable seed in the playoffs that much harder. A handful of teams refused to that be their reality. Mount Anthony has hopes of being a team that can make some noise in Division I.
Westside comes back to top Phantoms
WEST RUTLAND — For as successful as the West Rutland girls soccer team has been over the last handful of seasons, the Golden Horde aren't strangers to a little bit of adversity. Westside has been in holes before, and more often than not, it finds a way to claw its way out of them. Saturday was no different. West Rutland trailed rival Proctor by a goal in the second half, but put up two unanswered to win 2-1 in the Golden Horde's Homecoming game. "That's not the first time for us.
West Rutland blanks rival Proctor
WEST RUTLAND — The West Rutland boys soccer team wasn't going to forget what happened last year on its Homecoming. A day that should be filled with pride in your school proved to be one of disappointment, watching its biggest rivals celebrate a win on the Golden Horde's home field. West Rutland wasn't going to let that happen two years in a row. The Golden Horde rolled to a 3-0 win over Proctor on Saturday to cap Homecoming in the best way possible.
MAU earns elusive victory over Rutland
Mount Anthony football coach Chad Gordon was a part of some of best teams in program history in the mid-1990s He was a member of a state championship team in 1994 and he was also a member of the last MAU team to beat rival Rutland in an 11-on-11 football game. That is until Friday night. The Gordon-coached Mount Anthony football team knocked Rutland 14-12 at Alumni Field. The victory was the first for the Patriots over RHS in an 11-on-11 contest since 1995.
Division I title rematch on tap in Week 3
The Middlebury football team captured the Division I state championship last year, but the Tigers were well aware there was no time for a title-winning hangover going into the 2026 campaign. Middlebury boasts one of, if not, the toughest stretch to open the regular season of anyone in the state, a stretch that includes two teams that are widely expected to be in the hunt come November, Burr and Burton Academy and St. Johnsbury Academy.
Woodstock holds off Otter Valley
BRANDON — Division III field hockey has been Montpelier's kingdom for the last handful of years. The Solons have have won three of the last four D-III titles and the one time they didn't win it all, they were the state runner-up. There are a handful of teams hoping to knock Montpelier off that pedestal this fall. One of those squads is Woodstock, who took the Solons to double overtime in championship game last year.
Crane nets hat trick in RHS victory
Last season, it took the Rutland girls soccer team until Oct. 7 to notch its fourth win, a shutout effort against Mount Anthony. This season, RHS refused to wait that long. Rutland notched its fourth win in the first six games of the season, cruising past rival Brattleboro 5-1 Tuesday night at Alumni Field. "They're really focused on the positivity and believing in themselves that they can win," said first-year RHS coach Emme O'Rourke. "With Rutland, we've been working on that across the board.
GM boys get into win column, top OV
BRANDON — The Green Mountain and Otter Valley boys soccer teams entered Monday night's contest looking for an elusive win breakthrough. Both squads feature a lot of youth and that first win can be the springboard to grabbing some down the line. It was Green Mountain getting that monkey off its back, topping Otter Valley 4-0 Monday night at Markowski Field. The Grizzlies weren't just looking for their first win. They were also looking for their first goal of the season.
Thrilling wins highlight in Week 2
A late-game situation when you are trailing on the scoreboard, it’s something some athletes are built for and others are not. A pair of Division I squads showed a ton of resolve in that situation in Week 2. On Thursday, the Burlington/South Burlington Seawolves trailed BFA-St. Albans by 11 points in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, but refused to quit. Porter Sweeney had a rushing score that extended the Bobwhites’ lead to double figures and a lot of teams may pack it in from there.
Guay nets hat trick in Westside win
WEST RUTLAND — When thinking about the best professional soccer players on headers in the history of the game, names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Miroslav Klose, among others, come to mind. Going up for headers can take some will and courage. It isn't for the faint of heart. The West Rutland boys soccer team has its own aerial artist in senior Peter Guay. He used his head on multiple occasions, helping lead Westside to a 4-0 win against Grace Christian School Saturday afternoon.
Rutland blanks Hartford, goes to 2-0
The Rutland football team wore its camouflage jerseys for the annual Great American Rivalry Series game against Hartford on Friday night. Camouflage is typically used to blend in in nature, remaining hidden to the surroundings. What wasn’t hidden was Rutland’s defensive excellence on Friday. RHS pitched a shutout, beating Division II Hartford 14-0 at Alumni Field. “The kids were determined to get the job done. The defense played well,” said longtime Rutland coach Mike Norman.
Slaters stay hot early in season
FAIR HAVEN — The Fair Haven field hockey team has been knocking on the door for a title breakthrough for years, making it to at least the Division III semifinals in four of the last five seasons, including a finals trip in 2022. If the early season is any indication, the Slaters are hoping to remain in that mix this fall. Fair Haven stayed hot early in the campaign with a 2-0 win against Division II Brattleboro Thursday afternoon.
Elites Fair Haven, BF square off Friday
The Fair Haven and Bellows Falls football tams both have hopes of playing into mid-November. Both squads were in their respective state championship games last year and have the talent to contend for a return trip, with the title games being played at Burlington High School this fall. The two longtime rivals meet up this Friday, with the game getting a little extra juice being played at Vermont State University Castleton's Dave Wolk Stadium with an 8 p.m. kickoff.
Montpelier tops RHS for first win
Soccer can bring an athlete the highest highs and the lowest lows in an instant. The Rutland boys soccer team knew that to be true Wednesday night. Both times RHS scored in its contest with Division II Montpelier, the Solons were quick to bring the home side right back down. Montpelier bested Rutland 5-2 on an incredibly rainy night at Alumni Field.
West Rutland gets pair of hat tricks
POULTNEY — West Rutland junior Emma Haley was a known commodity coming into the year with well over 20 goals last season, but a question for the Golden Horde was about how much complementary scoring the team would get. The short answer? Plenty. Haley and sophomore Teigan Williams both found the back of the net three times as West Rutland rolled to a 6-1 win against rival Poultney on a sunny Tuesday afternoon at Poultney Elementary School.
BBA makes a statement in Week 1
It was a good day to be named Sam if you were in Manchester Saturday night. The first five touchdowns the Burr and Burton football team scored in Saturday's season opener against Middlebury were scored by a kid named Sam. Sam Gilliam scored the first touchdown, Sam Dowd scored the next three and Sam Nicholson completed the Sam sandwich with a punt return score. It set the tone for what was one of the most dominant showings in Week 1 for a Vermont high school football team.
Vermont girls preseason top 10: Lots of talent chasing the crown
Nothing is guaranteed when it comes to the Vermont high school girls soccer playoffs. Last year was the perfect example of that. Peoples Academy was the No. 8 seed in Division 3, but knocked off multiple higher seeds to earn a spot in the state title game. Winooski looked like the clear favorite in its Division 4 state championship game against Poultney and heavily outshot the Blue Devils in that contest, but it was Poultney that found a way to win.
Otter Valley pulls away in 2nd half
NORTH CLARENDON — Every athlete hopes that the hard work they put in during the offseason shows up when the games mean something. Otter Valley junior Colby Benoit is someone who dedicated himself to preparation in between seasons and it paid off in a major way in the Otters' season opener. Benoit fueled OV on offense as the Otters bested rival Mill River 26-14 Saturday afternoon in the Battle for Otter Creek game. The victory keeps the rivalry trophy in Brandon for the second straight season.
Elite BBA cruises to win vs. Rutland
The Burr and Burton Academy boys soccer team broke through for its first Division I state championship last year. If Friday night was any indication, the Bulldogs are determined to add another. BBA rolled to a 7-0 win against rival Rutland Friday night at Alumni Field. The game was the complete opposite of the last game that the Bulldogs played on RHS's home field, where it needed some late magic to escape an upset bid last fall.
Vermont boys preseason top 10: Meet the contenders for the state title
Rutland should have the goal-scoring to be competitive among Division 1’s best again this year. (Brenna Jepson) Championship Saturday was one for the ages last season in Vermont high school boys soccer. Three of the four state championship games were barn-burners. Burr and Burton Academy outlasted perennial powerhouse Champlain Valley 1-0 in double overtime, Milton edged Mount Abraham 1-0 in overtime and Winooski bested Peoples Academy in the cruelest way to end a soccer match — penalty kicks.
Reigning D-IV champ Twin Valley tops Mill River, 6-3
LUDLOW — The Twin Valley boys soccer team outscored its first two opponents 16-2, so the Wildcats hadn't really seen a true test to that point in the season. Twin Valley knew that was going to change on Thursday night, taking on Mill River. The Minutemen gave the Wildcats a little bit of a scare, but it was Twin Valley leaving Ludlow's Dorsey Park with their perfect mark still intact, beating Mill River 6-3.
Twin Valley outlasts Mill River, 6-3
LUDLOW — The Twin Valley boys soccer team outscored its first two opponents 16-2, so the Wildcats hadn't really seen a true test to that point in the season. Twin Valley knew that was going to change on Thursday night, taking on Mill River. The Minutemen gave the Wildcats a little bit of a scare, but it was Twin Valley leaving Ludlow's Dorsey Park with their perfect mark still intact, beating Mill River 6-3.
11 players to watch in Vermont girls soccer this season
Jada Hughes buried 24 goals for Mount St. Joseph last season. (Brenna Jepson) Soccer can be a thrilling game, but also a cruel one. Champlain Valley Union senior Elsa Klein knows that to be true. Last season, she was a driving force in the Redhawks girls soccer team winning a Vermont state championship and was named Gatorade Player of the Year. This year, she’ll be recovering from a torn ACL she suffered during the summer.
Rutland football opens on the road
One of the longest preseasons in Vermont high school football history is almost coming to an end. Football schools across the state reported for the first day of practice on Aug. 10 and almost a month later, they'll be kicking off the season this weekend. Rutland opens the season on the road at BFA-St. Albans on Friday at 7 p.m. The Bobwhites have had their share of down seasons, but look to be much improved. They did well in a 7-on-7 format over the summer.
12 players to watch in Vermont boys soccer this season
Braden Sheehe is an imposing force up top for Proctor with strength and skill that makes him dangerous. (Brenna Jepson) Last year, the Burr and Burton Academy boys soccer team broke through for its first Vermont Division 1 state championship. That team was deep but one player stood out above the rest, senior Bodie Smith. Smith scored 22 goals and dished out 19 assists as the key cog in the Bulldogs’ championship season.
Westside pulls away from MSJ
The West Rutland girls soccer team hadn't lost a regular season game since mid-October 2023 before Saturday's defeat against Bellows Falls. The Golden Horde had no intention to let that loss turn into a skid. West Rutland bounced back in a major way, beating rival Mount St. Joseph 6-3 on Wednesday at St. Peter's Field. The Golden Horde looked like they might win in a runaway with the way they were playing in the first half.
Strong 2nd half fuels OV win
BRANDON — Sisters Allie and Madison Charbonneau had something they were hoping to do at some point this season with the Otter Valley girls soccer team. That something was to score in the same game. It sure didn't take them very long to do that. The Charbonneau sisters both found the back of the net in the Otters' 4-2 season-opening win against Woodstock Monday night at Markowski Field. Senior Allie Charbonneau scored twice, while freshman Madison Charbonneau scored once.
West Rutland wins opener vs. MSJ
WEST RUTLAND — The Mount St. Joseph boys soccer team earned a pizza party, but it was West Rutland that came away with a win in Tuesday's season opener. The Mounties earned their slices with a header goal in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Golden Horde bested their rivals 4-2 on a gloomy afternoon in Westside. West Rutland was better at finishing its chances in the opening half and that proved to be the difference as the Horde took a 3-1 lead into the break.
Rutland building depth at skill positions
The Rutland football team was knocking on the door of a state final last fall. Fresh off a trip to the state championship game in 2024, RHS was right back in the mix last year, falling short to St. Johnsbury on the semifinal stage. If Rutland wants to remain in that tier, it will need guys to step into bigger roles at the skill positions. Rutland graduated Gatorade Player of the Year running back Grady Gallagher, along with key receivers Cellan Wood, Griff Norton and Whit Sullivan.
OV holds off Harwood, 5-4
BRANDON — The Otter Valley and Harwood field hockey teams met in a season opener for the second straight season on Saturday, but the two games were far from the same story. Last year, a veteran-led Otters team cruised to an eight-goal victory over the Highlanders. Otter Valley wasn't going to find that same ease to this encounter with Harwood. The Otters had to sweat it out down the stretch, but came out with a 5-4 season-opening win in Brandon.
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