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Wednesday was First OSSU Derby for Varsity Girls Soccer

Harry Besett 281 Views
by Harry Besett
photo by Vanessa Fournier | Craftsbury won the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union Derby over Hazen on October 13. Pictured (left to right): Ada Gillespie, Amelia Eagan, Ella Gillespie, Ida Eames, goalie Rachel Bailey, Maggie Royer, Felicia Flint, Haley Smith. Other team members not in the photo: Verna Stoddard, Sadie Skorstad, Sophia Augsberger, Savanah Boyce, Adelina Augsberger, Ava Purdy.

HARDWICK – The Hazen Union Wildcats faced off against the Craftsbury Academy Chargers this past Wednesday in the inaugural OSSU Derby.

In England a Derby refers to two teams from the same city or area that are playing each other. The O.S.S.U. sister schools took this idea and collaborated to create a friendly rivalry and an annual event to celebrate the district’s student athletes, good sportsmanship, and community support. An added incentive for the match is getting to take home the “Reigning O.S.S.U. Derby Champions” cup trophy for the remainder of the school year.

Before the match, the four seniors from Craftsbury Academy and two captains of Hazen Union made a joint statement introducing the event and highlighting sportsmanship, as well as recognizing the two referees for the match, Mike Clark and Tom Stames, graduates of Hazen Union and Craftsbury Academy. For decades the two gentlemen have separately provided youth soccer opportunities in the Hardwick, Craftsbury, and Morrisville area and have 50 years of soccer refereeing experience between them.

Another tradition the student representatives of each team borrowed from soccer history was to exchange pennants before the match as a show of respect for the opponent. Each team designed and signed their pennant prior to the match to offer to the opponent at the coin flip. 

photo by Vanessa Fournier | Wildcat Lily Castle (left) and Charger Ida Eames (right) exchange school pennants after the coin flip. Exchanging pennants is an international symbol of respect between two teams.

As the game got underway, both teams fought hard until the final whistle, with a score of Hazen Union 1 – 3 Craftsbury Academy. The Chargers got to take home the Cup in the event’s first year. After the match, both teams applauded their opponent’s efforts in the game and joined together for a group photo.A replay of the event is available at hctv.us.

  • photo by Vanessa Fournier | Hazen Captain Lily Castle (left) and Craftsbury Captain Ida Eames (right) carry the Orleans Southwest Supervisory Union Derby Cup trophy across Hudson Field to a podium before the start of the game.
  • photo by Vanessa Fournier | Craftsbury seniors (from left) Felicia Flint, Amelia Eagan, Maggie Royer, Ida Eames and Hazen captains Alexis Christensen (second from right) and Lily Castle (right) read a pre-match statement on respect, community sports, and good sportsmanship.