Friday was a statement day for the Exeter High School girls lacrosse team, as the Blue Hawks stormed to a dominant 15-1 victory over Concord in Division I action. The win improves Exeter to an impressive 7-2 on the season, and leading the charge was Riley Benevides, who delivered a standout performance with five goals and one assist.
But Benevides wasn't alone in the scoring barrage. Grace McIlroy added three goals and three assists, while Addy Gwinn chipped in with two goals and an assist. Kelsey Hayward also netted two goals, and Josie Drunsic contributed a goal and three assists. Josephine Vadala and Evie Lafreniere rounded out the scoring with a goal and an assist each. In net, goalies Molly Byrne and Maggie Lilly combined for three saves to keep Concord at bay.
Elsewhere, the Portsmouth girls lacrosse team continued its undefeated run, improving to 7-0 with an out-of-state win over Andover, Massachusetts. Raegan Lawton was the star of the show, tallying five goals and four assists, while Emery Lawton added three goals and three assists. Georgia Bouvier and Breleigh Vischer each scored three goals, and Elliott Blenkinsop contributed two goals and an assist. Ginger Vinciguerra also found the net twice, with Lily Patterson, Liv Russo, and Addie Delisle all getting in on the action.
On the boys lacrosse side, Exeter's Division I squad took down Division II Portsmouth 7-1, leading 7-1 at halftime and improving to 6-2. Portsmouth suffered its first loss of the season, dropping to 7-1. Gus Baker scored two goals for the Clippers, while Sam Biddle, Gus Alati, and Trevor Sifferlen each added one. Max Deneen dished out two assists, and Cortland Barr had one.
In softball, Portsmouth's offense exploded in a five-inning Division I win over Exeter, improving to 6-3. Five Clippers—Piper Hindle, Laura Milks, Kora Douglass, Ana Christo, and Darcy Benson—each drove in two runs. The team scored eight runs in the second inning and 11 in the third, with Abby Craig and Douglass both collecting three hits. Ainsley MacGlashing added two hits, while Benson, Craig, and Ally Girald each scored three runs.
It was a busy Friday across the Seacoast, with teams making their mark in lacrosse, softball, and baseball. Whether it's Benevides leading Exeter's girls lacrosse surge or Portsmouth's softball bats heating up, the region's athletes are proving they're ready for the spotlight.