Rice Field Hockey Threepeats as Essex Clinches Soccer Crown in Overtime

The Rice Green Knights finished the 2026 season with a 16-1 record and a third consecutive Division I field hockey championship. On Saturday, the team defeated Essex 7-0 to secure the title. This marks the first time since South Burlington won three straight from 2015 to 2017 that a Vermont program has achieved a three-peat in the sport.

The soccer state championships concluded with several late-game deciders. In the boys Division I final at Rutland High School, the Essex Hornets defeated defending champions CVU 2-1 in double overtime. Senior Ethan Leo, the school’s all-time leading goal scorer, scored the winning goal with nine minutes remaining in the second extra period. Goalie Jackson Willets recorded eleven saves in the match. This victory followed a similar double overtime win in the semifinals, where Nathan MacMahon scored a 45-foot goal against Burr and Burton.

The girls Division I title went to MMU, which defeated Burr and Burton 3-2 on Sunday. Freshman Ashlynn Barrett broke the tie with a goal from a scrum following a corner kick, with approximately two and a half minutes left in regulation. This is MMU’s first state title since 2003. In boys Division II, Rice won its first D2 crown in eleven years by beating Milton 3-2. Flint Crary scored two goals, including the winner, for a team that finished with a 16-1-1 record.

Green Mountain Valley, a ski academy in Fayston, claimed its first girls Division II title since 1992. The Gumbies defeated Springfield 4-1, ending the Cosmos’ undefeated streak and handing them their only loss of the season. Vivi Hermsdorf scored twice for the Gumbies. In Division III, People’s Academy beat Winooski 3-2 in overtime on Friday, with Schuyler Grant scoring a rebound put-back. The win ends a wait for a D3 title that began after losses in 2023 and 2025. Vergennes won back-to-back girls Division III titles with a 2-0 victory over Stowe.

Football playoffs progressed on Friday across multiple divisions. The Burlington-South Burlington-Winooski SeaWolves earned their first-ever playoff win, defeating Essex 15-7. The Middlebury Tigers lost to third-seeded Mount Anthony 27-21, ending their bid for a repeat championship. In Division II, Colchester defeated Hartford 54-38. Otter Valley beat Woodstock 22-13 in Division III. St. Johnsbury and Burr and Burton Academy both remained undefeated, with the Bulldogs winning 54-13 against Rutland and the Hilltoppers beating CVU 42-19.

Thetford Academy’s boys cross country team won the Division III state title on their home course. This is the team’s first boys cross country state title since 2018.