Bedford — Bow High’s pursuit of state championship redemption fell just short on Saturday night as top-ranked Souhegan captured a 2-1 victory in the Division II field hockey final at Bedford High School. Nearly 365 days after falling to the Sabers in the previous title game, the second-seeded Falcons tested their undefeated rivals but ultimately could not overcome an early two-goal deficit.
Souhegan concluded its stellar 2026 campaign at 17-0-2, a run that included victories over three Division I opponents and a lopsided 69-12 scoring margin against competitors overall. Bow finished its season at 16-3-0, maintaining its status as one of the division’s premier programs while securing back-to-back championship appearances against a formidable opponent. “We play a different style of game from them, and things just didn’t fall our way with that style of game,” Bow coach Sarah Vaughn said.
Early Deficit and Sabers’ Set Pieces
The defending champions established control roughly 10 minutes into the contest. Senior Oriannah Dart connected with her younger sister, sophomore Mariellah Dart, on the Sabers’ second penalty corner of the night. The sibling duo continually pressured the defense with intricate set pieces and trick plays.
In the Dart sisters' final game playing field hockey for Souhegan together, they connect for a goal. The Sabers win their second straight Division II championship.🎥: @KyleHeaveyTV @wmur9 @SouheganHS pic.twitter.com/c2GTSvoTou
Bow managed to stymie Souhegan’s attack during the second quarter, utilizing disciplined defensive play outside the circle to keep the score close. However, the Sabers struck again immediately after halftime. Mariellah Dart delivered an assist to Ella Russell, stretching Souhegan’s lead to 2-0.
Despite official disciplinary actions that handed four cards for foul play—three of them concurrent—to Souhegan, the Falcons struggled to capitalize on the resulting advantages. Bow finally broke through when sophomore Ainsley Herrick pounced on a rebound following a save on junior Peyton Vaughn’s shot. Herrick lifted the ball past the scrambling Souhegan goalkeeper to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Closing Moments and Senior Legacy
The Falcons kept pressing into the final minute of regulation, battling to maintain possession, but did not get a shot off as the clock ticked to zero, allowing Souhegan to celebrate its successful title defense.
Following the final whistle, Coach Vaughn reflected on the contributions of Bow’s seven graduating seniors: Madelyn Hebert, Kaylee Jacques, Shire Kelley, Cadence Malone, Aubrey Merrill, Gianna Trott, and Vera Virta. She praised their dedication and growth throughout their varsity careers. “Athletics is about building relationships, work ethic, memories and good sportsmanship, so we take the winning out of it,” Vaughn said. “They achieved all of the other most important factors.”
