The Third Annual PolyWhey Cup Showdown will take place Sunday evening at Hudson Fields at Hazen Union High School in Hardwick. The match features a combined girls squad from the NEK Warriors and Orleans County Football Club, called Black River, facing off against the Barre Stone Cutters.
The rivalry between Hardwick and Barre soccer dates back to the early 19th century, according to local historian Elizabeth Dow. The Scampini Challenge Cup series ended between the towns after World War I in 1914. Hazen Union alumnus Andrew Meyer revived the rivalry in 2024 under the name PolyWhey Cup to support local soccer growth.
Black River is coached by Jake Hastings, with assistants Sarah Bathalon, Jon Amell and Darcy LeBlanc. The roster includes players from Hardwick, Craftsbury, Albany, Danville, Coventry, Glover and Brownington.
"The Warriors and OCFC have been in action since the snow melted, and this final match is an opportunity to test their skill before summer break and school soccer in the fall," said Steve Fortmann, who runs the NEK Warriors program. "The match is intended to highlight a legendary soccer rivalry from the granite era."
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. Sunday. The event is sponsored by Vermont Natural Coatings.
Originally reported by Hardwick Gazette.
Photo: Franco Monsalvo via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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