CONCORD – New Hampshire Technical Institute was the site for Northern New England Small College Conference tournament action, with all four fall Capital teams competing for titles on Saturday, Oct. 9.

The men earned their second straight Northern New England Small College Conference title, dismantling Vermont Technical College, 11-0. Concord’s Brandon Bye had two goals, and Nick Squires scored two goals and added two assists. Jay Atton earned the shutout in net, making five saves for the locals, ranked No. 3 in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association poll.

NHTI reached the championship game following an 8-0 win over Hesser College. Hooksett’s Brian Conway earned the team’s fifth shutout of the year by making five saves in net. Squires scored three goals and added an assist in the lopsided win.

Following the title, the team traveled to play the Community College of Rhode Island, falling 2-0. The undermanned Capitals kept the game tied until the 83rd minute. CCRI added an insurance goal with a minute remaining.

But the Caps bounced back with a 5-0 win over Bunker Hill Community College recently, scoring four second-half goals. Squires and Greg Lombardi both scored twice, while Nihad Biscanin scored the only first-half goal. Conway earned another shutout in net.

Though the NHTI baseball team captured the regular-season title, the local nine fell to rival Central Maine Community College in the tourney title game, 7-6. The Capitals overcame a 3-0 deficit to take a 5-4 lead, but CMCC scored three in the seventh inning to win. Wes Osbourne pitched five strong innings, and Concord’s Dan Freeman was solid in relief. Shawn Harris rapped two hits, and Mike Ripa added a double. The locals ended their season with a 14-5 mark.

The NHTI softball team outscored its two foes, 29-0, winning the championship for the fourth straight season behind strong pitching from two local women.

In the title tilt, former Manchester West star Shawna Bellaud fanned six and allowed only two hits in a 13-0 win over Hesser College. Bellaud, Stacy Carle and Amanda Dubois all contributed three hits to the offense.

Sarah Arnold of Bow allowed only one hit in the team’s 16-0 win over Bunker Hill Community College in the semifinals. Arnold struck out seven. The balanced attack was led by Concord’s Carianne Dyment, Katie Sedita and Goffstown’s Wendy Yianakopolos. Each had two hits for the Capitals, who ended the season 14-5.

Like the softball team, the women’s soccer squad captured its fourth straight NNESCC crown following a 5-0 win over Hesser College. Heather Murphy earned her sixth shutout with five saves in net. Katie Stockton and Paige Channell each scored twice, while Danielle Baker capped the scoring for the top-ranked team in the USCAApower rankings.

The locals followed up with their 36th straight win in northeast regional play, a 6-2 win over Manchester Community College from Connecticut. Channell scored twice and added a pair of assists. Baker and Angela Snow also scored, leading NHTI into the Yankee Small College Athletic Association championship game against Unity College.

The Capitals were more than up to the challenge, defeating the hosts in Unity, Maine, 3-1. Justine Barker of Pembroke put the game away, scoring the final goal midway through the second half. Snow and Baker also scored, while Stockton and Channell dished assists. Murphy was again solid in net for NHTI. The team improved to 13-0 following the victory.

The Caps head to the national tournament in Virginia as the No. 1 seed and have a first round bye. NHTI will play the winner of the Robert Morris College/Southern Virginia game in the semifinals.