Andover beats Acton-Boxboro in Div. 1 North field hockey

READING — With the performance Paige Gillette and the defense put forth, all Andover really needed was a single goal in order to claim its second Div. 1 North title in three years on Saturday.

After two scoreless overtimes, it was a shootout that did it.

Sydney Gregory, Hanna Medway, Kate Gemmell and Heather Graham each converted their attempts while Gillette (32 saves) snuffed out two of top-seeded Acton-Boxboro’s attempts to propel the No. 6 Warriors (16-2-4) to a 1-0 win, effectively ending the Colonials’ (21-1) undefeated season.

Andover heads to its fourth state tourney appearance since 2010, three of which a result of beating A-B in the North final.

“My goalie is pretty good, isn’t she,” said Warriors head coach Maureen Noone. “I’m just super proud of them. We have a lot of young kids here, and they’re just chomping. They don’t think they can lose.”

It was fitting that after Graham gave Andover a 4-2 lead in the shootout, a Gillette save sealed the game. The first-year starter was nothing short of phenomenal, producing countless unlikely stops against a resilient A-B offense that controlled most of the possession time. One of those saves even came on a penalty stroke in the first half.

“I was like, ‘Just don’t let a goal in. Whatever you do, just sacrifice yourself to stop the ball, don’t let it in,’” Gillette said. “Just being loud and making sure nothing went in gave us momentum. … We probably weren’t supposed to win this game, but everyone just giving it all, everyone had so much fire and confidence.”

Lynnfield beats Gloucester

Once Lynnfield beat perennial powerhouse Watertown to reach Saturday’s Div. 2 North final, it seemed destined to take the title. And despite a flat start against a No. 6 Gloucester team that hadn’t allowed a goal all postseason, that prophecy came true.

Three goals off corner plays helped reverse an early one-goal deficit, including Isabella Scala’s tip-in to break a second-half tie and lift the No. 5 Pioneers to a 3-2 win over the Fisherman for their first sectional championship since 2000.

“The kids know what to do (on the corners),” said Lynnfield coach Mamie Reardon. “(These playoffs) have been a ride of a lifetime. … It’s just glorious. They have worked so hard to get here.”

The Pioneers weathered a strong offensive start from Gloucester by holding it to just one goal in the first half, and that set up the comeback once they found their legs. Lynnfield pushed the field to draw a corner that Carolyn Garofoli scored on with a reverse chip, and shortly after, she crossed the circle on another corner to set up Madison Murphy for a goal and a 2-1 halftime lead.

Cammi Cooper needed just two minutes to tie it for Gloucester with a goal right in front, but one last corner for Lynnfield helped Lily Rothwell smash a shot at center net that Scala tipped to go in between the goalie’s legs for the game-winner.

“I think we started off a little scared, but we focused, got the feel going and finally got back,” Garofoli said. “It feels awesome … we have not been here since 2000. We really adjusted as a team and knew we could do it.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/33zjoJV