ANDOVER – Buckling down when the going will get robust isn’t the prettiest of artwork kinds, however a significant instrument for the belt of any contender.
The No. 8 Andover discipline hockey staff (6-0-1) pulled that instrument out Wednesday night time, overcoming a gritty, bend-don’t-break defensive exhibiting from Chelmsford to edge out a 2-1 Merrimack Valley Convention win in rain-soaked situations.
Shannon Paul’s game-winning purpose on a nook penalty with 3:49 left snapped almost 35 minutes of a scoring standstill, lastly ending off a myriad of promising Golden Warriors offensive probabilities the Lions (4-2-1) staved off deep of their defensive territory.
That included a shot off the submit, 10 saves from Chelmsford goalie Brooke Cannata, a number of sends to attackers proper in entrance, and 11 Andover offensive nook alternatives.
The Golden Warriors’ composure was examined. However winners discover a approach to win.
“That’s primarily what we stated to them (after the sport),” stated Andover head coach Bridget Morris. “I do suppose, greater than any group than we’ve had earlier than, this group is ready to lock into that.”
“I believe it reveals that even when we perhaps are caught in a tie, like we have been for many of the sport, we will come again,” Paul added. “We gained’t let up. We are able to preserve the depth up all through an entire sport. … I believe it reveals we will sustain the combat.”
A ship into the circle from Leah Kivlehan halfway by way of the fourth quarter sparked the top of a irritating second half for the Golden Warriors, who struggled to get the of entirety on a number of promising probabilities to snap halftime’s 1-1 tie.
Maggie O’Handley’s bounding cross by way of site visitors discovered a wide-open Caroline Vaughan, who delivered a robust flick to the nook of the cage. Cannata kicked it apart simply sufficient to ring off the submit, and Caroline Samaras’ shot on the rebound hit Cannata’s again foot on her lunge.
Paired with the half-dozen occasions Andover gained the circle beneath the stroke line, just for Chelmsford to interrupt it up – or the three corners the Golden Warriors couldn’t rating on within the third quarter – it appeared like a kind of video games the Lions protection would scrap out to carry on.
However the Golden Warriors’ solely nook within the fourth turned out to be the winner with 3:39 to go – as Avery Pitts (two assists) cleanly acquired the insert and handed it flat to Paul for a drive that discovered a manner by way of.
“If we’re going to win, we have to get it behind the web,” Paul stated. “That’s the time to do it. So, we have to benefit from each alternative we now have. And that’s one thing we’re at all times engaged on.”
Offensive alternatives have been rather more even within the first half, as each midfields did nicely to transition clear execution from the protection into the attacking half. Chloe Broderick, Vaughan, Ella Sewall and Samaras generated a handful of these probabilities for Andover within the first quarter, whereas Amelia Stroud, Carly Hartman, Cat Craig and Caroline Deal with did the identical within the second for Chelmsford.
That translated to offensive corners for each. O’Handley buried the 1-0 lead within the first for Andover. Cora Grundy completed off an help from Julia Salerno within the second for the Lions.
Positional switches within the second half paid dividends for Andover within the second half, principally dominating possession during the last two frames. There’s a lot to be stated about how the Golden Warriors have been capable of lock down their defensive half, however perhaps much more for Chelmsford’s defensive stand to just about pull off a signature tie.
Craig, Salerno and Anna Bierwirth all performed main roles for the Lions protection to assist preserve it shut.
“It’s at all times (shut) like that,” Morris stated. “I believe (head coach Susan D’Agostino) coaches them in a manner that makes it tough for us. I believe she does a pleasant job. … Her protection is gritty, they get in entrance of the web they usually make it tough.”
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