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Another shot at a title

LYNN — The Newburyport girls soccer team’s march for a second consecutive state title has only one step remaining.
The Clippers advanced to the Division 3 state final last evening with a 1-0 double-overtime victory over Division 3 South sectional champion Cohasset. Only 22 seconds remained before the game entered its final stage — penalty kicks — when Hannah McCormick kept Newburyport’s run for back-to-back titles intact. She scored the goal from 12 yards out, slipping a high shot past Cohasset goalie Johanna Brophy.
The Clippers (19-2-2) extended their state-tournament win streak to 11 games, dating back to the Division 3 state semifinal in 2006. The Clippers have gone 61-5-3 over the last three seasons, including two state championship game appearances.
“Winning states once takes a lot of good fortune — not just a good team,” Newburyport coach Robb Gonnam said. “To get to the state championship game one time is incredible — a source of honor, ego and pride. But it also puts a huge target on your back. Every game we’ve played has had huge emotional pressure. We’ve been living with that for three years.”
The cornerstone of the team’s success is a senior class that includes the leading goal-scorer in the program’s history, Jillian Kinter, and two other three-time All-Cape Ann League selections, Laura Muise and Taylor Bresnahan. In all, 11 seniors will play their final game Saturday when the Clippers face the winner of last night’s late game between Central champion Sutton and Western champ Monson. Along with the “Big Three,” Micaela Hogan, Taylor Whitehill, Lauren Bertone, Avery Cullinan, Abigail Casey, Elyana Krusemark, Mary Ryan and Caroline Barnaby will put on the Newburyport uniform for the final time.
Even with the mass senior-class exodus, the Clippers figure to remain competitive as long as Gonnam remains. Recognized as one of the top coaches in the state, he is immersed in the local youth soccer league and instills his offensive and defensive philosophies in Newburyport players at an early age. Many of the youth-league players serve as ball girls during regular-season and state-tournament games, dreaming of one day playing for the historically successful program.
“This team has won three North sectionals,” Gonnam said. “For three years in a row, we’ve won at least four tournament games. If you look back at other teams in history, it’s really a unique accomplishment. Going through the stress of being No. 1 and staying there, that’s really impressive. We have to be at our absolute best every game. It’s a tribute to any team that can get this far.”

Stunning late drive sends Pinkerton to title game

DERRY, N.H. — Pinkerton’s Colton Desmarais grabbed for the ball in traffic, clung to it as a fell to the ground, then held it over his head in celebration as he was mobbed by his teammates.

North Reading stunned by Millis

HUDSON — North Reading players lined up on the service line, all in disbelief, as underdog Millis was awarded the Division 3 state championship plaque.

After dropping the first two games, North Reading mounted a comeback, but the Hornets fell victim to some costly mistakes as the Mohawks took the crown 25-20, 25-23, 21-25, 25-21.

One step short of perfection

HUDSON — It serves as another step up the ladder for the Central Catholic volleyball program, but that doesn’t stop the pain.

The Raiders were swept by Medfield, 25-18, 25-18, 25-14 in the Division 2 State final yesterday afternoon, marking the only blemish on an otherwise flawless campaign.

Rivera keeps Greater Lawrence rolling

WEST ANDOVER — If Angel Rivera was going to decide the outcome, he knew that it would take a blessing from above.

“Before I got the ball, I just prayed to my parents,” said Rivera of his mother and father, who have both passed away. “I pray to them all the time.”

On the Verge: Halfback Verge's career day leads Pinkerton

DERRY, N.H. —  Pinkerton’s Colby Verge needed only two carries — two carries — to change the fate of two teams’ seasons.

The senior halfback rushed the ball only twice, for touchdowns of 43 and 40 yards. The second, with 44 seconds left in the game, gave the Astros a 19-15 victory over Londonderry and their fifth straight trip to the Division 1 state championship.

Whittier clinches playoff berth in shutout win

LYNN — For the second time in two weeks, head coach Kevin Bradley was treated to a Gatorade shower by a few of his celebratory players.

“You know, the feeling is fantastic. It never gets old. I could take this all the time,” Bradley said.

Pelham to defend Div. 5 title

PELHAM, N.H. — “We got one more. We got one more.”

Right after the post-game handshake following a convincing 28-6 victory over fourth-seeded Kearsarge yesterday, Pelham standout Bruce Vieira reminded his teammates there was more work to be done. Not really a surprise from someone who backed up his amped-up behavior on the field with visions of success both on a short- and long-term basis.

Pelham to defend Div. 5 title

PELHAM, N.H. — “We got one more. We got one more.”

Right after the post-game handshake following a convincing 28-6 victory over fourth-seeded Kearsarge yesterday, Pelham standout Bruce Vieira reminded his teammates there was more work to be done. Not really a surprise from someone who backed up his amped-up behavior on the field with visions of success both on a short- and long-term basis.

Flags spoil Timberlane title bid in semis

PLAISTOW, N.H. –  On a playoff day where points were at a premium, Timberlane Regional left two scores on the field.

Methuen keeps rolling

METHUEN — Judging by the tears Methuen’s Justin Marsan was pushing away from his red eyes after the game, this was not just another win for the Rangers.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been here,” said the emotional Marsan. “From where we were the last few years, you would never think that we would be back to where we are now. It is just overwhelming.”

Pentucket runs away from North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER — The start certainly wasn’t a tip-off to the finish.

Both Pentucket and North Andover had its offenses clicking from the get-go. Scarlet Knight freshman quarterback Brandon Walsh and wideout Aaron Brunette were an unstoppable team while the special teams created excellent field position. On the other side, the offensive line for the Sachems made stars of the backfield while converting almost every third- and fourth-down attempt, giving the Green a 20-14 edge at the break.

Pentucket runs away from North Andover

NORTH ANDOVER — The start certainly wasn’t a tip-off to the finish.

Both Pentucket and North Andover had its offenses clicking from the get-go. Scarlet Knight freshman quarterback Brandon Walsh and wideout Aaron Brunette were an unstoppable team while the special teams created excellent field position. On the other side, the offensive line for the Sachems made stars of the backfield while converting almost every third- and fourth-down attempt, giving the Green a 20-14 edge at the break.

Inspired Lawrence destroys Haverhill

HAVERHILL - Awash in a week of tumult, anger, confusion and disappointment, Mike Yameen wondered how his Lawrence High football team would respond at Haverhill last night. The 27-point opening quarter pretty much answered the question.

“Take our wins, but you can’t take away our pride,” said the Lancer coach after his inspired gridders devoured Haverhill, 46-12, last night.

Earlier in the week, the Haverhill administration reported the Lancers’ use of an ineligible player, costing Lawrence its second most prolific season since the 1980s.

“All that was going on, we all took it personally, and we showed it on the field,” said senior quarterback Ramon Heredia, who threw a pair of long TD bombs and ran 31 yards for a third touchdown, all before the final whistle of the first quarter was blown.

“It bothered us. We were definitely bothered by the timing of the whole thing,” added senior Demetri Brown, on the receiving end of the first two scores, one a 50-yarder and the other 55. “They took our year away. We were going to come out and do it for him.”

In hindsight, it might have been a strategic mistake by Haverhill, one that galvanized the opposition behind the cause.

Coach Tim Briggs, whose Hillies fell to 1-8, disagreed. “The stuff that went down this week is called integrity. There are rules for a reason,” said Briggs. “Quite frankly, it wasn’t something that Haverhill did other than read in the newspaper that one of their friends, with the class that graduated last year, is still playing. I’d like to have Justin Cook and all those guys back this year too.”

The added motivation, combined with a slew of Hillie injuries, turned this one into an ugly mismatch just minutes in. Heredia simply ran wild, chewing up 76 yards on six carries - three for touchdowns - while hitting 10 of 17 passes for 202 yards. Brown led the pass catchers with five for 137 yards.

Haverhill show a bit of life when Tim Nutter hit nifty Noel Figuereo on an 81-yard bomb, but the joy was only temporary.

Heredia answered untouched on a 31-yard TD sweep, and his senior classmate Dimar “Tiger” Torres struck the knockout punch, picking off a pass and dashing 42 yards to paydirt for a 27-6 lead with 2:08 left in the first.

Up 33-6 at halftime, Heredia ran for his second score, a seven-yarder midway through the third, prompting the Lawrence bench to empty for an impromptu dance in the Haverhill end zone, one that was greeted by an unsportsmanlike conduct call.

Linebackers Harvey Blanco, Donea Robinson and Steve Mannion anchored a Lancer defense that allowed Haverhill 160 yards on 39 carries but pounced on four turnovers.  

Defending champs heading back to finals

SUDBURY — With North Reading leading 25-24 in the fourth game, every member of its student section was holding up one finger to signify “just one more point.”.
Within seconds, those students were storming the court, looking to hug the nearest Hornet player.
The defending state champion Hornets defeated Frontier 27-29, 25-19, 25-19, 26-24 in the Division 3 state semifinals. The Hornets (23-1) now move on to the state championship game Saturday against Cinderella Millis (16-8), noon at Hudson High.
“The girls played their butts off, from the backline to the front,” said coach Keri Forrest amid a wild celebration between coaches players, parents and students. “It was a little bit of luck but also a lot of hard work.”
Frontier took the opening game 29-27 in a back-and-forth battle of the two rivals, who’ve met late in the postseason each of the last four years.
The turning point of the match came in Game 2 when North Reading’s Adrianna Doyle came to serve and brought the Hornets back from a 15-12 deficit. Soon it was 20-15 Hornets and they held on 25-19.
Doyle provided some fine serves which Frontier had difficulty answering, including two aces.
North Reading took the with lead with another 25-19 win in the third game.
Elizabeth Sutera, who made several clutch kills, put North Reading in position to serve out the match with a 24-24 tie. Frontier couldn’t return either of Taylor Dyer’s last two serves and that started the wild celebration.
With Frontier’s gifted eighth grader Cassidy Stankowski’s wicked jump serve, North Reading knew it wouldn’t be easy.
And, of course, it wasn’t as the previously unbeaten Red Hawks, who won Division 3 state titles in 2005 and 2006, battled to the end.
“Nichole Cecchini (26 digs) played unbelievable, she wasn’t afraid of anything,’’ beamed Forrest. “We had been working on defending that all week because that (jump serves) is definitely their strength.”
Sutera led the Hornets with 11 kills while returning Eagle-Tribune All-Star Alison Friberg led with 28 assists.
“I really don’t know what to say, this was just an exciting game,” said Sutera. “Frontier is one of our biggest rivals and it feels great beating them 3-1.”