RallyNorth.net

North Andover Scarlet Knights Girls Lacrosse '14

Thu, Jun 05, 2014 07:00 PM @ North Andover
Team 1 2 Final
Winchester 8 4 12
North Andover 8 9 17

North Andover lacrosse wins Divison 1 North title

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Thursday, June, 05 By David Willis
Staff writer

NORTH ANDOVER — Leah Chittick took the pass near midfield, surged towards the net and, just as she was sent flying to the ground by a hard shoulder, buried what proved to be the biggest goal of her career.

“That goal was so emotional,” said Chittick. “It was just the confidence boost we needed. Scoring the goal, getting knocked down. It was crazy.”

With the game tied midway through the second half, Chittick’s highlight-reel score sent North Andover High on a six-goal run, and the top-seeded Scarlet Knights were unstoppable from there, locking down a 17-12 victory over No. 3 Winchester to take home their first ever Division 1 North title.

“We wanted this so bad and it is just amazing to be North champs,” said co-captain Erin Kelley. “We are on Cloud 9 right now. After last year, we were not going to lose this game. It is amazing.”

North Andover now advances to Monday’s Division 1 state semifinal to face the winner of today’s South championship matchup between Notre Dame of Hingham and Notre Dame. The semifinal will be played at Babson College.

“We have been waiting a long time for this,” said co-captain Julie Gallant. “We have worked so hard to get here, and we knew we had to step up if we were going to earn that trophy. So to celebrate with it was just so special.”

The emotions erupted at the end of the game, as the Scarlet Knights mugged goalie Lauren Hiller, then were presented with the trophy which each one of the players planted a kiss on.

It was quite a change from a season ago, when North Andover fell to Westford Academy in the North Final.

“The thought of actually kissing the trophy is crazy,” said sophomore Abbie Karalis. “Last year was so tough, and so from Day 1 our goal was to win the North title. We were going to give it all we could.”

It is the Knights’ first trip to the state semifinals since going to the Eastern Mass. Division 2 final in 2009.

For more than a half, neither team could grab an edge. After North Andover opened with a 4-1 lead, Winchester fought right back and the game was tied 8-8 at halftime. The Knights scored early in the second half, but the Sachems responded right away to tie it at 10-10.

But then Chittick struck with her aggressive score.

“We call her ‘Lethal Leah,’” said Kelley. “Whenever we need a lift she is there. Once we scored there, then started to add to that lead it felt real that we were going to win.”

Kelley followed that goal with a score of her own, then Chittick scored again, and Karalis, Kelley and Michelle Poirier added goals to make the score 15-10 before Winchester could respond.

“We knew Winchester was going to be a tough team because they upset Andover,” said Chittick. “But once we got going and started to score, we just kept banging them in. It was amazing to share this with everyone.”

Winchester managed a late three-goal rally, but scores by Emma Johns and Kelley sealed the deal. Goalie Hiller stood out in net, making 11 saves.

“There are no words for how amazing this is,” said coach Meredith Prior. “This team played with so much heart and they wanted the redemption from last year. I can’t wait to see what this team is going to do next.”

Game Statistics:

Division 1 North Final

Goals: NA — Leah Chittick 6, Abbie Karalis 3, Erin Kelley 3, Michelle Poirier 3, Julia Morandi, Emma Johns; W — Alexis Miller 3, Alex Curtain, Missy Riccio 2, Alaina Ewing 6

Assists: NA —Julie Gallant 3, Colleen Chittick 3 , Poirier, Kelley, L. Chittick 2; W — Miller, Curtain, Riccio, Ewing, Anna Vaeth

Saves: NA — Lauren Hiller 11; W — Hallie Stone 8

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