RallyNorth.net

North Andover Scarlet Knights Girls Lacrosse '15

Thu, Jun 11, 2015 04:30 PM @ Billerica
Team 1 2 Final
North Andover 6 2 8
Billerica 3 2 5

Chittick, Knights roll into final four

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Thursday, June, 11 By Jeff Hamrick

BILLERICA — Thursday wasn't the regular season.

Thursday was for champions.

And today, the North lacrosse title still resides in North Andover and belongs to the Scarlet Knight girls.

Making amends for a pair of defeats by a combined three goals to MVC champ Billerica, the second-seeded Knights rocked the top-seeded Indians 8-5 for their second consecutive sectional trophy. North Andover will take an 18-5 record into Tuesday's state semifinal at a time to be announced against the winner of today's Central/West title match between Longmeadow and Minnechaug.

"We lost to Billerica twice in the regular season, and that just motivated us so much," said senior midfielder Leah Chittick, who ignited the Knights early and controlled face-off duals the entire afternoon. "So, we were on a mission for revenge and that's what happened."

An early firestorm of an assault is what fell on Billerica, which averaged 13.7 goals while winning 19 of its first 20 matches.

Controlling draws from the start, Chittick provided immediate momentum with a pair of unassisted goals in the first 4:07. The second came after a steal in the Indian zone.

"I think that lit our spark and that got us going," Chittick said about getting her seventh and eight goal of her three-game playoff run. "I was just glad that I could do it."

The Knights continued to press as goals by Michelle Poirior, who hauled in a tough pass from Julia Morandi 40 seconds after Chittick's second goal, and Courtney Karellas on a slick feed from Abbie Karalis with 16:54 left in the first provided a four-score lead.

"We wanted to come off the ball strong, and we really wanted to possess the ball," said Knight coach Meredith Prior, whose squad has lost five games by a combined six goals. "Possession was our game. We also made sure we made the right decisions ... We just wanted to get the draw and take control of the game.

"We definitely possessed them a lot more than we did the two games before. So, we were just looking to get up early and hold the lead."

After watching Billerica close to within two midway through the first, North Andover quickly reclaimed control, holding the ball for more than five minutes and receiving goals from Colleen Chittick and Poirier for another four-score lead.

The Knights wasted little time after intermission as Poirier (the facilitator) and Karelis (the scorer) hooked up on a fast-break goal less than 5 minutes in. But Billerica once again rallied to cut its deficit to 7-5 with a pair of goals in an 11-second span.

But that would be all for the Indians as a defensive unit led by Sarah Waldrep and Emma Johns clamped down on the Billerica. What did make it past the defensemen was turned back by goalie Lauren Hiller, who had four of her six saves after intermission and also made a huge steal with 10:58 left following a pair of North Andover possessions that ended on turnovers.

"She comes up big whenever we need her," Prior said of her junior goalie. "We have unwavering confidence in her because she always comes up big in a big game."

Leah Chittick closed out the day's scoring with a nice stutter move on a penalty play with 16:20 left.

"We just didn't play the entire 50 minutes and I think North Andover did," Billerica coach Ashley Martell said. "(The Knights) are a great team, so to be able to compete with them is great and shows we deserve to be here."

Now the Knights, who won last year's north final after losing it the previous year, get a chance at atonement for last year's state semifinal loss to Westwood.

"I think every year is definitely different because it's a different team," Hiller said. "I think this year we had the three seniors (tri-captains Chittick, Nicole Ayres and Emma Sauls) and we're very close to them, so we're trying harder for them. That's what's different this year."

 

Game Statistics:

Division 1 North final

Goals: NA — Leah Chittick 3, Michelle Poirier 2, Courtney Karelas 2, Colleen Chittick; B — Amanda Burns 2, Macy Vercelini 2, Caroline Gillis

Assists:  NA — Abbie Karalis 2, Julia Morandi, C.Chittick, Poirier; B — Catie Farmer

Saves:  NA — Laureen Hiller 6; B — Vanessa Mattar 8

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