RallyNorth.net

CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND: Pinkerton, Londonderry win in semifinals to set up epic state title matchup

Thursday, November, 05 By By Mac Cerullo

NASHUA - The moment the ball bounced over the foot of the Bedford sweeper, Pinkerton striker Nicole Alves charged forward, gained some separation and just let one rip, hoping for the best.
"I just toed the ball and prayed it went in," Alves said. "I thought it would hit the post, but it went right in and I just got goosebumps."
Alves' goal in the 18th minute proved to be the difference as Pinkerton beat Bedford 1-0 in Thursday night's Division 1 state semifinal, setting up a decisive showdown with archrival Londonderry in Sunday's state championship game.
Pinkerton, the tournament's top seed, came into the game as a heavy favorite and lived up to the hype early on, playing what coach Steve Gundrum called one of its best first halves of the season. The Astros controlled the ball for nearly the entire frame, prevented Bedford from taking a shot, and had several other chances to score besides Alves' goal.
Coming out of halftime, however, Bedford began to pick up its game, and Gundrum said his team started to play nervous.
"It doesn't make any difference what you say to the kids, even professionals do it, once you're leading late, you try not to lose, and they don't play to win," Gundrum said. "That's what happened. We were getting nervous. We were playing nervous. We were just trying to clear it out."
Bedford nearly tied the game in the 53rd minute when a shot from over 30 yards out bounced off the crossbar, but Pinkerton defender, Catherine Goodwin, was able to corral it for keeper Samantha Mitchell before any Bulldogs were able to finish.
Pinkerton had to contend with a handful of juicy corner kicks as well, but ultimately was able to minimize Bedford's chances and come away with the win.
LANCERS WIN IN PENALTY KICKS
Prior to Pinkerton's game, Londonderry beat Manchester Central 2-1 in penalty kicks to advance to Sunday's Division 1 state final.
Central took the lead in the 55th minute, but Londonderry responded seconds later. Katrina Rivard received a nice through ball down towards the right corner. She then delivered a perfect cross along the turf to Laurel Goding, who was left completely uncovered in the center of the box and was able to finish with ease to tie the game.
With neither team able to gain any separation from that point on, the game went to penalty kicks, which went eight rounds before Isabella Bourque scored the game-winner and Jackie Luckhardt made the decisive save to clinch the win.
Halle Hamilton, Samantha LeClair, Erin Barnes, Mackenzie Donovan and Samantha Lecaroz all scored in the shootout as well.
Pinkerton and Londonderry will square off in the title game at Exeter High School on Sunday at 2:15 p.m. Pinkerton won the midseason matchup 1-0.