RallyNorth.net

Tue, Nov 14, 2017 05:00 PM @ Andover

Team	1st	2nd	Final
King Philip	0	0	0
Andover	1	0	1

Doorstep of glory: Andover field hockey stands just 60 minutes away from state title

Wednesday, November, 15 By Kyle Gaudette

BRAINTREE - Kate Gregory didn't look at the King Philip goalie for a second.

She didn't watch the goalie's eyes, as many do when they're taking a penalty stroke, or survey for any sort of weakness that could help get that ball into the back of the cage.

Nope. Gregory just stuck to her routine.

"After the (penalty stroke) was called, Katherine (Furry, the other primary stroker) turned to me, and she said ‘No Kate, it's yours," said Gregory, a senior tri-captain.

"So I didn't even look at the cage. I just looked straight down at the ball and my heart was racing, I could feel it, but I knew that I've done this thousands of times in practice."

With just over four minutes left in the first half, Gregory sniped her penalty stroke to her favorite spot, the top-left corner of the cage, to give her team a lead it wouldn't give up. Andover's defense took over from there, clamping down on South champion King Philip for a 1-0 victory in the Division 1 state semifinals.

The penalty stroke was awarded after a King Philip anddefender kicked away what would have been an Andover goal.

With the victory, North champion and still undefeated Andover (21-0-1) stands just one win away from the program's third state championship in the last eight years (2010, 2011). The Warriors will play West champion Longmeadow (19-0-2) in the state final on Saturday at WPI, starting at either 8 a.m. or 1 p.m. according to coach Maureen Noone.

"It's crazy! It's the farthest we've gone since we won the whole thing," said Gregory, who will be playing at Williams College next fall. "I'm really excited."

Gregory wasn't alone with not watching the goalie on her penalty stroke.

"I had no doubt she was going to score, but I couldn't watch it," laughed Noone.

King Philip (19-3-1) made a heavy push for the equalizer in the final three minutes, forcing three consecutive corners. But they were turned away without a shot on goal each time.

That was the story of the night. Led by backs Anna Vrountas, Carissa Agostino and Anna Zdunczyk as well as Gregory and Jordan Torres playing defensive-midfield, Andover allowed just one shot all game to find its way to senior goalie Julia Gordon.

That shot came off a corner with just over eight minutes left in the second half, but Gordon easily kicked it away. Star King Philip junior, Allison Meehan, who is already committed to Northeastern, was held in check all night.

It was Andover's 14th shutout of the season, and the Warriors have now outscored their opponents 93-11.

"It's nothing miraculous but they do a great job. And I don't think they get the credit they deserve," said Noone. "Anna Z., Anna V. and Kate back there, and Carissa Agostino played outstanding. And those are the kids that don't get recognized a lot for what they do. And Julia, our goalie, is very confident."

There will be some history when Andover and Longmeadow face off in the state finals, but none anybody on the current roster can relate to.

Saturday will be a rematch of the 2011 Division 1 state final, won 1-0 by Andover on a goal from, at the time, Holy Cross-bound Julia LeBlanc.

"We have an off day tomorrow so everyone will probably calm down and recuperate," said Gregory. "And I know that everyone has been working super hard all season.

"I think we're ready."

 

Verge of the third

Andover field hockey will be looking for its third state championship in the last eight years on Saturday when it plays West champion Longmeadow at WPI. A start time has not yet been announced.

Year     Record    Goals for     Goals against     Title

2010     24-0-0     109     6     Yes

2011     22-0-2     99     4     Yes

*2017     21-0-1     93     11     ?  

*One game remaining

Andover 1, King Philip 0

Division 1 State Semifinal

Goals: Kate Gregory

Saves: A - Julia Gordon 1; KP - Abigail Campbell 9

King Philip (19-3-1): 0 0 - 0

Andover (21-0-1): 1 0 - 1