ANDOVER — Within their paths towards a mixed eight Div. 1 state titles over the past 14 years, perennial North contenders Andover and Acton-Boxboro haven’t had a lot success avoiding each other come event time. But in that lengthy line of intense playoff matchups and iconic performances towards one another, none had Golden Warriors star senior Emma Reilly’s title connected to them.
That is till Wednesday evening.
With two unstoppable strokes and her typical model of correct slams, Reilly scored a hat trick to energy the second-seeded Andover (19-1) offense towards a 4-0 win over No. 15 Acton-Boxboro within the Div. 1 spherical of 16.
The Revolution (11-7-2) protection proved stingy by a lot of the sport regardless of what the ultimate rating learn, however an enormous second quarter and their very own formidable protection paved an 18-1 shot benefit for the Golden Warriors. Much of that got here inside 11 nook alternatives and the unlikely two strokes, finally making the reigning state champion’s assault too powerful to utterly cease.
Even for a program like Acton-Boxboro that’s executed it loads occasions earlier than.
Andover strikes on to play No. 23 King Philip within the state quarterfinals.
“It’s huge, A-B is one of the best programs in the state,” Reilly stated. “Being able to come out with a win like that is always great, it’s always a great match. … Just putting shots on net, honestly (got the offense going).”
“Any time you play A-B, they’re going to be a really good team,” added Warriors head coach Maureen Noone. “I think it’s huge when you beat them. It gives you a confidence boost.”
The first quarter featured a lot of that tenacious vitality, as each defenses restricted pictures regardless of a handful of journeys into one another’s facet of the sector. Just three minutes into the second quarter, although, Andover broke the tie.
A bevy of pictures on Acton-Boxboro goalie Emily Beale (13 saves) off rebounds created a lane for Bella DiFiore, and the sophomore wasted no time burying one for a 1-0 lead. A change in method for Andover to only knock bounding balls into the circle as a substitute of finessing with stick work created extra alternatives, and the corners stored coming.
Another barrage on Beale led to a stroke when a shot hit a leg in its path to the aim, and Reilly flicked within the aim off Beale’s facet with 2:51 left within the half.
“We realized going into the circle and playing pretty wasn’t going to work,” Noone stated. “Their defense came right out on (Reilly) and she couldn’t get a direct shot off. Kind of backed her up and maybe started to do slips a little bit more, and things like that to try to capitalize on corners.”
The offensive strain the Revs produced within the first half with its methodical passing down the sector got here fewer and much between within the second. Andover’s offensive alternatives didn’t.
A scoreless third quarter ended 12 minutes in, as a fourth nook for the Warriors within the body noticed Rose MacLean help Reilly for a 3-0 lead. Ten minutes later, one other nook led to a uncommon second stroke. Reilly wouldn’t miss.
“Putting bouncing balls in the circle, anything can happen with that,” she stated. “Whether it’s a foot or it ends up in the net, either way it’s a great opportunity. They’re not always the prettiest but it gets it done.”
Much of that was a credit score to the defensive and midfield traces, which neutralized any momentum Acton-Boxboro may produce. Reilly says the hustle of the ahead line to get again performed a big function in permitting only one shot and one nook, too.
Source: www.bostonherald.com