In the season finale, Andover defeated traditional rival Exeter by a 14-6 score. Andover had a good start with senior Margaret Moore scoring the Big Blue's first goal. Andover held a 3-1 advantage but Exeter answered with a few goals of their own, and with only a minute to go in the half, Andover was hanging on by a slim one-goal margin 6-5. Fortunately for the Big Blue a great passing sequence which finished with a nice goal gave Andover a two goal lead 7-5 at the break. After the half, Andover came out strong and outscored Exeter 7-1 during the second half. Senior Whitney Annicelli had five goals and senior Alyse Kennedy chipped in with three. Co-captain Tess Scott and Jevan Jammal had strong defensive games for the Blue, and co-captain goalie Julie Wadland had 8 saves and many outstanding clears. Like the entire season, it was a great team effort, and each individual played well and gave her all. The team would like to thank all the parents and fans for their generous support throughout the season. The 2006 lacrosse team finishes with a 12-2 record, with the 2 losses coming by a total of three goals. Quite simply, it was an outstanding season - in large part due to the efforts of six terrific seniors: Julie Wadland, Tess Scott, Margaret Moore, Jevan Jammal, Whitney Annicelli and Alyse Kennedy.
Travelling to play crosstown rival Brooks on Wednesday, Andover was hoping to give the Bishops their first loss of the season, but it wasn't to be as the Big Blue took a 12-10 loss. It was a great game from start to finish as both teams battled end-to-end for fifty minutes. The first few minutes of the game were erractic as each team was trying to settle into a flow. Andover scored first, but then Brooks opened up a 4-2 advantage before the Blue turned the tables again and took a 6-4 lead into the half. The second half saw Brooks control the draws more often and have a significant edge in possessions. Andover was forced to play defense repeatedly and eventually Brooks took a 7-7 tie and went ahead by two goals. The teams exchanged goals, and Andover was able to pull within one. But with time winding down Andover could get no closer, and Brooks took the game 12-10. Andover is 11-2 on the season, and the team will finish up on Friday at 5:15 when they host traditional rival Exeter. Whitney Annicelli and Annie Boylan led the attack with four and three goals respectively. On defense Andover received outstanding efforts from Kit Harris, Jevan Jammal, Karen Schoenherr, Caroline Moore, and co-captains Tess Scott and Julie Wadland.
In a make up of last week's postponement and with a change of venue, Andover hosted Lawrence Academy in a late afternoon contest. Despite an incredibly slow start, Andover managed to pull out an 11-7 win over a scrappy and speedy Lawrence team. At the outset Andover briefly held a 2-0 lead, but the tide quickly turned and the Big Blue found themselves down 2-4. Andover put a goal in before the half to trail at the break 3-4. PA managed a better second half, but overall it was a tough day for the girls in Blue as the team struggled to sustain any consistent momentum. With the victory, Andover is 11-1 on the season with two games remaing - at Brooks on Wednesday at 2:45 and then home on Friday at 5:15 vs Exeter.
Andover travelled to Thayer to take on the 9-1 Tigers, and despite a rough beginning the girls took home a hard fought 13-10 victory. Despite scoring first Andover quickly surrendered five goals in about six and a half minutes to fall behind 5-1. Fortunately, the team was able to re-group and settle down for the remainder of the first half. Andover then proceeded to score the next six goals to take a 7-5 lead at the break. The second half was more of the same end-to-end action with each team having scoring opportunities and defensive stops. The two teams exchanged goals for most of the half with the scoring edge going to Andover. It was a fast paced, physical game, and credit goes to the entire Andover team for responding and rebounding after the slow start - it was quite an accomplishment to go from four down to two up against such a relentless opponent. Andover is now 10-1 on the season, and the team will play at Lawrence Academy on Friday at 4:30.
In a showdown between two unbeaten teams, Andover travelled to Windsor, CT to take on Loomis and from start to finish it was exactly the type of game you would have expected from two top teams. Andover jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but Loomis answered with three of the next four goals to make the score 4-3 Andover with six minutes to go in the first half. Andover scored two goals within ten seconds in the final minute of the half to take a 6-3 advantage at the break. Loomis opened the second half strong as they scored three in a row to tie the game at six with 17 minutes to go in the game. The teams then exchanged goals with Andover going up 8-7, but Loomis answering; Andover going up 9-8 and Loomis answering to tie the game at 9 with three minutes to go in the game. Loomis took their one and only lead of the game 10-9 with 1:44 left. Andover had a final possession, and worked to get a good shot, but unfortunately the shot was just wide. Despite the outcome, the team's effort was outstanding and it was an intense end to end battle between two very good teams. Alyse Kennedy (5 goals) had a very strong two way game for Andover as she excelled on both ends of the field, Annie Boylan was solid in transition, and Kit Harris and Jen Downing performed well on defense. Goalie Julie Wadland had ten saves. The team is 9-1 on the season and the team will play at Thayer on Wednesday at 3:30.
Hosting Tabor for a late Saturday afternoon game, Andover bested the Seawolves by a score of 19-5. Andover jumped out to an early 3-0 lead only to see Tabor draw close and make the score 3-2, but then the girls in Blue went on a five-goal run. Andover added two more goals before the break to lead at the half 10-3. The draw controls were even throughout the game as Tabor was very strong in that area of the game. In the second half the girls in blue added nine more goals while Tabor added two. Andover played perhaps its best passing game of the season working the ball end to end exceptionally well and having 10 of their 19 goals assisted. Playing particularly well for Andover were Britney Van Valkenburg, Lindsey Weiner, and Stuart Anderson on defense while Alyse Kennedy, Sarah Beattie, and Whitney Annicelli led the attack. Also adding to the offense were Margaret Moore, Annie Boylan and Kayla Lawson. Andover improves to 9-0 on the season and the team will host Milton on Wednesday at 3:15.
Traveling to Watertown, CT to take on Taft, a team that has dealt the Big Blue tough losses the past two years, Andover was able to pull out an 11-9 win. Taft scored first as they controlled the opening draw, but the Big Blue answered with five goals to take a 5-1 lead as the Andover offense played with great precision and poise. Taft scored two quick goals with under two minutes to play in the half, but Andover had the last goal before the break as they scored on a pretty passing play to take a 7-4 lead into halftime. Unfortunately, draw controls this afternoon were dominated by Taft, and the Rhinos converted their controls into goals on their way to tying the game at 8-8 with nineteen minutes to play. Just as the offense was stellar in the first half, the defense rose to the challenge and played superbly for the remainder of the game only allowing one Taft goal in those final nineteen minutes. It was a great team effort from start to finish, and the entire team was instrumental in the victory. Andover improves to 8-0 on the season and will host GDA on Wednesday for a three o'clock start.
Andover hosted Northfield Mount Hermon on a sunny but exceptionally blustery Wednesday, and the home team earned a 14-4 victory. NMH was a determined and scappy team, and they got the game's first goal two minutes into the first half. Andover scored the next six goals and took a 6-2 lead into the half. Andover had six different players score in this afternoon's game, and 8 of the team's 14 goals were assisted. The offense was led by Sarah Beattie, who had 3 goals and three assists and Margaret Moore, who had two goals. Defensively, Stuart Anderson and Britney Van Valkenburg played well for the Big Blue. Katelyn Foley made two saves in the second half while Julie Wadland recorded four saves in the first half and then two assists on offense in the second. Andover improves to 7-0 on the season, and the team will travel to play Taft on Saturday at 3:30.
Taking on the Lady Zebras of Groton on their home field, Andover came away with an 11-6 win. It was a close game from beginning to end, as Groton was a strong and balanced team that forced the Big Blue to really step up its game when it mattered the most. The first half was all defense as neither team could get on track offensively, and at the break Andover led by a 4-1 margin. The first goal of the second half didn't come until nine minutes into the half as Andover got on the board first to make it a 5-1 game. The teams then quickly exchanged goals and Andover held a 6-2 advantage. Then in a span of just under three minutes Groton scored three times to seize momentum and make it only a one goal game. Fortunately, for the Big Blue that was the last goal Groton would score until very late in the game. Forty seconds after Groton had closed the game to 6-5, Andover scored, and within three minutes the Blue had scored three more tiimes to take a commanding 10-5 lead. Andover added its eleventh goal with two minutes go and Groton added its final tally thirty seconds later to make the final score 11-6 in favor of Andover. On offense Andover was led by Carolyn Pollard and Alyse Kennedy. Collectively the defensive unit continued its fine play as Karen Schoenherr, Jevan Jammal, Kit Harris, Caroline Moore, Tess Scott, Jen Downing and Julie Wadland all played very well. Andover improves to 6-0 and will host NMH on Wednesday for a 3:30 game.
On a blustery but sunny spring day, the girls in Blue defeated St. Paul's by an 11-6 score. Andover fell behind early 1-2, but the team regrouped and was able to pull ahead 6-3 with just over two minutes remaining in the first half. In a span of approximately 60 seconds the Big Blue scored 3 goals to close out the half with a 9-3 advantage. Julie Wadland had another stellar game in goal as she made 15 saves on the afternoon, and the entire defensive unit had a solid game for Andover. In the second half, PA couldn't really get settled, and St. Paul's actually outscored the Blue in the second three goals to two. Fortunately, the final tally still was in Andover's favor. Alyse Kennedy and Carolyn Pollard did a superb job controlling draws for Andover and they had four and three points respectively in the game. Whitney Annicelli had five points and Sarah Beattie and Annie Boylan each had a point. Andover is 5-0 on the season and the team will travel to Groton on Saturday for a 1:30 game.
Playing at home on a Friday night, the girls in Blue earned a 15-2 win over visiting Kimball Union Academy. Much like Wednesday's game, it was a strong team effort end-to-end that earned PA the victory in this game. Defensively, the Big Blue was led by goalies Julie Wadland and Katelyn Foley along with defenders Stuart Anderson, Jevan Jammal, Caroline Moore and Karen Schoenherr. Offensively, Whitney Annicelli paced the attack with 8 points, Sarah Beattie added 4, and Alyse Kennedy had 3 points. Margaret Moore also had two goals while Tess Scott and Carolyn Pollard each tallied once. Kit Harris, Annie Boylan, Kayla Lawson and Jen Downing played well in the midfield for the Blue. Also playing well for Andover were Lauren Jackson and Britney Van Valkenburg. Andover is 4-0 on the season and the homestand will continue next Wednesday when the team hosts St. Paul's at 3:15
Hosting the Big Green on a sunny but windy spring day, the Big Blue took the victory 17-3. After a somewhat erractic opening few minutes, Andover settled down and controlled the draws, time of possession and the midfield. At the half the Big Blue led 9-3. Highlighting the first half was goalie Julie Wadland's assist on a goal by Alyse Kennedy. The defense also did a very nice job of eliminating scoring opportunities for Deerfield. In the second half, Katelyn Foley took over in goal and made four very good saves as Andover prevented any scoring by DA in the second half. It was a good team performance this afternoon as each and every player contributed to the solid outing. Andover improves to 3-0 and will host KUA on Friday at 5:30.
In a makeup of last Wednesday's rain out, the girls in Blue hosted Middlesex and came away with a 10-7 victory. Middlesex scored first, but Andover quickly answered. The teams exchanged goals for a bit, but gradually Andover was able to take the lead and at the half, the Big Blue led 7-4. In the second half, Andover had a hard time holding onto the ball, and Middlesex capitilized on their opportunities. The second half was even in terms of the scoring, as both teams scored three goals. Andover's defense played well all afternoon. The team improves to 2-0 on the season and will host Deerfield on Wednesday at 3:30 in their next game.
In the season opener at Nobles, the Big Blue got off on the right track with a 12-6 victory. Andover jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening minutes only to have Nobles tie it up, but from that point forward Andover seized control of the scoreboard. At the half, Andover led 8-4 as the defense made several fine plays to close out the half. On defense Andover was led by goalie Julie Wadland with 15 saves, Karen Schoenherr and Kit Harris. Offensively, Alyse Kennedy led Andover with 3 goals and 4 assists while Whitney Annicelli and Sarah Beattie each had 3 goals and 1 assist on the afternoon. Carolyn Pollard added two goals, Annie Boylan had a goal and an assist, and Lauren Jackson had a goal. Overall, it was a good start to the 2006 season. Andover will take on Middlesex on Monday at 4:30 to make-up last Wednesday's rain out.
|
