Peabody 11-15

NOVEMBER 15, 2018
WEEKLYNEWS.NET - 978-532-5880 9
Sports
PHOTOS | ANNE MARIE TOBIN
Sophomore Mia Tsaparlis, left, dribbles around a Swampscott defender. At right, Grace Foley had perhaps Fenwick’s best chance of scoring against the Big Blue
Sunday. Middle, the captains receiving the runner-up trophy are, from left, Marissa Orlando, Sam Tache, Sammi Gallant and Foley.
Quick Big Blue burst dooms Fenwick girls
By Anne Marie Tobin
LYNN — A first half two-goal burst in a two-minute
span was all No. 7 seeded Swampscott girls soccer team
needed to win its first North Division 3 championship
in program history, defeating No. 4 Bishop Fenwick,
2-0, Sunday at Manning Field.
The Crusaders, however, didn’t make it easy, as they
threw everything they had at the Big Blue in the second
half, but could not crack through Swampscott’s stout
back line defense to seal the win for the Big Blue and
punch their ticket to the state semifinals Wed., Nov. 14
against South Division champion Norwell, which defeated
Hanover, 3-2, Sunday at Milford.
“I don’t know if Swampscott has ever won a north
title, all I know is they haven’t since 2008 at least,” said
Big Blue coach Norman James. “As a first-year coach,
I had no idea what to expect. I just know that I am so
happy for the players and this feels incredible.”
Fenwick coach Steve Flaherty said while he was disappointed
to lose the game, the Crusaders gave it their all.
“Their effort was unbelievable from start to finish,
especially in the second half, but we just couldn’t finish
our opportunities,” Flaherty said. “The only thing I told
them was to leave it all on the field, and they did just
that. My four senior captains (Sammi Gallant, Marissa
Orlando, Sam Tache and Grace Foley ) were tremendous
today and have been all year. Marissa especially
created so many chances for us despite being double
and triple-teamed at times.
Senior Grace Digrande netted the eventual game-winning
goal at the 11:06 mark, converting a free kick
from the 25-yard line after her sister Sophia Digrande,
a freshman, was fouled. Grace Digrande launched a
seeing-eye shot into the top left corner of the net, just
inches inside the post and inches under the crossbar.
Fenwick freshman keeper Claudia Keith made a leaping
attempt to save the ball, but (you guessed it) came up
inches away.
With a little more than nine minutes to play in the
half, speedy Big Blue sophomore midfielder Mackenzie
Kearney made a run down the left side of the field and
earned a corner kick. Grace Digrande lofted a perfect
corner into the box, where senior captain Haley
Bernhardt picked the ball out of midair and buried it
past Keith to double the Big Blue’s lead to 2-0 with
8:51 left to play in the first half.
The goal got the Crusaders’ attention as they amped
up the offensive pressure, creating several scoring opportunities
the rest of the half. Their best chances came
with under two minutes to play off shots by senior captain
Grace Foley, a midfielder and freshman midfielder
Isabella DelVecchio, only to be denied by Swampscott’s
senior keeper, Nicole Rosa.
Fenwick carried its offensive momentum into the
second half and pretty much controlled possession and
pace of play for much of the half.
Orlando, a forward, owned the right side of the field,
creating several chances on runs despite being tightly
marked, and at times, double-teamed. One of the
Crusaders’ best chances to cut into the Big Blue’s lead
came in the 55th minute on a free kick at the 35-yard
line. Freshman McKenna Gilligan launched a floater
into the box where a Swampscott defender, misdirected
a header toward her own goal. Rosa scrambled through
a scrum and collided with a Fenwick player but was
able to cover up the loose ball.
With 13 minutes to go in the game, Bernhardt nearly
put the game out reach. Kearney sliced and diced her way
through Fenwick’s midfield and found Bernhardt, wide
open at the top right corner of the box, but her shot went
wide.
With under 10 minutes to go, Fenwick junior midfielder
Isabella Fabbo, sophomore defender Elani
Gikas and Gilligan all had quality chances, but Rosa
denied them all.
Fenwick best chance came with under three minutes
to go when Gilligan launched a free kick on goal from
the 30, only to come up empty.
James credited the defense and his keeper for doing a
great job keeping the Crusaders off the board.
“Emerson (Laundry) played a tremendous game and
Kayla (Kornitsky) and Molly (Frauenholz) played such
a steady consistent game today,” James said. “And
Aislinn (McCarran) is only a sophomore and wasn’t
even on the team last year, so those four really played
so well today.
“Nicky (Rosa) took a real beating today and was really
knocked around, bloody nose and all, but she was
just incredible.”
Fenwick finished the season 17-3-1.
Flaherty said he is looking forward to next year.
“We have five or six freshmen, like McKenna, who
got quality minutes in this game and through the regular
season, so while I hate to lose the six seniors,”
Flaherty said.
Crusaders get back at Austin Prep
By Daniel Kane
LYNN — The third time
proved to be the charm for the
Bishop Fenwick girls soccer
team. After falling to Austin
Prep twice during the regular
season, the No. 4 Crusaders took
down the No. 1 Cougars when it
counted most with a 1-0 win in
the Division 3 North semifinal
Nov. 7 at Manning Field.
The lone goal was scored in the
second half on a shot by freshman
Jordan Morris. Senior captain
Marissa Orlando set up Morris’
goal with a nice assist.
“It was a great goal,” Fenwick
coach Steve Flaherty said.
“Jordan is a freshman and that
was her first time scoring. I told
her before the game, ‘You need to
score tonight,’ and she just delivered.
She has been working hard
in practice, but they all have. It
was a good team effort.
“We all know Marissa can
play,” Flaherty added. “She
caused a lot of problems for their
defense tonight, but there is no
individual for us. It was a great
team effort.”
After a defensive battle in the
first half Fenwick found an opportunity
with three minutes before
halftime. After a free kick from
just outside the box was blocked
by an Austin Prep defender, a rebound
chance opened up for the
Crusaders but they couldn’t capitalize
as a shot sailed high over
the net.
The Crusaders were eventually
able to capitalize on another
chance later in the second half.
Orlando carried the ball down the
right side of the field and into the
Austin Prep box. After making a
defender miss she dished a perfect
pass to Morris in front of the
net, who ripped a shot into the
back of the net to give Fenwick a
1-0 lead with 16:16 to play.
Austin Prep gave one last surge
on offense in the final minutes of
play but the Crusaders were able
to hold on for the 1-0 victorysealing
their bid into the sectional
final.
“Austin Prep is a good team
and we both played hard tonight,”
Flaherty said. “There’s not much
you can do about a game like this.
Whoever makes the first mistake,
the other team is going to capitalize.
It was a good game.”
With the win, the Crusaders advanced
to their second North sectional
final in three years.