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WEST NEWBURY — Something had to give.

Throughout the first half yesterday, Pentucket and North Andover were throwing waves of defense at each other. Packing in the area between the tackles, the two run-oriented teams struggled to gain 144 combined yards in the opening 22 minutes. Only a fumble recovered by North Andover's Dylan Lurvey at the Sachem 20-yard line could set up the lone score of the half.

WEST NEWBURY — Something had to give.

Throughout the first half yesterday, Pentucket and North Andover were throwing waves of defense at each other. Packing in the area between the tackles, the two run-oriented teams struggled to gain 144 combined yards in the opening 22 minutes. Only a fumble recovered by North Andover's Dylan Lurvey at the Sachem 20-yard line could set up the lone score of the half.

No. 6 Belmont scored off a corner kick with less than a minute left in overtime to beat No. 11 Pentucket 2-1 in the first round of the Division 2 North tournament.  

Pentucket ended its season with an 8-6-5 record.

WEST NEWBURY — Thanks to its trademark grind-it-out running game, Pentucket was the aggressor for nearly 40 minutes.

But Masconomet had its home run hitter.

“Pentucket took it to us,” said Chieftains head coach Jim Pugh. “But a few big plays made by (Evan) Bunker and (Chris) Spliner were the difference in the game.”

READING — A year ago, Pentucket was on the wrong end of the upset of the year, falling to tiny North Reading on opening day at its home field.

This season, led by a pair of surprise stars, the Sachems exacted their revenge.

Haverhill goalie Meghan Gulbrandsen needed 10 saves to tally her eighth shutout season, as the Hillies bested Pentucket 3-0.  Casey Anderson continued her stellar season, scoring all three goals. 

WILMINGTON — The better team won, pure and simple.

In the Cape Ann League Large opener for both teams, Wilmington brought a physical presence that Pentucket just couldn’t match. And when senior running back Evan Butters hit his stride, the game was over for the Sachems in a 31-7 setback last night.

Sarah Kopaciewicz scored on a direct kick from 20 yards out with 1:37 to play to lift the Pentucket girls soccer team to a 3-2 comeback win over Amesbury.

Pentucket's Jason Steele claimed second overall, shooting an even-par round of 35 at Bradford Country Club, leading the Sachems to second overall in a four-team meet with the Newburyport (first), Triton and Amesbury. Pentucket moved to 9-6, claiming a pair of victories to lock up a spot in the state tournament. Steele scored 36 points in the Cape Ann quote scoring system, while teammate Vito Martello was fifth at 32.

North Andover used two goalies, Meg Foster and Steph Twomey in a 3-0 field hockey win over Pentucket and neither one had a save. Michelle Martin led the offense for the Knights (11-1-3) with two goals.