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BURLINGTON — An iron-clad defense has been the calling card of the Andover High field hockey team throughout the 2021 season. But as tight as their game had been through the first 21 games, the Golden Warriors saved their best for last. Andover shut down the high-powered Walpole High offense, en route to a 1-0 win and Division 1 State championship, Saturday afternoon at Burlington High. It's the Golden Warriors fourth overall state championship and first since 2017. The lone goal of the game came on a penalty stroke by Emma Reilly, with no time left on the clock at the end of the first quarter. Second-seeded Walpole (22-1-0) came into the final having averaged nearly five goals per game in their four tournament wins. Top-seeded Andover (21-0-1) not only posted their fifth straight shutout of the tournament, it held the Porkers without a single shot on goal. Senior Brockelman, juniors Rose MacLean and Anna Broderick and freshman Hannah Herlihy formed an impenetrable wall in front of junior goalie Adelaide Weeden. "They always know where they are supposed to be. I didn't face any shots today, so that is all going toward the defense and they did a phenomenal job, as always," said Weeden. Surveying her half of the field like a general, Weeden could be heard throughout the game shouting encouragement to her defense and sounding a cadence with the now-familiar banging of her stick against the walls of the cage between plays."I think every time the ball gets past the 50, I'm constantly in communication with the defense and the defense knows where to go and what to do. My job is just to keep them focused," said Weeden. "And the freshman (Herlihy) coming in, she did an amazing job. She came in (as a starter) for a semi-finals game and absolutely killed it."Herlihy was inserted into the starting lineup when all-star back Abby Miller suffered a hamstring injury in Andover's quarterfinal win over Shrewsbury. Coach Maureen Noone reconfigured her defense, adding Herlihy as a sweeper. The rookie was more than up to the task."You have a little freshman at the top of the circle and she has nerves of steel," said Noone. "All we told her to do was just sweep balls out, just not let anyone get in there and I thought she did an amazing job."Herlihy's job was made much easier by the rock solid play of Brockelman, Broderick and Maclean. Every time Walpole snipers Jess Tosone and Lauren Wong tried to attack, they were met head on by a white jersey sporting either a 20, 21 or 24."They know how to play off of each other and move around," said Noone. "I thought Ella Brockelman did a great job just keeping balls from going  through the middle and just sending them up through the side."As well as the Andover defense played, Walpole's was almost as good. The Golden Warriors enjoyed 10 corners but were only able to put four shots on goal. The Porkers got a strong game from flyer ????"We knew defensively they had some quick kids, some tough kids. Their flyer comes up so high and the trail comes up high, so getting a direct shot was not going to be easy."Andover's offensive pressure came in flurries. The first came in the final two minutes of the first quarter. The Warriors pressed the attack and got three straight penalty corners for their efforts, as the Porkers scrambled and struggled to clear the zone.Off the third corner, Reilly maneuvered in front of the cage and looked to have a clear shot when she was pushed from behind by a Walpole defender as time expired.Because it was a repeat violation, Reilly was awarded a penalty stroke with none time on the clock. The talented Junior made it count, beating goalie Madison Clark low to her right for her 28th goal of the year and a 1-0 lead."I practice strokes with Adelaide in every practice, so I just had confidence in my ability (to score)," said Reilly. "I thought it could have been a card instead of a stroke, that's sometimes what happens in those situations, but I think maybe because of my proximity to the goal, combined with the push is why (a stroke was awarded)."

With just under four minutes to play, Andover field hockey's Kate Gregory drew the deciding corner that led to freshman's Hanna Medwar's game-winning goal. The tally gave the Warriors (13-0-1) a massive, 1-0, win over defending Division 1 champions Walpole (9-1-2), which suffered its first loss of the season.

The Andover field hockey team faced down its biggest test of the season and passed with flying colors, handing Walpole its first loss of the season by a score of 4-1. Tori Roche had a hat trick to lead the Warriors, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes to give Andover a 2-0 going into halftime, and then after the two teams traded goals early in the second half, she scored a third late to put the game away. Andover coach Maureen Noone said getting the lead early was key and allowed the Warriors to dictate the pace the rest of the way. Specifically, Andover was able to sub out its forward line frequently, which helped the Warriors stay fresh in the unexpectedly hot temperatures and tire out their Walpole counterparts. "Coming in they were confident but they still had a lot of respect for Walpole," Noone said. "They got there early, they were maybe a little anxious at first, but getting a goal seven minutes in really helped change the conversation." In addition to Roche's hat trick, Caroline Curtin had a goal and an assist, Jillian Hughes had two assists and Emma Farnham had one assist. Andover improves to 10-1 with the win and will host Methuen on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Anne Lyons and Jessica Leone delivered strong defensive games in from of sharp sophomore goalie Megan Hartnett (10 saves) as Andover played to a scoreless tie at perennial state power Walpole in field hockey.

 Powerhouse Walpole came in at 12-0, but Andover's field hockey team palyed one of its best games of the year to come away with a 2-2 tie. Jacquelyn Leone scored both goals for the Warriors (9-1-3), Weezie Gross had an assist and played outstanding at midfield and goalie Nicole Schena was superb while making 15 saves.

North Andover captured first in the high jump and pole vault relays, while also taking the spring medley on the way to winning the MSCTA Division 2 relays for the first time in program history, according to Scarlet Knights coach Steve Nugent. Central Catholic was fourth as a team.

Hope Alaimo, Brianna Gagnon and Katie Equi each ran on the shuttle hurdles that took first in 66.21 and were the three members of the triple jump relay that placed second with a 98-4 1/2 to lead Central Catholic to victory in the MSTCA Division 2 relays. North Andover placed fourth as a team.

 With starting goalie Nicole Schena at the hospital due to a bad reaction to a virus, Andover manager Andrea Pennock stepped in and held unbeaten power Walpole scioreless in the first half before the Warriors dropped a 3-0 decision.

NORTH ANDOVER — When opportunity knocks, be prepared to answer.

Despite seeing scant action in last night’s Division 1 state semifinal against Walpole, Andover sophomore Meagan Keefe was ready when called upon.

In spite of trailing 4-0 entering the final period, the Methuen boys hockey team nearly pulled off an epic comeback before ultimately falling to Walpole, 4-3. Dan Loughlin (2 goals, assist), Mike Lussier (goal, assist) and Tyler Murphy (assist) pulled the Rangers back into it, chipping away at the Walpole lead until just a single goal would tie the game. Unfortunately, they were unable to score the equalizer and the Rangers took their third one-goal loss of the season. Jonathan Borden recorded 23 saves in the loss.