RallyNorth.net

BEDFORD — In a flash, it was finished.

As Pinkerton and Winnacunnet turned in their usual tournament war yesterday, battling to a standoff over 74 minutes, the top-seeded Astros drew a penalty corner in the last minute of the first overtime period.

Brooks field hockey fell to St. Marks 1-0 in the NEPSAC Class B Final.

The Brooks field hockey team advanced to the Class B prep finals today by defeating Middlesex 3-2. Danielle Doherty, who played a terrific all-around game, scored the games's only goal two minutes into the second half for the No. 2-seed Green and White (16-4) on an assist from Alesandra Miller. Allie Barry also played well for Brooks, which will face No. 1-seed St. Mark's at 11 a.m. today at Loomis.

 After an impressive performance at the regional meet, UNH senior Keely Maguire of Georgetown has qualified for the NCAA Div. 1 cross country nationals.

Maguire received one of four individual regional bids to qualify for the national meet after she placed 16th overall at the NCAA Northeast Regional Friday afternoon at Hammonassett State Park. Maguire, who earned All-Region honors for the second straight year, completed the 6-kilometer course in a time of 20:22.5.   Maguire is the first member of the UNH women’s cross country team to qualify for national championships since Cathy Parker made the trip in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007. 

Another Andover-Chelmsford field hockey game, another battle.

The two MVC teams split their regular season matchups and battled evenly in Division 1 North first round action yesterday. It took a successful penalty corner with no time remaining in overtime for fourth-seed Chelmsford to prevail, 3-2.

After dropping its season opener Friday in the New Hampshire Tech Tournament, the Northern Essex men's basketball team rebounded with a 111-41 victory over Northern Maine yesterday. All-tournament selection Matt Sifferlen of North Andover had 27 points, Pentucket grad Will Angelini chipped in with 13 and Haverhill's Kyle Davis added 11. In Friday's game, Damian Lugay scored 16 points and lawrence's Franklin Martinez added 11.

Alis Roman had a second-half goal but it wasn't enough as Methuen fell to Weston, 5-1, in Division 1 North field hockey.

"Our goal was to make the tournament and we accomplished it," said Ranger coach Karen McLaughlin.

Despite a 14-save performance from Brianna Rastello, No. 6-seeded Salem field hockey lost 2-0 to second-seeded Winnacunnet in the Division 1 semifinals.

North Andover's Kali Otis scored two goals, and Andover's Brianna Smith added two scores of her own as the Scarlet Knights played the Golden Warriors to a 2-2 tie in field hockey.

Lawrence field hockey broke a 55-game losing streak by defeating Rockport last night, 1-0. Bianca Pena found the mark in the second half to lift the Lancers to their first win since Oct. 6, 2009 against Dracut. "The girls wanted it, went out and got it," head coach Kate Quinlan said.

North Andover battled its way to a 2-1 victory over Central Catholic and a berth in the state field hockey tourney. Danielle McAdam and Kali Otis (assist) transitioned the ball well in the victory while Danielle Jillson turned in a solid defensive effort for the Knights.

A controversial long-range goal put Pentucket behind the eight-ball early and a late-game Newburyport tally created a deceptive 2-0 final. Ellen Gulezian and Liza Brackbill turned in outstanding efforts in the back half of the Sachems' set.