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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)."

Andover's Lucy Adams broke the tie in overtime as Brooks defeated St. Mark's 2-1 in NEPSAC girls soccer quarterfinal action. Elena Agosti scored in regulation for Brooks (12-4).

Haverhill's Elijah Haas scored 23 points and Phillip Cunningham, also of Haverhill, and Lawrence's Daniel Almarante each added 13 points as Northern Essex Community College men's basketball opened conference play with an 89-52 win over Quinsigamond. Lawrence's Cristian Kinsley hit four 3-pointers for the winners.

The Bradford Christian cross country teams both easily defeated Notre Dame Cristo Rey of Methuen at the 5K Winnekenni Park course. For the BCA boys, Andrew Beckley (21:01), Tommy Beckley and Elijah Maya led the way. For the girls, Olivia May (25:19), Kaitlyn Bergeron and Isabella Harb shined. 

It was scoreless at the half but Central Catholic field hockey ruled the second half to beat Attleboro, 3-1, in the Round of 32. Goals were by Brooke Jankowski, Kerri Finneran and Hayley Creegan. Hayley's sister Sophia had a defensive save.

It wasn't the blowout you might expect when No. 1 plays No. 32 but Andover field hockey beat Brookline, 1-0. In the second quarter, Haley Carver scored from Hailey Doherty. Andover dominated (Adelaide Weeden had 0 saves) but Olivia Sheehan (16 saves) kept it close for the visitors.

Brenna Corcoran had a hat trick and Kaleigh Longenecker had three assists as Haverhill field hockey broke out with five goals in the second half for a convincing 6-1 victory over EVerett. 

Nora Hess scored twice and Haverhill scored four goals in the second half to defeat EVerett 5-2 in field hockey.

Natalia Fiato scored a hat trick and Methuen field hockey clinched a postseason berth in its final regular season game with a 6-0 win over Dracut.

On Senior Night, freshman Mary Jane Petisce scored twice to pace Methuen field hockey to a 6-1 rout of Tewksbury.

 Andover's field hockey team (16-0-1) wrapped up yet another Merrimack Valley Conference championship  with a 5-0 shutout of North Andover. Olivia Beucler scored a hat trick for the Warriors.

Cecilia Ponzini scored the only game in the second half to propel the No. 3 Windham field hockey team past Manchester Central 1-0 and into Wednesday's Division 1 semifinals against No. 2 Bedford. The Jaguars (14-2-1) lost to Bedford 2-1 earlier in the season.

North Andover senior Ryan Connolly continued his tremendous cross country season Saturday by placing first at the Dick Atkinson Invitational5K in Westfield, covering the 3.1 miles in 16:07.80. Teammate Luke McGillivray finished 14th. The Knights did not send a complete squad.

Emma Reilly got a hat trick and Tess Gobiel scored twice as Andover blanked Tewksbury 5-0.