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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)."

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.

 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.

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

 Timberlane is accepting nominations for its next athletic Hall of Fame. The criteria for nomination as well as the process overview and ssociated forms are available on the Athletic Department’s website at www.timberlane.net/athletics. The deadline for nomination of 2022 inductees is January 31,

2022.

Emma Reilly notched a hat trick as Andover rolled to a 6-0 win over Lowell. The Golden Warriors improved to 11-0-1 on the season.

Andover field hockey blanked Methuen, 6-0, behind two goals apiece from Emma Reilly and Casey Michael. Alex Tardugno was credited with a whopping 25 saves for the Rangers.

Andover field hockey shaded upset-minded North Andover, 2-1, on goals by Emma Reilly and Casey Michael. The Bard of Turkey Town, Jenna Bard, was huge with 10 saves in the loss while Shelby Nassar scored.

Emma Reilly had a goal and two assists as Andover field hockey (5-0-1) blanked Chelmsford 3-0

Emma Reilly and Olivia Beucler both scored twice as Andover field hockey stayed unbeaten, dominating Central Catholic, 6-1.