RallyNorth.net

ANDOVER — For much of the final 20 minutes of the contest, Andover threw all of the pressure it could at its opponent. But, in the end, the Golden Warriors couldn’t find the back of the net.

Sarah Oteri scored three goals and added two assists to lead No. 2 Andover past No. 7 Westford Academy 5-1 in the quarterfinals of the Division 1 North tournament. 

Andover wasted no time taking control of its Division 1 North field hockey tournament opener.

The Golden Warriors scored three times in the first half and cruised to a 4-0 victory over Lincoln-Sudbury in first round play.

The Andover field hockey team put the finishing touches on an impressive 17-0-1 record. But even more impressive than the record is the fact that the Golden Warriors scored 80 while the opposition could only score three past the Andover goal line.  Yesterday, the defense did not allow a shot on net.

The Andover field hockey team crept to within one step of an undefeated regular season by dropping Haverhill, 5-0. Smooth Sarah Oteri scored twice and chipped in a pair of assists for the 16-0-1 Warriors, who finish up with Lawrence Thursday night.

The first time Andover played Chelmsford, the game ended in a tie. Yesterday Andover hammered the Lions, 5-0, as Sarah Oteri had two goals and two assists. Sierra Zwerling, Nicole Giroux, Emily Hook and Laura Dimitruk dominated defensively.

Thanks to Methuen's upset victory over Chelmsford, Andover's field hockey squad has a stronger grip on the top spot in the Merrimack Valley Conference. The Golden Warriors remain unbeaten (11-0-1) with a 5-1 victory over Tewksbury that featured 22 penalty corners. Strong transitional play from midfielders Emily Hook, Laura Dimitruk and Nicole Giroux kept the ball moving, and Sierra Zwerling's hard work moving from left back to midfield made a positive difference in the victory.

Twin sisters Anne and Kate Farnham came off the bench to power Andover's offensive line in a 2-1 victory over Lowell. The sophomore subs joined with Sarah Oteri and goal scorers Laura Cahill and Elise Krekorian to put the Golden Warriors (3-0) in attack mode.

 Senior running back Lou Caraglia of Plaistow, N.H., rushed for two touchdowns as Austin Prep won its opener at home against East Boston, 30-12. Senior defensive end and captain Brendan Burke of Andover caught a 42-yard scoring  ass from junior quarterback Ryan Havey of North Reading. Havey also rushed for a two-point conversion.

It took Laura Dimitruk weeks to crash into the scorebook a year ago, the Andover High field hockey wasted little time this season.

In the Warriors' opener, the junior broke a scoreless tie with Methuen 7:18 into the second half and added an insurance score moments later as Andover blanked the Rangers, 3-0.