RallyNorth.net

Nicolle Wood has a different approach about recruiting. The Salem State College women's soccer coach doesn't call a prospect every week. She'll have a conversation, make her presentation and hope the interview is impressive enough to warrant an application.

Danvers High girls soccer coach Jimmy Hinchion didn't have a speech prepared for the postgame last night.

Even if he had, it couldn't have eased the pain of the 16 seniors who fell short in their bid for a state title. Meeting their match for the first time this postseason, Danvers fell at the hands of a powerful Oliver Ames team, 1-0, at Veterans Memorial Field in the Eastern Mass. final. Hinchion has delivered the season-ending speech several times before, but it hasn't become any easier over the years.

Division 2 South champion Oliver Ames came to last night's girls state semifinal girls looking to force Division 2 North champ Danvers to play their style of soccer.

The strategy worked to a T as the Tigers forced the Falcons out of their comfort zone and emerged with a 1-0 victory to advance to Saturday's Division 2 state championship game. "They play a difficult style. They don't put it on the ground the way we like to play | and that disrupted us all (night)," said Falcons coach Jimmy Hinchion.

Oliver Ames High School. That is the obstacle that stands between the Danvers' girls soccer team and a trip to the Division 2 state finals.

The Division 2 South champions from Oliver Ames (20-1-1) will face the Division 2 North champion Falcons (19-3) tonight at Veterans Memorial Field in Quincy at 7 p.m. for the right to advance to Saturday's Division 2 state championship game.

The black tights Ashley Sullivan and Casey King wear under their soccer shorts do more than just keep their legs warm during chilly November games.

It's not that the Danvers girls soccer duo is trying to hide anything, but the pants do camouflage the bulky knee brace each wears.

Tess Saunders went from chilled to thrilled before her legs could even thaw out Saturday night at Acton-Boxboro's Leary Field.

Saunders, a sophomore reserve forward for the Danvers girls soccer team, watched 80 minutes of regulation soccer from the sideline before getting the call from Falcons' coach Jimmy Hinchion. It took her less than 11 minutes on the field to make a huge impact.

You would think two lopsided victories in the regular season would have given Danvers High girls soccer coach Jimmy Hinchion a comfortable feeling about last night's Division 2 North quarterfinal matchup with Saugus.

Danvers girls soccer coach Jimmy Hinchion knew his team was prepared for penalty kicks. He also knew the Falcons wanted to make sure the game wasn't decided by them.

Ashley Sullivan scored an unassisted goal six minutes into the first sudden death overtime period to lift Danvers to a 1-0 victory over Stoneham in the first round of the Division 2 North tournament.

Danvers' MVP in the NEC Girls South Division, Casey King, could also claim the Comeback Player of the Year Award. After starting at sweeper her freshman and sophomore years, King missed her junior year as a result of an ACL in the opening game. Falcons' coach Jim Hinchion used her this season as a stopper who often got into the flow of the offense and King was 7-5-12.

SWAMPSCOTT | There's no question about it: the Swampscott girls soccer team is not only a second half squad, but an upset-minded one, too.

The host Big Blue staged a second half rally yesterdy to defeat Northeastern Conference rival Danvers, 2-1. In the process, they qualified for state tournament play.