RallyNorth.net

Hillie lax stuns Winchester for first ever tourney win

Tuesday, June, 02 By Michael Muldoon

Winning the first playoff game in the Haverhill girls lacrosse program’s 10-year history was just the beginning.. his was also a tremendously exciting win (8-7) and, better yet, it came against one of the storied programs in Massachusetts girls lacrosse.
Winchester!
As in Division 1 North runner-up last year and EMass./state Division 2 runner-up each of the previous four seasons (2010-13).  Holly Pereira scored four goals and Ciara O’Neill and Brooke Martel made like the Globetrotters and played an exciting game of keep-away for the final 2:11 to polish off the hosts in their D1 North opener.
The No. 7 Sachems, who finished up at 11-8, may be rebuilding. Still, nobody but nobody in lacrosse circles saw this one coming.
“It’s amazing when nobody cares who gets credit,” said a giddy Mindy Cripps, who has coached the Brown and Gold all 10 varsity seasons. “They played with heart and grit and they played for each other. It’s so beautiful. They are not all superstars but this is because they are playing for each other.”
O’Neill and Martel ended the game in flashy style.
“They were pressured by 3-4-5 girls,” marvelled Cripps, whose club added to its school record with its 15th win (now 15-6).
Winchester scored with about 2:30 left to cut it to 1 and then the Sachems won the draw. But the Hillies got the ball back and ran out the clock.
Goalie Alex Comeau stopped 13 shots.
“She had an awesome game,” said Cripps.
The challenge will be even more intense when they travel to No. 2 North Andover for a Thursday 4 p.m. quarterfinal matchup.

HILLIE FACTS
Wins: They now have 15, 5 more than the previous record in the program's 10-year history
tourney first: Haverhill had been 0-6 in tourney play and had been outscores 101-26
Vaunted foe:  Winchester was D1 North finalist last year and previous four years (2010-12) was EMass/state Division 2 runner-up