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Andover's quick start dooms Central

Friday, May, 08 By Jeff Hamrick
Correspondent

ANDOVER — The Golden Warriors of Andover woke up Tuesday morning on the wrong side of a three-game losing streak — each by one goal.

This morning, however, those nightmares appear to be in the distant past.

The Warriors have rebounded nicely, returning to the form that saw them win the season's first six games. First they defeated Chelmsford by four on Wednesday before routing rival Central Catholic 13-3 Friday night. It was Andover's 11th straight win in the series since Central began its program in 2008.

"We came off some tough losses," said junior Veronica Alois, who had three goals and five assists. "So, I think the whole team has some fire in its belly. We've been working hard in practice and preparing all season for this.

"(Coach) Cat (Gross) said after our tough loss to Billerica (the last of the three losses) this is the time when we either choose to overcome and get some big wins the next two weeks or we're going to fall. And I think after tonight, we've overcome."

In the first meeting between the two this year, Central made Andover work to forge an 8-7 halftime lead. But that wasn't the case last night as the Warriors jumped to an 8-0 lead before the Raiders even had a shot on net.

"Where we kind of lacked in those tough losses to Billerica and North Andover (and New Hampshire power Bishop Guertin) all by one, was draw control," said Alois, who won 10 of the first half's 13 faceoffs. "We wanted to win draws tonight, and I think having Julia Manty on the line and Caroline Curtin and Emma Farnham and Jordan Torres we were unbeatable."

Eight different players scored at least one goal as Andover (8-3) took an 11-1 lead into intermission. The Raiders (4-8) crossed midfield just once the first 13 1/2 minutes and didn't have a shot on goal until Jenna Palmisano broke through with a shot past goalie Gabby Vaccaro at the 8:54 mark. It proved to be Central's only shot on net the opening half.

"Right now, we feel unstoppable," Alois said. "13-3? That's an unreal feeling. I mean we beat them last time (13-9 on April 14), but it was a tough game. But coming off those losses, now we feel unstoppable."

Carissa Reming, who had two goals and an assist, was the only other Warrior with more than one goal.

"We were coming off an amazing game on Wednesday," Gross said of the 11-7 win over Chelmsford. "Everything we did in that game and in practice, we did even better tonight, which is amazing."

Central received goals from Carolin Pinho and Vanessa Pino in the second half to keep the deficit within 10. Goalie Deanna Savary saved half of the 16 shots she faced in Andover's relentless attack.

"I was expecting the same  intensity we had with Billerica," Central coach Ashley MacDonald said, refering to Wednesday's 13-11 defeat. "That didn't necessarily translate as well. But we started to pick it up in the second half, which was great."