RallyNorth.net

Another shot at a title

Tuesday, November, 18 By Dan Guttenplan
Sports editor

LYNN — The Newburyport girls soccer team’s march for a second consecutive state title has only one step remaining.

The Clippers advanced to the Division 3 state final last evening with a 1-0 double-overtime victory over Division 3 South sectional champion Cohasset. Only 22 seconds remained before the game entered its final stage — penalty kicks — when Hannah McCormick kept Newburyport’s run for back-to-back titles intact. She scored the goal from 12 yards out, slipping a high shot past Cohasset goalie Johanna Brophy.

The Clippers (19-2-2) extended their state-tournament win streak to 11 games, dating back to the Division 3 state semifinal in 2006. The Clippers have gone 61-5-3 over the last three seasons, including two state championship game appearances.

“Winning states once takes a lot of good fortune — not just a good team,” Newburyport coach Robb Gonnam said. “To get to the state championship game one time is incredible — a source of honor, ego and pride. But it also puts a huge target on your back. Every game we’ve played has had huge emotional pressure. We’ve been living with that for three years.”

The cornerstone of the team’s success is a senior class that includes the leading goal-scorer in the program’s history, Jillian Kinter, and two other three-time All-Cape Ann League selections, Laura Muise and Taylor Bresnahan. In all, 11 seniors will play their final game Saturday when the Clippers face the winner of last night’s late game between Central champion Sutton and Western champ Monson. Along with the “Big Three,” Micaela Hogan, Taylor Whitehill, Lauren Bertone, Avery Cullinan, Abigail Casey, Elyana Krusemark, Mary Ryan and Caroline Barnaby will put on the Newburyport uniform for the final time.

Even with the mass senior-class exodus, the Clippers figure to remain competitive as long as Gonnam remains. Recognized as one of the top coaches in the state, he is immersed in the local youth soccer league and instills his offensive and defensive philosophies in Newburyport players at an early age. Many of the youth-league players serve as ball girls during regular-season and state-tournament games, dreaming of one day playing for the historically successful program.

“This team has won three North sectionals,” Gonnam said. “For three years in a row, we’ve won at least four tournament games. If you look back at other teams in history, it’s really a unique accomplishment. Going through the stress of being No. 1 and staying there, that’s really impressive. We have to be at our absolute best every game. It’s a tribute to any team that can get this far.”