RallyNorth.net

New coach, same success

A change in leadership hasn't meant a change in success for North Andover's field hockey team, gliding along with a 6-0-1 start in Courtney Breen's first season at the helm after a 6-0 defeat of Georgetown.

"The motto is to have fun," Breen explained. "The players should be aware of scoring but if someone else has a better shot, get the ball to them. That's carried over from (former coach) Diane (Freiermuth), that assists are better than goals."

As far as taking charge of a sectional finalist team with 22 wins last season, Breen said, "I've loved every minute of it, it's been more than I could have asked for. The girls take any kind of constructive criticism with grace and consideration and they enjoy being on the field. They're eager to please but not in the sense of trying to live up to anything. They've set their own pace and have definitely become their own team."

Two goals and two assists from junior Candace Waldie helped break open a 1-0 halftime struggle for the Scarlet Knights, who finally pierced the armor of acrobatic Royal goalie Karen O'Hare (27 saves) to pull away to victory.