RallyNorth.net

North Andover Scarlet Knights Boys Lacrosse '18

Sat, Jun 09, 2018 05:00 PM @ North Andover
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
Andover 2 1 4 4 11
North Andover 2 0 3 3 8

Florio, Warriors pull off the upset

  • Currently 0.0 with 0 votes.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Saturday, June, 09 By Jeff Hamrick

NORTH ANDOVER - The excitement was evident after Andover's success in Saturday's Division 1 sectional match. After all, the Golden Warriors had earned their first trip in three years to the North semifinals.

The exuberance was a tad more than would be expected from most quarterfinal victories though — even if it came against the top-seeded team. This opponent, however, was a bit special.

"It's because it was North Andover," Andover coach Wayne Puglisi said of his eighth-seeded Warriors' 11-8 upset on Saturday. "It's also because we got knocked out (10-9 to Waltham) in the (quarters) last year. It's also that these guys are great kids."

Puglisi's kids watched a 3-2 halftime lead quickly evaporate on a pair of Mike Roche goals, but responded with scores by Greyson Mitchell and Sager Florio. North Andover (15-4) forced the match's fifth tie when Jack Chace connected on a nice deke move.

That's when Shamus Florio took control. The sophomore, who also scored Andover's first goal, scored twice in a 35-second span on cutting moves to give Andover (12-8) a 7-5 lead late in the third quarter.

"I was just trusting the offense coach (Chris) Burns put in," said Florio, who scored once in Andover's 8-5 loss to North Andover 10 days earlier. "And I just finished. We came into this game with an open mind and tried to win."

After a Matt Niejdlik score for the Knights early in the third, Shamus Florio again responded with a quick-release shot off a slick pass from Mitchell that provided an 8-6 advantage with seven minutes remaining.

"Our (offensive) game plan was pretty specific," Puglisi said. "But there was no emphasis on any one particular person. Shamus just happened to be that guy today, and he picked a very good day to do it."

While the offense was responding to every North Andover advance, freshman Colin MacLean was winning six of nine faceoffs down the stretch.

"Colin's been on a tough road," Puglisi said. "He's worked very hard to get his game to be where it's at right now. And he was a big important part of keeping possessions for us.

Goalie CJ Puglisi made three of his 10 saves as the Warriors were building an 11-6 lead with 5:39 left on goals by Brendon Moody, Matt Schuhwerk and Donald Alois before North Andover closed the gap on a short-handed goal from Zach Keating and a spin move from Niejdlik with 3:31 left.

"I got a little nervous when they popped those two quick ones in — seven and eight," Puglisi said of his goalie. "But from dad to son I couldn't be more proud."

 

Andover 11, North Andover 8

Division 1 North Quarterfinals

Goals: A - Shamus Florio 4, Bret Miller, Alex Trottier, Greysen Mitchell, Colby Agostino, Sager Florio, Brendon Moody, Matt Schuhwerk, Donald Alois; NA - Mike Roche 3, Zach Keating 2, Matt Niejdlik 2, Jack Chace

Saves: A - CJ Puglisi 16; NA - Ethan Ford 8

Andover (12-8):     2 1 4 4 - 11

North Andover (15-4):     2 0 3 3 -  8

 

Game Statistics:

Division 1 North Quarterfinals

Goals: A — Shamus Florio 4, Bret Miller, Alex Trottier, Greysen Mitchell, Colby Agostino, Sager Florio, Brendon Moody, Matt Schuhwerk, Donald Alois; NA — Mike Roche 3, Zach Keating 2, Matt Niejdlik 2, Jack Chace

Saves: A — CJ Puglisi 16; NA — Ethan Ford 8

0 Story Comments