RallyNorth.net

Haverhill's hockey team has lost its share of close games, often fading in the third period, but yesterday they rallied with a pair of goals in the third period for a 4-3 victory over Hudson. Kyle Gosselin had a goal and an assist and Mike Gleason had 34 saves.

HUDSON — Third-seeded Andover flexed its muscles to capture the North Sectional Championship yesterday. The unbeaten Golden Warriors posted a 143.55 score, a season-best by 1.8 points. Coach Kristen Vadala said it was just off the school record of 143.8. They had to be on top of their game to hold off Beverly (141.575). “We totally had it in us,” said Vadala, the sixth-year Golden Warrior coach. “I think we have even more in us.” They hope to show it at the team state meet Saturday at Shrewsbury at 4 p.m. It was a case of Andover finally kicking the door down to earn its first North title since winning back to back crowns in 2000 and 2001. The Golden Warriors were the runner-up five times since (‘11, ‘09, ‘05, ‘04, ‘02). Andover got off to a terrific start. “We started on beam, the hardest event and we absolutely nailed it,” said Vadala. “For the first time all year, every kid in the lineup, 1-6, stuck it.” Dominique Cadet got the ball rolling with nary a wobble. Then Natalie Wagner, who had been out two weeks with an ankle injury, brought her A game. Emily Lowenstein wowed the judges with a back tuck, back tuck for her highest score of the year. Jenny Coneeny gritted her teeth through some intense pain and came through like a champion as did Courtney Carver (9.5) and Jessie Livingston (9.4). Next up was the floor and that was highlighted by Rachel Mandelbaum’s impressive routine despite just coming off the injured list. On vault, Lowenstein and Carver led the way. Tamra Rutfield needed to perform on bars as Cadet had hurt herself earlier. Rutfield delivered one of her highest scores of the year.

Andover's Rachel Mattison finished third in the all-around (36.375) and teammate Jen Coneeny placed in a fifth place tie as Andover finished second in the North sectional, yesterday in Hudson. The Golden Warriors now advance to next week's state meet. Mattison finished third at last week's individual meet and earned a spot in the national idividual competition in Fort Myers The Golden Warriors now advance to next week's state meet. Coneeny finished in a second place tie on the beam (9.35) while Mattison placed fourth on both beam (9.325) and floor (9.050). Andover's Jessie Livingston finished fourth on the bars with a 9.1. "We came into the meet seeded third and moved up a notch," said Andover head coach Kristen Vadala. "Jessie Livington was our secret weapon today. She competed in two events  and that nudged us into second.  Wed did well but there us still room for for improvement and opportunity."   North Andover's Kristen DiTroia place fourth in the all-around (34.175) while Central Catholic's Mackenzie Arndt finished 13th (34.15).

Heavyweight Brian Nicoll put an exclamation point on an impressive statement made by the Timberlane wrestling team yesterday at the 54-team Lowell Holiday Tournament.

The Owls, who finished second last year by a point and a half, came back with a vengence to claim their third team crown in four years with 241 points, comfortably ahead of runners-up Concord, N.H., and Winchester, who tied with 210. Pinkerton (120) was sixth, Central Catholic (111) came in eighth and Salem, N.H. (102<1/2>) tied for 10th.