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With eight freshmen on the roster, Brooks' head coach Amy Kenneally isn't looking at her team in a rebuilding mode.

"We are remodeling, not rebuilding," said Kenneally after yesterday's 53-31 opening-day win over Pingree.

BEVERLY — Brooks head coach Alex Konovalchik called it “one of the most difficult ways to lose a game.”

That was an understatement.

Leading Pingree 6-0 in the New England Prep Clark-Francis Bowl, Brooks was in the process of running out the clock with 2:09 left in the game.

 Merrimack College sophomore Jason Fischer was named the Northeast-10 Defensive Player of the Week. He  became the first player in school history to intercept three passes in a game, leading Merrimack to a 46-14 victory over Pace to clinch a share of its second-ever Northeast-10 Championship. Fischer returned his second interception 52 yards for his first career touchdown. He finished the year second in the Northeast-10 with six interceptions. The six picks tie the school record set last season by Mike O’Brien.

Nick Galanos of Atkinson turned aside 16 shots in Brooks' 6-4 win over Pingree. In the Green and White's last three games, Galanos has saves totals of 16 (yesterday), 15 (Wednesday against St. Marks) and 25 (Saturday against Nobles).

Behind a big nine-point effort from transfer Kyleigh Keating (five goals, four assists), Phillips topped Pingree, 13-7. The Big Blue were down early 4-1 but pulled back to tie the contest at 6-6 at the close of the first half. They rattled off seven goals to Pingree's one to seal the win. Brooke Van Valkenberg and Emily Little each had three goals, as well.

NORTH ANDOVER - As expected, when the Opening Day lineups were unveiled here yesterday, there was no wild rush to the Pingree School bat rack.

The prospect of facing nasty Dartmouth-bound lefty Michael Johnson on this sub-40 degree afternoon enticed about as much as a cup of hot chocolate on your basic July scorcher.

Chris Kreider (two goals, one assist), Nick Craven (two assists) and Mike Lozzi (two assists) led Phillips Academy to a 4-0 victory over Pingree and helped the Big Blue remain undefeated at 4-0. Eric Yoon drew his first start of the season in net, stopping all 16 shots he faced for the shutout. The Big Blue had a total of eight players record points in the game.

Brooks continued to gain momentum after its season opening win over New Hampton this past Wednesday, downing Pingree, 55-38, to improve to 2-0.

Jordan Johnson was flat-out dominant, draining seven field goals, including four threes, for a game-high 18 points. For the second straight game, Jason Buco (seven points, seven rebounds) staggered the opposition on defense, and Tim Glen racked up a double-double thanks to a 12-point, 12-rebound performance, both career highs.

Despite two goals from Taylor MacGivillar, Brooks fell to Pingree 5-3. Joe Napolitano added the final goal and Nick Galanos of Atkinson chipped in with an assist for the Green and White.

Brooks' Appalonia Tankersly last second shot from just under the basket rolled out as Brooks dropped its season opener in dramtic fashion 40-39 to Pingree. Despite the missed shot Tankersly, a North Andover native, turned in a great performance, snagging 17 rebounds to go along with 14 points.