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BRAINTREE — North Andover High's incredible season came an abrupt end here at Braintree High last night in the Div. 2 state seminfinals.

North Andover, which stunned defending state champion Concord-Carlisle two days earlier (3-1), lost to Medway High, 3-0, to see its season end.

LYNN — North Andover's Bill Tarbox announced earlier in the year this would be his final season coaching boys soccer.

His Scarlet Knights, however, are in no hurry for their goodbyes.

Leading by just a goal midway through the second half, North Andover needed some insurance. And Evan Dudney was up to the task.

The high-scoring senior booted in a picture-perfect goal from 30 yards out, and the No. 2 Scarlet Knights rolled from there on the way to a 3-0 victory over No. 3 Wilmington yesterday in the Division 1 North semifinals.

NORTH ANDOVER —  It was a worst-case scenario for North Andover soccer.

With less than a minute to play in regulation, No. 7 Winchester scored to tie the Division 2 North quarterfinal game at 2-2, and on the play Scarlet Knights goalie Marc Patnaude, who had started ever game this season, collided with an opponent and had to leave the game.

North Andover boys soccer was able to post two goals in the first 15 minutes of play before losing its tempo in a foul-filled battle against Jeremiah Burke.

Surviving a penalty shot goal from the Dorchester school, the Knights got an important score from Dennis Graef off a rebound of his own free kick to lock up a 3-1 first-round tourney victory.

 Guided by a pair of first-half goals and a game-high five points from senior forward April Daugherty, the fourth-ranked and top-seeded Merrimack field hockey team downed visiting fourth-seeded Adelphi, 6-0, in the NE-10 semifinals yesterday at Martone-Mejail Field.

With goals from five different players, including two from Mike Skarbelis, North Andover boys soccer won 6-0 over Haverhill. In the process, the Scarlet Knights captured the MVC title in their first season in the league. 

In its first season, the North Andover's boys soccer team clinched at least a tie for the Merrimack Valley Conference crown with a 5-0 win over Central Catholic. Michael Skarbelis had a hat trick and added an assist for the Knights (13-1-2, 12-0-2 in the MVC) and Evan Dudney had a goal and two assists.

With 30 seconds left in the game, Evan Dudney fired a corner kick that Mike Scarbellis headed in for the game-winner as North Andover rallied past Dracut 3-2. Dudney scored a pair of second-half goals to lead the Scarlet Knights back from a 2-0 deficit, netting the tying score with five minutes left.

Down two goals in the second half, North Andover boys soccer posted an unbelievable comeback, pumping in four unanwered to win 5-3 over Lowell in MVC action. 

With the win, the Scarlet Knights took sole possession of first place in the league.