RallyNorth.net

NORTH ANDOVER — Andover coach Marueen Noone did her best to look at the bright side as the rain began to fall harder onto Walsh Stadium.

“I’m proud of the way the girls played,” said Noone. “I’m disappointed now, but when we look back, it’ll look like a very nice season.”

Heather Sullivan scored goals 28 and 29 on the season as the Andover field hockey team crushed Lexington 4-0 at home.

"Lexington is a big, strong, athletic team, and it caught us a bit off guard in the first half," said Coach Maureen Noone. "But we made the necessary adjustments in the second half."

Andover blanked Concord-Carlisle 3-0 in the first round of the Division 1 North tournament. Laura Dimitruk, Sarah Oteri and Heather Sullivan each scored for the Golden Warriors, who host Lexington tomorrow in the quarters tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Heather Sullivan's two goals led Andover to a 2-0 win over Acton-Boxboro, the team that bumped the Golden Warriors from last year's state tourney. Defensively, Nicole Giroux, Sierra Zwerling and Emily Hook played well.

Five different players scored at least one goal as Andover field hockey downed Haverhill 8-0. Laura Harker (3), Melanie Saryan (2), Heather Sullivan, Sarah Oteri and Ally Long each scored for the Golden Warriors (14-1-2). Laura Dimitruk (2) was one of seven players with assists.

Even before thursdays matchup against 2nd place Chelmsford, 1st place Andover was dealt a serious blow as they learned they would be without senior co-captain Cat Gross, who had come down with mono. Andover coach Maureen Noone informed the team that they would be without Gross for "a good amount of time".

Andover's field hockey team was in unfamiliar territory — Chelmsford was dominating the first half and had the Golden Warriors pinned in its own end. "They put us on our heels and we haven't been in that position yet," head coach Maureen Noone said. "They had 10 penalty corners on us and we haven't had that for the whole year."

Leading the way in Andover's 2-0 win over Tewksbury were Catherine Gross and Sarah Oteri with both scoring a goal. Laura Harker assisted on Gross' goal, while Oteri's was unassisted as it was scored on a rebound off the goalie. Tameka Geaslen had two saves, while Tewksbury's Sarah D'agostino finished with 14 saves.