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Triton tops Newburyport in River Rival showdown

Tuesday, April, 08 By John Shimer
Staff writer

While the season is still young, the uncomfortably cold temperatures could not cool off a potent Triton attack that always seemed in control against River Rival Newburyport to earn the Vikings' second straight victory, 11-5.

Dominating the time of possession, Triton kept the ball in its offensive zone with patient, timely runs, and crisp passing.

And when Newburyport turned over the ball, the Vikings' transition game was nothing short of unrelenting as time and again Sarah Nardone (4 goals, 3 assists), Karley Kennedy (1 assist), Erin Curley (1 goal), and twins Collen Loughlin (1 goal, 1 assist) and Erin Loughlin (1 goal, 1 assist) made blistering runs in the Clippers defensive zone that often ended in Viking scores.

By the end of the first half, Triton had built up a four-goal advantage, 6-2.

The start of the second half saw the Clippers cut into the Vikings' lead as Newburyport scored virtually off the faceoff 20 seconds into the half when Isabella Szumauski (2 goals, 1 assist) buried her second goal of the game.

Only seconds later Newburyport's Haley Johnson made a spectacular 50-yard run before firing off a shot that was turned aside by Vikings goalie Kristi Davis (10 saves). However, the ball did go far from goal and Laura Fallon (2 goals) picked up the rebound and put home her second goal of the game, cutting in half Triton's halftime lead, 6-4.

But the two-goal margin was as close as the Clippers would get.

Calling a quick timeout to settle her team, Triton coach Stacey Beaulieu was able to get her team back on track to the tune of four straight unanswered Vikings goals. The first came off a quick cut in front off goal in which Karley Kennedy found Nardone for the score, the second a penalty shot for Sarah Peterson (2 goals, 1 assist), the third by Nardone also on a penalty shot, and the fourth the most spectacular and complete Vikings goal of the day.

Breaking up a potential Newburyport transition, Nardone stole the ball from the Clippers at midfield and alertly found Peterson making a break downfield. She then switched the ball out to the left flank to Colleen Gargan (2 goals), who went in on the breakaway for the easy score | 10-4, Vikings | to put the game out of reach although both teams would tally goals inside the final two minutes.

"We've been working on our transition game because it was a big weakness in our first game," said Beaulieu, who added the win was made even more important coming against one of the Vikings' big rivals. "Finding the right players and making the smart pass helps our flow, and we were able to accomplish that today.

"It was a really good team effort in on both sides of the ball," said Beaulieu evaluating the game. "We had six different goal scorers and six people with assists, and our defense was strong as well highlighted by Kristi (Davis) in goal."

Conversely, Newburyport coach Catherine Batchelder said the Clippers transition game let the team down in an otherwise solid performance by the young defense.

"We need to take much better care of the ball. We were much too careless, and we had too many turnovers," Batchelder said. "Our defense | despite being young | played well, worked hard, and really looked improved. I also thought Laura (Fallon), Haley (Johnson), and McKenzie Maguire really hustled and played well."

For the game Molly Scully also scored for the Clippers and Tiffany Stanton also had an assist for Triton.