RallyNorth.net

Lawrence tips Methuen, earns shot at Andover

Friday, November, 09 By Hector Longo
Staff writer

Methuen High's towering front line attacked with power.

Lawrence High, in three quick games, however, defused the threat with grit, touch, savvy and most importantly, desire. The top-seeded Lancers defended their side of the floor like they owned it and then found nearly every crack in the Rangers' formidable defense in a 25-19, 25-15, 25-21 Division 1 North semifinal sweep. Now 17-3, Lawrence faces Andover for the sectional crown Sunday (2 p.m.) at Central Catholic.

It will be Lawrence's second trip to the North finals in three years. Andover, the two-time defending North champ, is making its fifth straight trip to the title game. "We split with them in the regular season," said Lancer coach Bill Brouder. "So, this one should be a good one. Hopefully, we can come out and play like we did (last night)."

Lawrence stormed the Rangers early with a finesse attack that had Methuen flustered. The Lancers kept rally after rally alive, ultimately forcing the key mistakes.

"They picked up a lot of balls most teams would never get to," lauded coach Matt Twomey, whose Rangers finished 16-6. "We're not disappointed. We just got beat by a very good team."

Methuen again got big efforts from setter Rebecca Guselli and outside hitters Janelle Gordon and Lea Freeman. "Who knows, a break here or there and we might have been able to do something," said Twomey after the Rangers played even to 19-19 in the third before Lawrence escaped.

Regardless, the Rangers seem to be on the right track.

"The program went 16-6 and picked up its first state tourney win in nine years," said third-year coach Twomey, who is now 39-24 for his career with back-to-back Merrimack Valley Conference Division 2 titles.

When things did get a little hairy in Game 3, the Lancers rallied around junior setter Jadith Lorenzo, a returning Eagle-Tribune All-Star who delivered four of her 21 kills when it counted late.

"No question, she makes us go," said Brouder, who credited Lorenzo with 36 assists, too. "But all the girls really came to play. They hustled and defended so well."

Stephany Colon and Johelly Hernandez were also strong up front for the Lancers.