RallyNorth.net

Powell powers Beverly over Salem, 2-1

Monday, November, 05 By Bill Kipouras
Staff writer

Daryl Powell gave a hallmark performance. The Beverly junior captain and defensive center midfielder assisted on both of her team's goals, giving the Panthers' girls soccer team a 2-1 tournament triumph over their arch rivals from Salem at Bertram Field.

For Powell, this Division 1 North preliminary round game was her first multi-point effort of the season. Ironically, she moved to Beverly from Salem when she was 8 years old. But that was no big deal.

"I was on the same team as (Salem's) Monique Gallant. Seems like I've been playing against Salem all my life," the 16-year-old Powell said after Beverly's first playoff victory in five years.

Beverly goalkeeper Hayley Logue, who did her best Jonathan Papelbon imitation by jumping into the arms of her delirious teammates after the victory, yielded an opening goal to Salem's relentless senior, Jamie Hanson (her 11th) in the 25th minute of the game. But the host Witches seemed to let their guard down after that | and paid for it.

Beverly sophomore Kayla Deady and Jess Shaw each connected for their fourth goals of the season, striking in the 35th and 38th minutes, respectively, of the first half.

The victory, improving Beverly's record to 9-7-1, was the first playoff triumph for fourth-year head coach Kristin Macdonald. Her team will take on top-ranked and unbeaten Acton-Boxboro (17-0-1) today in Acton (3 p.m.). The Colonials were ranked the nation's No. 1 team during the preseason by USA Today.

"Points for Daryl don't reflect her contribution," Macdonald said. "She was dribbling and penetrating, winning 50-50 balls and was all over the place.We would not be where we are today without her."

Nor would Beverly have had to squirm through the last 40 minutes if weren't for Salem's unsung keeper, Kristin Wyke. She made eight saves and was called upon to stop five breakaways.

Wyke faced a lot more heat than Lorge, who had a workmanlike 13 saves, "about 4-5 tough ones," she said.

"It took us 29 minues to warm up. We're lucky it wasn't 5-1. Credit Kristin for that," Salem coach Jess Doyle said.

"That three-minute spell when they scored their two goals was a case of not marking up players. We had chances in the second half and didn't take advantage. It was there for us." Beverly has only five seniors, and Powell made it clear that its 14 underclassmen are playing for the seniors.

"Everyone was fired up because of the rivalry. The coach's halftime talk pumped us up," Powell said. "We knew what we had to do (to foil Salem's offside trap). I'd say this was the best game for all of us."

Deady's winning goal was initiated on a sensational cross to Powell, left to right, from speedy Katie Carlotto, who was immense all day. Powell hit the crossbar, but the ball came straight down (almost fully on the line) and Deady headed it in.

Three minutes earlier, Powell had crossed it to Shaw for the goal that tied it at 1-1.

Salem's Hanson scored on a left-footed bullet from inside the 18 after Jessica Ngo carried it up and fed the non-stop senior forward.

"Acton-Boxboro's been nationally-ranked. It'll be an honor to play them," Macdonald said. "I wish I had that opportunity in high school."