It almost seemed like the Hamilton-Wenham and North Andover varsity girls soccer teams were going to have to reschedule their game for a second time, as they were without officials for their Tuesday contest at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School.
Luckily for both teams, one of the Hamilton-Wenham parents turned out to be a certified referee and was allowed to serve as an official for the match, after a 30-minute delay.
In the first half, sophomore midfielder Caroline Kirby and sophomore forward Pam Coufos and junior forward Olivia Boudreau sustained the North Andover attack, while senior defenders Bridget Brown and Danielle Carp and sophomore goalie Taylor Morong responded defensively for the Hamilton-Wenham side.
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The Generals (5-4-1) and Scarlet Knights (3-4-3) fought back and forth for the first 40 minutes of play, with neither being able to break onto the scoreboard.
The teams both came out in the second half and went right back to work. The back and forth contest continued, but it was Hamilton-Wenham who was able to strike first.
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With nine minutes gone in the second half, junior forward Joy Santarelli played a ball into the North Andover box, which landed at the feet of senior midfielder Caroline Savasta. Under pressure, Savasta was able to chip a shot, which sailed over the head of goalie Caitlin Enright and into the Scarlet Knight net, putting the Generals up 1-0.
The game's intensity increased from there, with both teams applying more pressure than before. Morong was able to make a diving save on a Coufos shot, keeping her team ahead, while on the other end of the field Enright responded with her own diving stop on a shot by Generals forward Alana Vechiarello.
North Andover junior Alex Medlock added to the Scarlet Knights offensive attack, but Hamilton-Wenham's sophomore Addie Shearer responded for her team's defense.
In the end, the Hamilton-Wenham girls were able to hold off the North Andover offense, securing the 1-0 victory.
"Definitely a good game," said Generals' head coach Chal Congdon after his team's win.
"North Andover is always really strong. You can tell from watching them that they are a really well coached team. They switch fields really well; they really kept the pressure on us," said Congdon. "It was good fight and we were lucky to come out ahead."
North Andover head coach Kevin McCarthy was happy with his team's performance despite the loss.
"I thought we played really well," said McCarthy. "We played aggressively, and our passing was very good. Finishing was just off."
Junior Alexa Duffy played a great game for the Scarlet Knights, logging all 80 minutes at defensive-back. McCarthy lauded the play of his midfielders; Medlock and sophomores Alana Houlihan and Eleni Coufos. Junior Megan Connolly also had a solid performance for North Andover, putting in time at both midfield and forward.
North Andover will try to rebound from the loss as they take on North Reading on Friday, Oct. 15 at Walsh Stadium. Hamilton-Wenham's next game is at Newburyport on Friday, Oct. 15.
