Sports

Athletes of the Week: U12 Nitro Girls

Their perseverance, team spirit and recent championship win make them stand out.

Last weekend, North Andover's U-12 Nitro girls soccer team defeated Burlington 2-0 to become U-12 Girls Division 1 Champions at the 2011 Columbus Day Tournament.

"A huge 'thank you' to NASA and the referees for putting on another great Columbus Day tournament," Philip Tustin said. "And the biggest 'thank you' of all to the Nitro parents for their friendship and tireless support."

The Nitro girls scored a total of 17 goals and let in only a single goal.

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On Saturday and Sunday, Nitro played their three games in the round-robin part of the tournament against Pentucket, Wilmington and Ipswich. In the blistering heat, their play improved with each game and they came away with impressive 2-0, 5-0 and 4-0 victories to qualify for the semi-finals on Monday.

In the semi-final game, Nitro played against a skilled and well-organized Andover U-12 team, against whom they also compete during the regular ECYSA season. After a very tight start during which Andover threatened to break the dead-lock a few times, Nitro got into their game and scored two goals to go into the half-time break with a 2-0 lead. In the 2nd half, the Nitro parents were treated to a goal that was worthy of a goal of the season award. After a strong run and superb cross from the right wing, the ball was volleyed in at the near-post, giving the Andover goal-keeper no chance. At 3-0, Nitro still weren’t done. They scored a 4th with a finesse shot to the corner before Andover came back strongly and scored their first and only goal of the game. This 4-1 victory took Nitro into the final game of the tournament.

Find out what's happening in North Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the final, Nitro took on a very strong and aggressive Burlington U-12 team. The first half was very fast and competitive with chances at both ends. Both goal keepers were busy. However, Nitro were able to convert one of their chances (a diagonal pass that penetrated the Burlington defence followed by a run and shot to the corner).

Nitro were 1-0 up at half-time. During the half-time break, the Nitro girls got their heads together to discuss amongst themselves what was going right and what could be better. At the start of the second half, they came out with all guns blazing. Burlington pushed high up the field looking for an equalizer and Nitro scored a 2nd goal with a beautiful ball over the top of the Burlington defence followed by a low shot under the diving goal-keeper.

The Nitro girls were able to keep the Burlington girls at bay for the remainder of the game and were thrilled to come away with a 2-0 win.

 


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