Youth Soccer: Breakers Capture Danvers Invitational Championship

The following article was submitted by the North Andover Soccer Association Committee.

The Breakers spent the Memorial Day long weekend playing in the 2011 Danvers Invitational Tournament. They would play 3 games, 1 on Saturday and 2 on Sunday, if they won at least 2, would be invited back for the championship round. Since there were only 4 teams in their division, there would be no playoff, only a championship game on Monday.

Things started out well for our team, our first game was against the Georgetown Blue Fire. Right away, Katherine Mellen scooped up a rebound and rifled a shot past the keeper for the first score. The next goal was scored by Jacqui Petto on a penalty kick after Hannah Twadelle was fouled inside the penalty box.  Jacqui followed that goal up with another unassisted goal.

Not to be outdone, Hannah then scored on another rebound. The Breakers defenders and Keepers Lindsay West and Erin McKenna had a quiet half as the Blue fire was unable to get the ball out of their own end, and when they did, the ball was quickly intercepted by Caitlin Lane, Emily Steinberg, or Simonne Brissenden, with help from Lydia Zimmerman (brought up from the Force to play in the tournament) and sent back into the Georgetown end of the field.  The first half ended with a score of 4 – 0.

In the second half, the Breakers picked up where they left off with Jillian Feeney taking a pass from Mia Toukalas (another addition form the Force) and rifled a shot passed the keeper. At this point, the players were instructed to stop scoring and just control the game. Final score 5 - 0.

The second game was played early Sunday Morning on the sport turf field at St John's Prep. The Breakers played the Danvers Storm. Whether it was the early morning start or the difficulty controlling the ball on the artificial surface, it showed as both teams had trouble scoring or even moving the ball through the teams’ defenses.  

The first half ended in a scoreless tie. The Breakers finally got on the scoreboard when Taylor Barbagallo took a pass from Katherine Mellen, dribbled pas the defender and fired a perfect shot past the keeper. This was quickly followed by an unassisted goal by Hannah Twadelle and all of a sudden, the Storm was in trouble as the Breakers threatened to overwhelm them.

The 2nd half continued as a defensive struggle until Taylor intercepted a Danvers pass, dribbled through the Danvers defense and fired a perfect shot into the Danvers goal for her second goal of the game and the third for the Breakers. Final score 3 -0 and this tournament was looking easy! 

Contributions were also made by Olivia DiMarzo and Arielle White from both the forward and midfield positions, with Arielle also contributing on defense.  Nicole Barbagallo and Jenny Whipple showed their versatility, playing stellar defense and contributing by playing well at midfield. New addition Audrey Zero (also brought up from the Force) contributed playing both midfield and forward.

With their spot in the championship all but secured, the Breakers faced the Beverly Fury on Sunday afternoon. By now, the sun had heated up the artificial surface at making field very hot. This combined wit the early start and the difficulty controlling the ball led to a defensive battle with neither team able to gain an advantage. 

The first half again ended in a scoreless tie. The second half started out well, but the heat and early start began to take its toll on the Breakers. Finally, 10 minutes into the half the Fury penetrated the Breakers’ defense and slipped a shot past the keeper. The game ended with a Breakers loss 1 - 0.

On Monday, the Breakers and Fury Faced off in the championship game.  The Breakers drew first blood when Taylor Barbagallo scooped up a loose ball off a free kick from Jacqui Petto and fired it past the keeper for the first score. The first half ended 1 -0 Breakers.

Early in the second half, Olivia DiMarzo took a pass from Mia Toukalas and tapped the ball past the keeper for the second goal. Up until this time, the Breakers were controlling the game. But that changed in a few minutes when the Fury took advantage of two defensive breakdowns to tie the score at 2. The game ended in a 2-2 tie and went into overtime.

In the first overtime, Jacqui Petto scooped up a rebound and fired it past the keeper. Five minutes from victory! But the Fury would not go down easily. In the second overtime, they executed a perfect throw in and shot the ball past the Breakers’ keeper to tie the game up again. Overtime ended in a 3-3 tie and we went to a shootout.

With Lindsay West in Net, the team was confident they could win.  Goals by Katherine Mellen, Jacqui Petto, and Caitlin Lane along with the stellar goalkeeping from Lindsay sealed the victory and the championship for the Breakers. The final official score was 4 - 3 and the Breakers were the 2011 Danvers Invitational Champions in their group! Go Breakers!