Andover nets sweet revenge
Last season, the Chelmsford boys volleyball team ended Andover’s season with a 3-0 North quarterfinal win. With the two meeting again in yesterday’s sectional semifinal, the Golden Warriors seniors were adamant that history would not repeat itself.
Thanks to a well-rounded effort, it didn’t. Top-seeded Andover earned a spot in the North final with a 25-14, 25-23, 25-16 win over the visiting No. 12 Lions.
“It’s been a long couple of years with these boys,” said senior captain Jeff Hunt, who led his team with 34 assists. “It feels surreal to be moving on right now.”
After Andover (22-1) cruised in the first set, Chelmsford (14-7) charged back in the second. Down 19-15, Lions coach Matt Dibble called a timeout, which refocused his team. Joshua Sogade won the next point and Chelmsford soon battled back even at 23-23. But Calvin Fumicello and Jeff Hunt won the next two points for the Golden Warriors to capture the second set.
Andover built an 8-1 lead in the third set, with senior captain Devin Dire scoring five of his team’s last six points of the match.
Boys lacrosse
With Conor Sullivan defending Franklin star scorer Eric Civetti and anchoring the defense, visiting No. 12 Xaverian withstood a late charge brought on by Civetti to edge the fifth-seeded Panthers, 8-7, in Division 1 South first-rounder.
Civetti, who had 79 goals in the regular season, finished with four goals for Franklin, but all came in the fourth quarter. Sam Jean had three goals for the Hawks (9-10), including his last with 1:40 remaning to stem the Civetti-led rally. Teagan Alexander had nine saves in the Hawks net.
Charlie Pyne scored four goals and Max Djusberg added three as top-seed BC High (16-3) pulled away from No. 16 Newton South late to post a 15-5 win in another Div. 1 South first-rounder.
Softball
Bryana Mitchinson fired a twohitter and struck out nine as No. 13 Haverhill (13-8) knocked off No. 4 Lynn Classical, 6-1, in a Div. 1 North first-round contest.
Kelly Danahy hit a two-run homer and Jillian Richards added a three-run shot in a five-run fifth as top-seed Silver Lake (24-0) posted a 7-1 win over No. 9 King Philip to advance to the Div. 1 South semifinals.
Paige Wodarski had three RBI as No. 3 Danvers (18-4) advanced to the Div. 2 North semifinals with a 6-4 win against No. 11 Tewksbury. . . . Ryley White tossed a four-hitter as No. 2 Dracut (18-4) beat No. 7 Arlington, 4-1.
Logan MacDonald tossed a four-hitter and struck out 14, while Kendra Currier drove in four runs as No. 2 Austin Prep (19-2) cruised past 18th-seeded Matignon, 11-0, in a Div. 3 North first round game.