Andover field hockey repeats as champs
BURLINGTON >> Andover field hockey senior Rose MacLean admits she has a new favorite field and it’s not her home turf.
Back-to-back state championships at the same place will do that.
The second-seeded Golden Warriors (22-1) won the rematch against top-seeded Walpole (21-2), 1-0, for a second straight Div. 1 state title. Both teams combined for just five shots on goal Saturday morning at Burlington High School, as each defense and midfield starred the whole way, making Mia Batchelder’s tally in the second quarter enough to secure the win.
“There is nothing better than this program, I love Andover field hockey,” MacLean said. “Winning two state championships in a row is just something unbelievable. I can’t even believe we just did this. Burlington High School is my new favorite place. Two years in a row, I love it here. I don’t know, it’s just crazy. I’m so happy.”
Andover is repeat champion for the first time since 2011, the fifth state title for head coach Maureen Noone.
“I marvel at how they can kind of pull things together and somebody always steps up at the right time,” Noone added. “That’s just a good, quality team. … Just a great group.”
Noone expected the game to be decided by the rare opportunities either team would get past the middle of the field. That’s exactly what the packed house saw develop.
Andover forced a ton of pressure right at the start, generating three of its seven total corners in the first frame. Walpole’s corner defense held true without allowing a shot on net, while goalie Maddy Clark came out of the cage a few times to kick loose balls out of the circle.
The Porkers looked more comfortable transitioning the ball to the attack more as the game went on, battling through the limited space up the gut and down the sideline on big hits. That couldn’t stop Andover from getting its own activity in transition come the second quarter, though.
Defense scrambled to clear the ball following a diving save by Clark, but Batchelder ran to the right spot to finish off a 1-0 lead with 11:39 left in the half.
“Today we were focused on trying to get a goal early and then we were really trying to focus on killing the clock,” Noone said. “We knew it was going to be a 1-0 game because we know that they’re such a good team and they’re quick, and they’re aggressive. … I would’ve liked another goal early one, but one did it and it’s all good.”
Walpole would only allow one more shot on goal the rest of the way, and even got a good bid at the net later in the frame to try and tie it. But midfields and defenses took care of everything on both ends.
That included a few Walpole bursts in transition to get activity in the Andover circle in the second half, one of which developed a nice opportunity in front of goalie Adelaide Weeden before she kicked it away in the fourth quarter.
“We knew today was a day we had to take it early and just play more on defense, and know our own game and just keep balls out of the circle,” MacLean said. “(Walpole) is a very good team and in the circle, you never know what would have happened. … It’s a great feeling when you’re in the circle and you just clear it out. There’s nothing better than not letting someone get a shot off.”