Pithie leads Norwell into state semifinals

NORWELL — Three years after watching from the sideline as Norwell captured a girls lacrosse state title, Izzy Pithie has the Clippers on the verge of another.

The Clippers standout goalie was sensational Sunday, with 11 saves while Lily Amorosino had four goals in No. 3 Norwell’s 7-4 win over South Shore League rival Cohasset to capture the Division 2 South sectional title.

Pithie, who will play at Notre Dame in the fall, was stellar throughout but particularly in the fourth quarter when she made four key saves. The senior is one of two players (along with Allie Connerty) back from the Clippers’ 2019 sectional runner-up team.

“It means a lot to take this home especially since we missed the (2020) season,” Pithie said. “To win this is amazing. It just shows the want to win from the younger girls. They want it just as bad as us seniors and from the start of the season they have been amazing.”

The meeting was the third this year between the two sides but also the fifth time in six years the foes met in the sectional final. After Cohasset (12-6) won the first game this year, Norwell (15-5) got retribution with a win in the South Shore League title game before capturing the sectional crown on Sunday.

“(Izzy) was just terrific for us,” Norwell coach Kara Connerty said. “Overall though we started with a new team and I am proud of how they bought in through hard work, grinding through the tough teams we played through the regular season, and as a result being prepared for the tournament.”

Norwell staked an early 4-0 lead as Amorosino scored twice in the opening frame around tallies from Connerty and Mikaele Johnson. Cohasset, however, got within striking distance before the half as Laney Larsen found the back of the net and Bridget Mahoney scored off a free position to make it 4-2 at the break.

Maddie Miller added one of her own off a free position early in the lead to trim the Skippers deficit to 4-3, but Norwell stayed in front heading into the final stanza courtesy of Amorosino’s third goal.

In the fourth quarter, Pithie was at her best notching a pair of key saves to keep Norwell ahead. Her play allowed Norwell to gain separation at the other end of the field and the Clippers took full advantage as off a great stick from Jane Smith, Amorosino picked up her fourth goal to boost Norwell’s advantage to 6-4. Moments later, Phoebe Wolf put on the finishing touches as the senior attack finished in front off a rebound to put Norwell up 7-4 with 7:03 remaining.

Pithie made two saves with just under four minutes to play to keep the Clippers up by three and send them comfortably to the state semifinals.