Masco shows patience
One of the major strengths Masconomet field hockey coach Maggie Sturgis has spoken about a few times this season is the No. 2 Chieftains’ ability to flip on the switch and deliver a scoring punch in an instant.
Wednesday afternoon, after 55 minutes against an excruciatingly stingy No. 10 Danvers defense holding off 16 penalty corners, Masconomet showed that off in perhaps its most impressive form yet on senior day.
With a one-goal deficit and under five minutes to go, the undefeated Chieftains (14-0-1) scored twice in a span of less than 30 seconds to pull off a 2-1 win over the Falcons (11-3-1) and seal the Northeastern Conference title.
Maggie Sturgis and senior Lily Conway tallied the goals for Masconomet.
“I’m just so proud of every single person’s determination and perseverance … we kept pushing,” Conway said. “We knew how important this game was. … Our goal is obviously to win a state championship and to do that, we have to get used to playing these teams.”
Danvers scored in the second quarter when Katherine Purcell buried a goal from a scrum in front of the net.
Sturgis tied the game with her 32nd goal of the year amid the team’s 17th corner.
Julia Graves sent a hard drive 25 seconds later for Conway to redirect into the cage for the lead.
In the Merrimack Valley Conference, Emma Reilly registered a hat trick, helping to power Andover (14-0-1) to a 5-0 shutout of Tewksbury .… Sydney Moda and Emma Siggens each tallied a pair of scores to lead Central Catholic (8-7) to a 6-0 win over Dracut.
Elyse Scales scored twice as Walpole defeated Milton 4-0 in the Bay State Conference. … Sophomore Olivia Norchi flourished with three goals and an assist to lift Natick past Weymouth 6-0. … Bridget Lee sniped a pair of goals, while Maggie Burchill notched two assists to help rally Braintree from an early two-goal deficit to a 3-2 victory over Needham.
In the South Coast Conference, Lexi Yost and Megan Smith each scored twice for Case (10-3-1) in a 5-2 win over Seekonk. … Karissa Albin erupted for five goals leading Somerset Berkley (7-4-3) in a 7-0 shutout of Apponequet.
Boys cross country
David Vandi, Matt Morneau, Jack Courtney, Jarlen Arango, Seyha Rath and Alex Wahpo took the top six spots as Lowell capped off its 12th consecutive undefeated regular season Merrimack Valley Conference Championship with a home tri-meet sweep over Tewksbury (1548) and Chelmsford (15-50).
Girls soccer
Lucinda Li Cotter dished out a pair of assists, capping a shutout from Emily Meyers to help Oliver Ames (12-1-1) beat Stoughton 3-0 in Hockomock League play.
Claire Nistl poked in the game-winner for Hamilton-Wenham (11-1-1) en route a 2-1 win over Manchester Essex that sealed the Cape Ann League title.