Newburyport Dominates Tewksbury 2-0 in Girls Soccer

Jaycie Triandafilou (19) fires shot that resulted in the second Clipper goal.

(Newburyport) The Tewksbury girls soccer team has already qualified for post-season play in 2011 but they didn’t get any of the 18 points they needed (2 for a win – 1 for a tie) from Newburyport. On Saturday night, the Redman were defeated by the Clippers for the second time this season.

First half action in front of Tewksbury net.

This was non-league play (Tewksbury is from the Merrimack Valley Conference) but against a worthy 9-4 opponent (now 9-5), the home team looked awfully good under the lights at World War Stadium on Saturday night.

The final score was 2-0 but, as is the case in many low scoring soccer games, that final score was not indicative of how the game went. To nutshell it: Newburyport dominated the first half with no scoring to show for it. In the second half, Tewksbury was more competitive early on but when the Clippers tallied twice in 3+ minutes, between 15:15 and 18:30, the win/loss part was settled.

Newburyport (11-2-2) short-passed the visitors to death. The Clippers were willing to pass laterally to keep control rather than forcing “home-run” long passes where opponents were set up. Tewksbury, on the other hand, had little success putting passes together especially in the first half but they did have elusive Alyson Spencer and Nicole Chaet (both MVC 2010 All-Stars) to impress with one-on-one maneuvers.

Hannah Martin (15) and Nicole Chaet (17)

Nicole unleashed the Redmen’s best shot, 6 ½ minutes into the second half in a tie game. Her well-struck bullet from the middle cleared the crossbar above NHS goalie Lilly Donavan’s head by about a foot. The Redmen had other chances but none as dangerous as that one.

As I wrote earlier, the Clippers were not lacking in scoring chances whether from in close or long range during both halves. Their scoreboard changers came in the second half.

The first Newburyport goal (15:15) was on a header by senior Meghan Corbett. The scoring play started with sophomore Carly Brand taking a corner kick from the Tewksbury goalie’s right. The Clippers who had gathered back away from the goalie broke to a variety of places as Carly’s kick was in the air. The kick sailed into the middle above the penalty kick spot. Meghan was there uncovered and directed a header past the goalie’s left.

Carly Brand – her corner kick set up first goal.

3+ minutes later the Clippers added their second goal. It won’t be one that Tewksbury goalie (Rebecca Davies – MVC All-Star in 2010 – six shutouts in 2011) remembers fondly. Newburyport had dangerous Hannah Martin taking a direct kick. Her kick produced a juicy rebound for Jaycie Triandafilou beyond the penalty shot area. Jaycie left her feet and blasted a left-footed, one-hopper that went through Rebecca’s legs.

Those two goals were enough in this one.

With the win Newburyport bounces back from a 3-2 loss to Georgetown in their previous game. The Clippers next game is versus Masco (3:45PM) on October 25th (Tuesday) at Cherry Hill.

Watching a soccer game at World War Stadium has plenty of advantages. First, the elevated sight line is better than looking over or around folks standing next to you along the sidelines. Second, there is an active scoreboard to keep everyone aware of time and score. Third, on this evening, the announcer gave goal scorers – that sure helped me on the Clippers’ two goals!

NHS senior Hannah Martin continues to impress. She controls the ball so much in the midfield area. Any direct kicks she takes are dangerous. I have also noticed that anytime she dribbles left in goal-scoring areas she has the strong left foot to fire a shot back to the goalie’s far side.

A junior varsity game preceded the varsity game. It was refreshing to see/hear the Tewksbury varsity players in the stands actively cheering on their less-experienced teammates.

Tewksbury’s next game is October 25th (Tuesday) hosting Dracut at 3:30PM.

(I take my own pictures and collect my own information. I own the results.) Clicking on pictures enlarges them.