North Reading girls soccer wins D3 North 2-1 over Bishop Fenwick

2015 Division 3 North Champions (North Reading)

North Reading starts to celebrate

(Lynn MA) Sophomore Rachel Hill scored a goal in the first half and assisted on the game-winner in the second half as North Reading defeated #2 Bishop Fenwick, 2-1, to win the Division 3 North title on Sunday afternoon at Manning Field in Lynn.

The #5 Hornets (17-3-2) will face D3 South winner Medway (17-1-3) on Wednesday night (5PM) in the D3 state semi-finals at Manning Field. Medway was the #1 seed in the South.

The NR win avenges a 1-0 loss they suffered against the team from Peabody in late October.

Rachel Hill (#12 on the ground) sends a grounder past GK Merry Harrington into the net

Rachel Hill’s goal came very late in the first half. After getting a pass from Marissa Zarella, Rachel dribbled across the middle of the box from right to left. GK Merry Harrington moved over to cover and Rachel, as she was going down, hit a grounder past her. Rachel’s roller reached the far corner of the goal with less than two minutes to play in the half.

Bishop Fenwick mobs Colleen Corcoran after her game-tying goal

At 31:04 of the second half the Crusaders evened things. Seniors Colleen Corcoran and Danielle DelTorto combined nicely on the score. Danielle carried down the left side and sent Colleen a delicious cross into the box. Colleen got a straight-on blast off the sailed over GK Kat Hassapis’ head.

The Corcoran/DelTorto connection tallied the only goal in the Fenwick win over North Reading in the regular season.

Sixteen minutes later (15:36) North Reading put in the goal that keeps their season going. Rachel Hill sent junior Haley Nathan ahead along the left side. Haley had defender Emily Charette to her right. GK Merry Harrington moved over and out to protect the net. Haley was able to get off a shot that went by Merry and rolled into the goal.

Katie Welch and Colleen Corcoran

Both of the NR goals were on the ground with a lot less than lightning speed on the shots. It isn’t always the hardest hit shot that gets the job done, at least not in this game.

Colleen Corcoran hit a crossbar in the first half. Katie Welch had a near-miss for the Hornets from long range in the second half.

Beautiful day for mid-November in these parts……50’s and sunny.

(All of the pictures above and below will enlarge considerably if you click on them.)