Tag Archives: North Andover High School

March 2, 2012 · 11:06 pm

North Andover led by Morgan Lumb (22 points) easily defeats Tewksbury (52-34) in D2 North Round One

Morgan Lumb (22 points) cuts through Tewksbury defenders.

Morgan shoots over Shannon Semenza. She had four long ones.

(Lawrence) North Andover dominated the first half, Morgan Lumb (22 points) dominated the third quarter, and the Scarlet Knights easily defeated Tewksbury (52-34) in the first round of the D2 North on Friday night.

Twelve days ago NA and Tewksbury had played a tight 39-34 game so the rematch figured to be close. Hardly.

By halftime the Redman trailed 24-4. That’s right, 4!

A math whiz will figure out that Tewksbury won the second half…..and they did, but the cows had left the barn before the second half was played.

North Andover (14-7) defensed Tewksbury (9-12) into tough shots while the Knights patiently ran organized offense that turned up one good look after another.

The NA defense (looked like a 1-3-1 to me) led to few breakaways but did cause fourteen first half turnovers.

The Knights scored the first ten points of the game and only a last-second buzzer beater by Shannon Semenza (8 points) kept the Redmen from a first period shutout.

Sara Semenza prepares to block

The second period was more of the same. The Redmen this time got their two points on free throws (Sara Semenza and Nicole Chaet). The Knights found points in close (three layups and a converted rebound) and long range (Morgan Lumb and Leah Chittick). North Andover led, 24-4, at the half and what was there that could make the second half interesting?

Enter Morgan Lumb. I may not be the first one to have this thought but when Andover’s Nicole Boudreau has moved on to Boston College next year and the talk starts about the best girl player in the state, Morgan Lumb’s name should be in the mix.

I’ve seen the 5-8 junior twice now and she has dazzled on the offensive end. She has the strength for NBA range 3’s. Her dribbling skills are excellent and she can get to the basket in a hurry. She will also give the ball up to teammates.

She didn’t do much of the latter in the third period because she was feeling it. Morgan put on the best one-period show I can remember, getting all fifteen of NA’s points in the quarter.

You want long range? The first two scores were 3’s. You want in close? The next two were a layup (from Mackenzie Mello) and a converted rebound. How about a little longer? Try a baseline jumper. The grand finale was an NBA length 3-spot off the backboard at the buzzer. Very impressive!

Credit Tewksbury for persistent offense in the second half despite Morgan’s third quarter outburst. Trailing 44-22, early in the final period the Redmen ran nine straight to close to a more respectable 44-31 difference. A three from Katie Dohery sparked the run. But that was as close as #12 seed Tewksbury would get.

Leah Chittick (11 points) and Sara Semenza (7 points)

Freshman Leah Chittick had eleven points for North Andover.

#5 seed North Andover moves to the quarterfinals against #4 seed Concord-Carlisle.

The NA/Tewksbury game was originally scheduled for Thursday but snowy weather forced postponement.

The game was played at palatial Lawrence High School because the North Andover gymnasium has water damage.

The crowd at the girls game grew as the game went on because there was a boys game between Salem and North Andover to follow it.

Tewksbury was knocked out of the D2 North tourney a year ago by North Andover. The score that time was 32-16.

Tewksbury qualified for the tournament because they finished second in the Merrimack Valley Conference.

North Andover is leaving the Cape Ann League and joining the MVC this fall.

North Andover boxscore

Tewksbury boxscore

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

Michaela Mello

Sherri Ligerrio

Pam Coufos

Mackenzie Mello

Jillian Madden

floor scramble

Morgan Lumb

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Filed under North Andover, Tewksbury

September 30, 2011 · 10:11 pm

North Andover Led by Brandon Walsh Overwhelms Newburyport 34-7 in Football

Brandon Walsh (16) passed for two TDs and ran for two. Here blockers Bobby Trickett (55) and Nate Hitchcock (56) give him protection.

John Iannone scores first NA touchdown.

(Newburyport) In non-league Cape Ann League action, North Andover did many things right and easily defeated Newburyport, 34-7, on a beautiful Friday night at World War Stadium.

This was D1 North Andover versus D3 Newburyport. This was also a rematch of teams that had been part of a 40-0 Knight blowout last year. And this was also another year for senior quarterback Brandon Walsh to show why he is one of the best in the state.

This didn’t figure to be a close game but on the scoreboard it still was at halftime (13-7) but in the second half the visiting Knights produced scores on their first three possessions while the Clippers came up empty on theirs.

Brandon Walsh was good as advertised. NA operated with no huddle and received the plays via hand signals. In Tom Brady fashion, Brandon made changes at the line of scrimmage on many plays.

Brandon Walsh (only the six visible in the distance) runs 72 yards to Newburyport 1.

One big improvising play in the second half stood out. Brandon saw the Clipper defense shift to his left and so he carried right, cut back into the middle, then down the left sideline for 72 yards to the Newburyport one yard line. Other teammates tried to rush in from there unsuccessfully before Brendon finished the job himself to put NA ahead, 26-7 in the third period.

The Knights (3-1) had plenty of weapons beside Brandon. He threw eighteen times and great protection kept him from being hurried on any of them. He completed twelve throws including touchdowns in each half.

Clipper QB Connor Wile saw plenty of pressure but still connected on 14 of 18 attempts including a 34-yard TD pass to Brett Fontaine with 2:57 left until halftime.

Connor rolled right on that play to buy time and lofted a pass, over the top of turned-around defender Tom Moody, that Brett had to leap to get.

Brett Fontaine hit hard by Dan Laorenza (7), Nate Hitchcock (56), Glen Hartford (44) and Tom Moody (30).

Speaking of Brett, he was rocked after a couple of receptions. One picture shows him being hit by four NA players and his helmet pushed back. He came out of that play holding his left arm and I suspect that sight had the NHS basketball and baseball coaches holding their collective breaths.

Newburyport won the toss and deferred. They tried an onside kick that didn’t work and gave NA great early field position.

NHS head coach Ed Gaudiano took a severe chiding from the referee after complaining loud and early about, what he saw to be, NA holding.

Newburyport started the second half with the ball (their own 27) trailing just, 13-7. They could gain just four yards in three plays. The punt attempt turned disastrous as a low snap forced punter Trevor Pituck to kneel to get it and the play was ruled dead at the N17.

Clipper QB Connor Wile stands in the pocket with good protection.

NA was quick to capitalize. After a six-yard run by John Iannone, Brandon started to scramble and then at the last second threw left to Dan Laorenza who finished off the final eleven yards to score. There was a delay as officials discussed whether Brandon was over the line of scrimmage when he threw to Dan. It was ruled he wasn’t. Glen Hartford’s extra point kick put the Knights in front, 20-7 with 8:10 left in the third quarter.

NA’s first touchdown was on a John Iannone seven-yard sweep around the right end.

The final Knight score was at the end of a long drive that started on the NA 23. Glen Hartford got the TD. He lined up in the backfield and went out into the flat after a fake handoff and was wide open on the right side for an easy connection with Brandon.

Jared Bradbury (11) stuffs John Iannone (23) near the Clipper end zone.

Brandon was also the punter and holder. I don’t recall seeing him much on defense. One NA partisan told me that Brandon is getting recruited by D1 schools as a safety. I read a recent article on Brandon that suggested that his best sport may be baseball where he is a catcher.

Jared Bradbury had the defensive hit of the night on a Knight receiver.

Newburyport (2-2) plays next Thursday night (7PM) at Marblehead.

North Andover (3-1) is at Medford next Friday night.

(I take my own pictures and create my own captions. I try to be as accurate as possible.)

The pictures will enlarge to normal size if you click on them.

Brett Fontaine (10) after touchdown catch.

Trevor Pituck punts

Glen Hartford kicked four extra points. Brandon Walsh holds.

Brandon Walsh punts

Brandon Walsh

NHS coach Bob Clarke hears from the referee.

Tyler Martin follows Tyler Cusack (21) and Trevor Pituck (55)

North Andover Defeats Amesbury 3-1 in Girls Soccer

Liv Boudreau (#3) defended by Erin Leary (#13) in the first half.

(Amesbury) Sometimes a soccer game turns on a goal, other times it turns on a save.

North Andover goalkeeper Megan Collins denied a great scoring opportunity by Amesbury’s Hannah Zannini early (three minutes) in the second half and the Lady Knights (4-2-1) followed with three unanswered goals to defeat the Indians (3-1-1), 3-1, at Cashman Elementary School in Amesbury.

Hannah Zannini gets off a 2nd half shot as her teammates watch from the sidelines.

If Hannah’s hard shot doesn’t deflect off Megan’s hands AND the goal post, the Indians go up 2-0 and the outcome might have been different.

But the shot stayed out and five minutes later Amesbury goalie Sarah Abraham gave up a rebound in front to Pam Coufos and she tied the score, 1-1.

The visitors took the lead for good ten minutes later when a Alex Medlock cross from the right side found Jess Carney with an open look on the left side for the go-ahead, and what turned out to be, game winner.

North Andover’s final goal was set up on a pass from Tori Sullivan into the middle where Caroline Kirby had time and a clear view of the AHS goal.

Pam Coufos (#2) scored the Lady Knights first goal.

The lone Amesbury goal was by Hannah Zannini at the 28-minute mark of the first half. Erin Leary sent Hannah on a long run down the middle of the field. Hannah got off a strong right-footed shot that beat the NA goalie in the upper right corner of the goal.

Whitney Whitlow (CAL All-League) hurt an ankle in the first half and played sparingly thereafter. She had twelve goals and six assists in 2010.

Megan Cullen (CAL All-League) damaged her knee in the summer and is out for the season. She had thirteen goals and nine assists in 2010.

Let’s just say that Amesbury had some weapons missing on offense.

But the Amesbury defense was together and they were tested by the quickness and persistence of CAL All-Leaguers Liv Boudreau and Pam Coufos among others. NA ended up with eleven shots by my calculations. Amesbury had only allowed one goal through their first four games.

The two best players on the field may well have been NA defenders Rachel Barnes (CAL All-League) and Taylor Tagliente (CAL All-Star). Rachel kept Indian threats out of the middle. Taylor went down heavily early on but shook it off and covered a lot of ground for the Indians. Taylor played every minute of every Amesbury game last year.

Audrey Samuelman (#9) and Rachel Barnes (back turned) defend in front of the North Andover net.

Amesbury’s next game is against Hamilton-Wenham on Thursday at home.

North Andover’s next game is home versus Pentucket.

The field was in fine condition. The only problem was that the sun was a real factor down one end. As luck would have it, I chose to stay at the other end and naturally all four goals were scored down the sunny end.

(I take my own pictures and collect my own stats. My goal is to be accurate and fair.)

The pictures assume normal size if you click on them.

Elly Theriault (#19), Taylor Tagliente (10) and Emily Martin (16)

Whitney Whitlow

Taylor Tagliente

Leah Chittick (#20) with Taylor Tagliente (#10) and Amanda Martin (#12)

Hannah Zannini defended by Deidre Martyn

Newburyport Sweeps North Andover in Cross Country

Kiley Knowlton (20:40) wins the girls race

Alex Sullivan leads North Andover.

(Newburyport) The undefeated Newburyport (3-0) boys came at North Andover (2-1) in a bunch on Maudslay State Park’s 3-mile course and defeated the visitors, 22-35, in cross country on Wednesday afternoon in Cape Ann League competition.

(left to right) Chris Suprin, Keith Conway, and Joe Santo sweep 2-4 together.

NA‘s Alex Sullivan (16:00) easily won the event but had to wait over a minute before 6th place teammate (Greg Macarthur – 17:07) arrived. Meanwhile, Clipper runners Chris Suprin, Keith Conway, Joe Santo, and Nick Carleo took places 2-5. Sophomore Chris Orlando completed the Newburyport scoring with an 8th place finish.

The Newburyport Clipper girls (2-1) took out NA (2-1), 23-34, sweeping the first three spots.

Clipper senior Kiley Knowlton (20:40) finished alone. Forty seconds later teammates Kelly Conway and Erin Carroll were in. Getting those first three spots was crucial because the Knights covered 4-7, led by Danielle Poto. Newburyport’s Sarah Jacqz (8th) and Rachel Rikeman (9th) ended the NA streak of runners.

Kelly Conway (right) and Erin Carroll (left) take 2nd and 3rd.

Danielle Poto (4th)

The Hamilton-Wenham Generals are Newburyport’s next opponent next Wednesday at Maudslay.

This was the first cross country meet I’ve been to at the state park. The temperature’s were probably too high for the runners’ liking but comfortable for those of us watching. For some reason the meet started nearly an hour late but that just seemed to increase the interaction time among runners and among spectators. I was pleasantly surprised that bugs weren’t an issue.

(I try to be accurate in these accounts. Spelling matters to me. Identifying runners accurately matters to me. Mistakes are unintentional.)

Clicking on any of the pictures enlarges them.