High school girls soccer

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Way to give the other team credit LB...not!

For 80-plus minutes on Friday, the Acton-Boxborough girls soccer team took everything top-seeded Peabody could throw at it.

The Colonials also gave the Tanners all they could handle.

Ultimately, however, Peabody prevailed, 1-0 in overtime in the MIAA Division 1 North semifinal at Manning Field.

The Tanners’ Hayley Dowd scored the game-winner on a direct free kick three minutes and six seconds into the first 10-minute sudden-death overtime period after she was fouled about 20 yards from the A-B goal. Dowd, the leading scorer in Eastern Massachusetts, put a low, hard shot into the Colonials’ net, sending Peabody (19-0-2) into Sunday’s title North game against Chelmsford at Manning Field.

On Sept. 17, A-B lost to Peabody, 2-1.

“We were better organized today,” said A-B coach Lee Billiard, whose team finished the season at 11-5-4.”We knew where their threats were. We were more than evenly matched and we could have fun.”

The Colonials played most of the game with 10 players. With about 10 minutes to go in the first half, about 30 yards from the Tanners’ goal, A-B’s Maya Jarostchuk and Peabody’s Cayla Bucci got tangled up while competing for the ball. The referee ruled that Jarostchuk kicked Bucci and Bucci struck Jarostchuk in the mouth. Jarostchuk received a red card and Bucci picked up a yellow card.

“Maya said their legs got tangled up,” Billiard said. “When she walked off the field, she was the one with the bloody lip.”

A-B goalie Ellen Conway stopped eight shots, including a breakaway from Dowd with 5:36 left in regulation. She also saved a header from Katie Brunelle with 20:27 remaining.

The Colonials’ best chance came with 2:21 remaining in the second half when Abby O’Brien had a header that went off the crossbar.

“I’m bursting with pride,” Billiard said. “We were down to 10 players and we played like the better team.”

After a slow start to the season, A-B went 14 straight games without a loss before Friday’s semifinal.

“We had a lot of new faces on the varsity,” said Billiard, who completed his third season at A-B. “It took a while for everyone to get used to playing the way we wanted to play. The character we showed today was unbelievable. It was a great year and I really enjoyed it.”

Way to give the other team credit who actually deserved credit DD....not!!

http://m.salemnews.com/TSN/pm_104192...tguid=502zjnFY

[Unregistered]

She never would have had to physically take the defender off of herself if the ref blew the whistle more quickly. The Peabody player was hanging on to her for a while. I don't know if he was playing possession or what the deal was.

Was the ref a young, muscle-bound meathead by any chance? Short dark hair, looks like he spends most of his time the weight room, doesn't seem to know elementary rules of the game?

[Unregistered]

Was the ref a young, muscle-bound meathead by any chance? Short dark hair, looks like he spends most of his time the weight room, doesn't seem to know elementary rules of the game?

No he was probably in his late 40's. He was real bad.

[Unregistered]

Was the ref a young, muscle-bound meathead by any chance? Short dark hair, looks like he spends most of his time the weight room, doesn't seem to know elementary rules of the game?

Bingo! Sounds like the guy.

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Time to move on. What do we know about Oliver Ames?

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Who's laughing at W-H coach now? South Finals and no Mewis, Petta, etc.

Lost in finals.SPOKE TO SOON

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Game recap?

Duxbury tried to win the game with 2 players. The rest defended and they couldnt hold on against a better team

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Time to move on. What do we know about Oliver Ames?

Strong, athletic team with a lot of size.

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Harry, any thoughts on tonight's games?

[HS Harry]

I don't have much specific information about the three E Mass South entrants in tonight's games. From what I do know, I think that Oliver Ames and Canton will be the most complete and dangerous teams that either Peabody or Newburyport have faced this year. OA teams tend to be very physical, very fast and very good at implementing the direct tactics that thei coach prefers. If they can keep bodies betwen HD and the goal, they pose a tough match-up for the Tanners. If they try to man mark her and let her receive balls in the offensive third, they will be in trouble. I'd expect a lot of long balls in the air of Weymouth tonight!

Canton should be talented enough to get up on 'Port and force them out of their defensive shell. The Clippers will play ugly and I'd expect lots of attention will paid to LB. I just hope that the refs do a reasonable job of protecting one of the state's best players. I have said it before, but the beating that players like LB (and HD) can take in these games is unfortunate. We will know early if the refs are going to "let them play" or call it close. If they derail some of N-Port's physical play it will be advantage Canton and probably a mutiple goal win for the Bulldogs. If the Clippers can contraol LB and counter well, it could be another OT or PK game for Newburyport.

[Unregistered]

Anyone know where finals will be?

[Unregistered]

I don't have much specific information about the three E Mass South entrants in tonight's games. From what I do know, I think that Oliver Ames and Canton will be the most complete and dangerous teams that either Peabody or Newburyport have faced this year. OA teams tend to be very physical, very fast and very good at implementing the direct tactics that thei coach prefers. If they can keep bodies betwen HD and the goal, they pose a tough match-up for the Tanners. If they try to man mark her and let her receive balls in the offensive third, they will be in trouble. I'd expect a lot of long balls in the air of Weymouth tonight!

Canton should be talented enough to get up on 'Port and force them out of their defensive shell. The Clippers will play ugly and I'd expect lots of attention will paid to LB. I just hope that the refs do a reasonable job of protecting one of the state's best players. I have said it before, but the beating that players like LB (and HD) can take in these games is unfortunate. We will know early if the refs are going to "let them play" or call it close. If they derail some of N-Port's physical play it will be advantage Canton and probably a mutiple goal win for the Bulldogs. If the Clippers can contraol LB and counter well, it could be another OT or PK game for Newburyport.

LB has been abused for 12 straight weeks. She has still scored over 30 goals and looks to be getting better.

Canton also has a few other options going forward and score from many different places.

Any team in the final four will be strong. Sounds like a battle of styles and one that will prove entralling, either way.

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LB has been abused for 12 straight weeks. She has still scored over 30 goals and looks to be getting better.

Canton also has a few other options going forward and score from many different places.

Any team in the final four will be strong. Sounds like a battle of styles and one that will prove entralling, either way.

My guess is that she hasn't faced the type of organized and deliberate attention she will get from Newburyport. HSH is dead on with this one. If the refs let Newburyport get away with their style of defense, it will be a long painful night for Canton. If they take away the shoulder on shoulder checks, pushing/ holding/ pinching and ankle work I think Canton can dominate.

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I've attended at least 10 HS playoff games. Not a single one was reffed tightly to start. (One was after it was completely out of control and soccer broke out.) All "let them play". Girls games have been the worse. Legal, and safe, shoulder charges are whistled, while dangerous tackles, elbows, and trips are ignored. I'm surprised any top player survives in this dangerous environment.

[Unregistered]

Canton is beatable. They have an actual soccer coach (vs a teacher) which gives them an edge. Their defense is well organized and they have LB and MW. Although a few other Canton players have scored goals, they really don't have another dangerous player. They do have enough solid athletic players to give any team a run for their money. The best way to beat Canton is with a solid goalie.