After press time:
North Reading ties Newburyport 1-1 (Oct. 24)
Earns 2024 Cape Ann League Title
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
SOUTH HAMILTON — On Tuesday afternoon, the North Reading High girls’ soccer team visited Hamilton-Wenham in a game between two Cape Ann League powers. The game ended in a 1-1 tie.
With that result, the Hornets’ record went to 14-1-1 overall and 13-1-1 in the CAL. The undefeated Generals, meanwhile went to 12-0-3 overall and 10-0-3 in the league.
Both goals came in the opening 40 minutes.
Georgia Wilson gave the Generals a 1-0 lead at the 22:22 mark.
Allie Lanciani, assisted by Reilly Tassinari, tied it 6:31 later.
Hornet goalkeeper, Macy Kurchian, made four stops to go to 14-1-1 in net.
“Even though we fell behind 1-0 in the first half, I thought we played some really good soccer,” said Hornets head coach Sean Killeen. “Our midfield rotation was a little off as Juliet (Wasilewski) is just returning from an illness and Bella (Mawn) is managing a hamstring issue. Senior co-captain Julia Scammon slid back into the roll and played exceptionally well. Julia is strong and distributes with creativity and precision, but we needed a few minutes there and she played very well.”
Killen also praised his defense.
“The back line continues to play well and they always pick each other up,” he stated. “Lead by senior co-captain Marisa Montana who takes great pride at the center back position as she continues to leave everything on the field. As a four year varsity player, she is making the most of every opportunity.”
“Macy continues to play very well in goal,” he added “What I appreciate the most about her is her preparation and balance.”
On Oct. 17, the Hornets doubled up guest Georgetown 6-3 on Senior Night as the three goals allowed were the most the team has surrendered this fall. The Hornets led this game, 3-1, at halftime.
Ariana Demetri scored the first goal of the afternoon at the 13:12 mark and that was unassisted.
Lanciani, assisted by Mawn, made it 2-0 at the 18:58 mark.
Demetri, assisted by Kiersten Higgins, made it 3-0 with 12:05 remaining in the first half.
Alexis Sheehan, got the Royals on the scoreboard with 6:32 remaining in the opening stanza.
Lanciani had the first goal of the second half, 7:46 in assisted by Taylor Osterlind. Lanciani then got her hat trick 15:57 in assisted by Tassinari to make it 5-1.
Georgetown then scored the next two goals as Sheehan and Katherine Greenblatt both scored to cut the lead to two.
Sheehan scored at the 58:13 mark while Greenblatt’s goal came at the 62:14 point.
Higgins had the game’s final goal with just under 10 minutes remaining in the game. Tassinari assisted.
Kurchian made four saves in net.
Before the game NR honored their 12 seniors.
On Oct. 24, the Hornets host Newburyport at 4:30 p.m. in the final league game of the season as the team looks for the season sweep over the Clippers.
North Reading then wraps up the regular season on Oct. 28 as they welcome Auburn at 4:30 p.m.
The Hornets entered this week ranked 7th in the MIAA Division 3 power rankings.