The Girls Varsity Soccer game started with all of PA’s seniors on the field ready to play Exeter for their last Andover soccer game. The team made an exciting comeback to conclude its season with a 2-1 win. JeanMarie Gossard ’05 started as sweeper in the defense, Charlotte MacMillan ’05 as a forward, Katie Koh ’05 and Caitriona McGovern ’05 as outside midfielders, and captains Jessica Taggart ’05 and Cara Ruccolo ’05 both on the defensive half of the field. The game started with both teams playing at an equal level. Andover dominated and kept the ball in its offensive end, much in part to phenomenal performance by Julie Wadland ’06. Despite failed attempts, the girls’ intensity never dropped. However the Big Red was able to score on the Blue to end the half with a 1-0 lead. PA came into the second half picking up where it left off. An Exeter player committed a foul in the goal box that the referee failed to call, which resulted in an intense drive for the Big Blue. The next play, Andover was awarded a free kick ten yards outside of the 18-yard box. Emily Kennedy ’07 placed the ball right in front of Exeter’s net. PA attackers fought hard and shot the ball multiple times until finally MacMillan found the back of the net. The Big Blue continued its strong attack. The ball progressed from the back and through the middle until Rosie Raymond-Sidel ’08 placed a beautifully crossed ball in front of the net. Koh coupled the ball with a perfectly timed run to put the Big Blue up by one. Seven minutes stood between the girls and the perfect end to a great season. It was a whole team effort for those last minutes to keep the ball away from the Big Blue’s net. With two minutes remaining the Blue crowd began to chant “It’s All Over,” and for the Exeter Girls Varsity Soccer team, it was. The crowd rushed the field at the end of the game to join in on the dog pile formed by the team members. Gossard said of the outcome of the game, “Mel [Melissa] and I were at the bottom of a thousand pound mass, and frankly, I’ve never felt more comfortable.”
