Darting toward the middle of the field with the score tied at one, Krystiana Swain ’18 separated from a Loomis defender and fired the ball into the top left corner, catapulting Andover Girls Soccer to a 2-1 victory over talented Loomis last Saturday.
Andover played with a newfound sense of aggression and urgency against Loomis. Sarah Humes ’16 scored within the first thirty seconds of the game off of a corner kick from Zoe Oasis ’17. In previous games, Andover hadn’t played with urgency until later in the game.
“Against Loomis, we played our game. We played exactly how [Head Coach Lisa Joel] needed us to and were able to shut down some of Loomis’ key players,” wrote Co-Captain Caroline Shipley ’16 in an email to The Phillipian.
Loomis managed to get onto the scoreboard at the start of the second half with a free kick, which curved inside the far post.
On Tuesday, Joel looked to new players Morgan Kuin ’17 and Brittany Bourassa ’18 to fill the shoes of injured players, Shipley, Kaitlin Hoang ’17, Deyana Marsh ’17 and Bri Fadden ’17, in a daunting match against Pingree.
“I knew Pingree’s offense would be just as formidable as Loomis’s, so I tried my hardest to organize my backline [to insure] that their strikers couldn’t slot balls through,” said goalie Antonia Tammaro ’17.
Tammaro, who has recorded 19 saves this season, kept Andover’s defense alive for the majority of the game.
With minutes left in the first half, Andover allowed Pingree to slip a ball into the back of the net amid a scramble in the 18-yard-box. Andover responded with a goal from Cassie Chin ’17, assisted by Humes, in the second half.
With the score locked at 1-1, Andover struggled to keep possession and succumbed to Pingree’s strong midfield. Pingree took the lead late in the second half with another goal, sealing the game at 2-1.
Despite the loss, Shipley was encouraged by the team’s attitude.
“If we can continue playing with that grit and attitude, I know things will go our way,” said Shipley.
Andover will travel to face Tabor Academy on Saturday, as it looks to improve its’ 2-2-1 record.
Editor’s Note: Cassie Chin ’17 is a Sports Associate for The Phillipian
