From the top of the circle, Charlotte Welch ’18 slapped the ball into the corner of the goal to score Andover Field Hockey’s second goal of the game against BB&N on Wednesday. Despite goals by both Lauren Overly ’17 and Welch, Andover fell to its opponent 4-2.
The loss followed a 3-1 triumph over a strong Class-A NMH team earlier in the week. After this week’s two games, the team’s record now stands at 9-3.
Describing the game against NMH, Meghan Ward ’19 said, “We were very focused going into the game, because we knew the importance of a Class A victory. The first 15 minutes were very slow, but once we gained confidence, we took control and created a lot of offense.”
In the first half, Andover dominated in the offensive portion of the field. Emily Batchelor ’19, a critical member of the team’s attack, scored twice in the first half, boosting Andover to a crucial lead going into halftime.
Ward said, “Against NMH we did a really nice job making crisp passes up the center of the field. By doing so we were able to get the ball into our offensive circle as fast as possible.“
Brooke Keough ’19 said, “We had a pretty high energy throughout the game. We were able to send the ball well, allowing our midfield and forwards to get several fast breaks that led to solid scoring opportunities.”
Going into the second half, Andover utilized its momentum to maximum effect. On a fast-paced counter-attack, Sanch Sen ’20 tapped the ball across the face of goal. Shortly thereafter, Ward slammed the ball beyond the goalie, scoring one more goal for the team. In the final moments of the second half, NMH was able to score a goal, ending the game with a final score of 3-1.
Captain Beth Krikorian ’17 said, “Going into the game against NMH we were pretty hyped up and ready to go, whereas against BB&N it took us a little longer to adjust to their playing style and match their speed.”
Against BB&N, Andover was initially able to play the game at a high speed; however, BB&N managed to score the first goal. This setback shut down Andover’s offense until Lauren Overly ’17 was able to tie the game. With only two minutes left in the first half, BB&N responded with another goal.
Jackie McCarthy ’19 said, “We definitely did not come out to play. It was a game of who wanted it more and it just didn’t happen to be us. BB&N scored early on into the game and caught us off-guard. BB&N had a few very fast players and used that to their advantage by taking big hits into our circle and having those players run onto it.”
In the second half, BB&N netted a third goal, pushing the score to 3-1. Andover, determined to make a comeback, scored its second goal of the game off a corner with Welch’s shot. Though Andover made a valiant effort, BB&N took control of the field once again and scored, leaving the final score at 4-2.
Krikorian said, “This year BB&N was strong, fast, and skilled. We weren’t able to match their speed, and their energy outdid ours today.”
Welch said, “We didn’t have as much energy going into this game which definitely hurt us. I thought we played well overall, except the other team was one step quicker than us and capitalized on their chances. We got a bunch more corners than them but couldn’t capitalize.”
On Friday, Andover will play Deerfield under the lights of Phelps Stadium for Family Weekend. The team hopes to amass a huge crowd to elevate its spirits and bring home a victory.