Published in the September 22, 2016 edition
HAPPINESS IS…Junior Meredith Griffin jumps for joy over her goal, scored on a great header on a corner kick from Jess Muise to put the Hornets ahead of Newburyport, 3–0. (John Friberg Photo)
By DAN NUNN
NORTH READING — The Hornets girls’ soccer team rebounded from a tough defeat in their home opener to Masconomet with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Newburyport Clippers on September 13.
Junior Karlie Vesey, senior captain Marissa Zarella and junior Meredith Griffin scored for North Reading. Senior captain Katerina Hassapis made nine saves in net for her first shutout of the season.
The Hornets consistently pressured the ball and flustered the Clippers in the first half. Right before the half, in the 36th minute, North Reading was finally rewarded with a goal. Vesey received a long throw in from senior captain Giana Moscaritolo, turned and buried a left footed shot below the crossbar for North Reading’s first goal of the season. The lead remained 1-0 at the half.
FOLLOW THE BALL. Senior Giana Moscariotolo keeps her Newburyport opponent away from the ball on Arthur Kenney Field. (John Friberg Photo)
After surviving some Newburyport pressure early in second half, Zarella extended the lead in the 55th minute. On the play she stole the ball from a Clipper defender and pushed towards the goal. After a nice touch to the right cleared the shooting lane, she blistered a shot past the keeper to make it 2-0.
For the third and final goal North Reading used a corner kick to perfection. Senior Jessica Muise served a corner into the box where Griffin made a near post run and headed the ball just inside the near post to seal the victory.
Sack Sachems 3-0
The Hornets won their second straight road game, defeating the Pentucket Sachems 3-0 on Thursday. Junior Karlie Vesey led the way with one goal and two assists.
In the first half the visiting Hornets controlled possession. In the 16th minute junior Juliette Nadeau opened the scoring. On the play Vesey played a superb through ball to a streaking Nadeau who finished to the far post.
After the goal Pentucket picked up the intensity and applied some pressure for the rest of the half. But the Sachems were held off the scoreboard and North Reading took a 1-0 halftime lead.
In the second half the Hornet offense got rolling. In the 52nd minute junior Rachel Hill buried the second goal off a pretty give and go at the top of the box with Vesey.
After serving two assists, Vesey finished off the scoring after she tracked down a through ball played by Muise. North Reading cruised to the 3-0 victory.
Crush Triton 5-0
Marissa Zarella scored an unbelievable four goals in a 30-minute span to lead North Reading to their 5-0 victory over the Triton Vikings on Monday. Seven players recorded an assist including the first varsity points for freshmen Alyssa Prusik and Joanna Kellogg.
The Hornets got the board early and often in the first half. Goal number one came in the 4th minute when a well-placed through ball from Prusik found a streaking Juliette Nadeau who passed to Rachel Hill in front of the goal.
After that goal Marissa Zarella decided to put together a personal highlight film. In 30 minutes Zarella rattled off an unbelievable four goals.
North Reading coasted the rest of the way to victory.
