SOPHIA EL-SHEIKH scored 2 goals in NR’s impressive 3-2 win over CAL powerhouse Newburyport on Monday. (Eric Evans File Photo)

 

 

Published September 26, 2024

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

NEWBURYPORT — It was a very memorable day for the North Reading High field hockey team on Monday afternoon as they edged host Newburyport 3-2.

The Clippers reached the Division 3 finals last year before falling to Watertown.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 7-1 overall and 6-1 in the Cape Ann League while the Clippers fell to 5-1-2 overall and 4-1-2 in the CAL.

“I was very, very happy,” stated Hornets head coach Mikayla Allen. “The girls were so excited.”

With 30 seconds left in the first quarter, Sophia El-Sheikh scored the game’s first goal. She also scored the second goal with 4:07 remaining in the first half.

Both goals were unassisted.

The Clippers scored with 4:35 left in the third but Alaina Driscoll made it a two-goal advantage with 2:08 left.

Newburyport scored off a corner with 1:53 left in the game but the Hornets were able to hold on the rest of the way.

“This was a statement win for us,” said Allen, whose squad also beat Manchester-Essex on Sept. 11. “This win was even bigger than the Manchester-Essex one.”

Hornet goalie, Thea Panousos, made four stops to improve to 7-1.

In their first non-league game of the season on Sept. 19, the Hornets blanked host Malden 5-0.

North Reading scored just 31 seconds into the game as El-Sheikh scored assisted by Ellie Moberg.

Josie Lambert made it 2-0 with 8:06 remaining in the first as El-Sheikh assisted.

Lucia Mini had the third tally of the first quarter with 5:09 left and that tally was unassisted.

North Reading scored its other two goals in the second quarter.

Lambert made it 4-0 off a corner with 11:59 left assisted by Alyse Mutti.

Willow Reyen then scored her first-career goal with 9:06 remaining to round out the scoring.

“Our bench got some valuable minutes in the second half,” pointed out Allen, as the reserves got a lot of playing time in the final 30 minutes.

Panousos did not have to make a save as she recorded her second shutout of the year.

It was a good bounce-back win after the Hornets were edged by guest Lynnfield on Sept. 18, 1-0.

“We were not focused and Lynnfield has a very strong team,” said Allen.

The lone Pioneer goal came with 1:56 left in the third quarter.

Panousos made four saves in that one.

The next game for the Hornets will be on Monday as they visit Essex Tech at 4 p.m. up in Danvers.