By DAN NUNN
HORNET SENIOR Kerri–Ann Donovan settles the ball in the North Reading–Lynnfield game at Arthur Kenney Field. (John Friberg Photo)
Sunk by Vikings 2-1
BYFIELD — The Lady Hornets suffered a 2-1 road defeat to the Triton Vikings on October 14. Senior tri-captain Cole Godzinski scored the lone goal for North Reading.
After a scoreless first half the action heated up in the second half. Five minutes into the second stanza, Godzinski broke the deadlock. Senior tri-captain Tori Brown slid a through ball to Godzinski who placed a low shot into the left corner to make it 1-0.
Unfortunately, 10 minutes later in the 55th minute, Triton tied the score, just beating Katerina Hassapis in net. As the intensity reached its peak the Vikings were awarded a penalty kick and put the game away, finishing off the penalty to escape with the win.
Qualify for states with 5-0 rout of Lynn Tech
On Friday the Hornets qualified for the state tournament with their 5-0 home rout of the Lynn Tech Tigers. Freshman Juliette Nadeau led the way with two goals.
Nadeau started off and finished the scoring with her first two career varsity goals in the 5-0 victory. The three other goal scorers included senior Payton Conway-Baker and junior Maddie Syer and featured a solid head ball finish off a direct free kick by freshman Rachel Hill.
The victory improved the team’s overall record to 8-4-2 and qualified the team for states for the first time since 2007.
“I am very pleased with the hard work of the players to achieve this goal,” commented Coach Sean Killeen after the game. “We will need to keep focused and build off this opportunity. The tournament is still over a week away. Right now we need to continue to improve each time we step on the field.”
League leaders
The Lady Hornets are well represented on the leader board among the top Cape Ann League players. Defensively, goalkeeper Katerina Hassapis has maintained a goals against average of 0.53 which puts her in second place overall out of the top five in the league. She has given up just eight goals in 15 games. She has also posted eight shutouts to date.
On the top goal scorers list are Marissa Zarella and Cole Godzinski. Both girls are tied for seventh overall with six goals apiece. Godzinski is also tied for sixth in assists with five to date. Her 11 total points places her tied for seventh on the total points leader board.
Upcoming games
The Lady Hornets hosted the Masconomet Chieftains Monday (after press time) and hosted the Pentucket Sachems last night under the lights at Arthur J. Kenney Field in the team’s final home game of the season.
On Friday, North Reading travels to Bishop Fenwick in Peabody for a 4 p.m. start and wraps up the regular season on the road Monday, Oct. 17 at Hamilton-Wenham in a make up game postponed from Oct. 16.
