RallyNorth.net

Leah Chittick scored three goals and freshman Lauren Hiller made a career-high 18 saves as No. 3 North Andover topped No. 2 Framingham 9-7 to advance to the Division 1 North title game.

"Lauren got the game ball," said coach Karen Lahey. "She played out of her mind. We stopped 11 of 13 free positions. That's a crazy percentage."

Paul Sughrue may be behind schedule a bit, but he showed that he's in top form yesterday at the Framingham Tournament yesterday.

Missing from the lineup for several meets with minor injuries, Sughrue won the 132-pound weight class in convincing fashion, defeating No. 1 seed and returning New England placer Johnny Do of Framingham 12-7 in the finals. For his performance, Sughrue was named the tourney Outstanding Wrestler.

Methuen completed a banner holiday season for local wrestling teams by capturing the Framingham Tournament for the second straight year.

Led by New England finalists Christian Monserrat, Paul Sughrue and C.J. Doherty, all of whom were repeat champions, the Rangers finished with 223 points in the 21-team field, comfortably ahead of runner-up Cumberland, R.I. (199 1/2) and Framingham (192).

Considering the fact that Framingham is the girls lacrosse Division 1 defending state champion, and Andover has gone 0-10 against the Flyers lifetime, the Warriors left no doubt yesterday,  blitzing to a 12-2 halftime lead and rolling on, 14-4. Meghan Morris and Sara Miller each netted three goals as Andover moved to 13-1. Framingham dropped to 4-7-1.

Andover’s game plan entering its Division 1 North semifinal contest against Framingham: control time of possession.

“We knew going in that we needed the ball more than they had it because their attack is so strong and they’re so skilled and so athletic,” Andover coach John McVeigh said. “They have three all-Americans on the attack. It makes it tough because they do a great job of sharing the ball with each other.”

The Timberlane wrestling team stood in second place after last night's first session of the 73-team Eastern States Classic in upperstate New York. Happaug, N.Y., was first with 88 1/2, followed by the Owls with 74 1/2.

Sean McCarthy upset the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds to take first at 215 pounds and help Methuen to a third-place finish at the Framingham Tourney. Also, seeded sixth, C.J. Doherty took first at 135 pounds.

Andover goalie Andrew Osborne made a whopping 24 saves but it wasn't enough as Andover's boys soccer team fell to No. 3 seed Framingham 4-0 in the Division 1 North first round.

Andover's girls lacrosse team couldn't have gotten off to a more discouraging start yesterday against state power Framingham.

Just three seconds into the game, four-year starter and leading scorer Heather Sullivan suffered what appeared to be a broken ankle in a 15-10 setback.

For the second straight year, Andover has been eliminated from postseason play in the Division 1 North quarterfinal round as the Warriors fell to Framingham, 4-0. Goaltender Satin Zarkar put forward a solid effort with nine saves, but the Framingham attack was just too powerful according to coach Meghan Matson.