RallyNorth.net

ANDOVER | As Andover knelt in a circle during halftime yesterday, there was one clear message throughout the team.

"We needed to get the jitters out of our system and just relax," said Golden Warriors head coach Wayne Puglisi. "We needed to take a deep breath, stay focused, maintain our composure and tell ourselves, 'We can do this.' "

PEABODY | For a moment no one, including Peabody's Mark D'Addario, knew where the ball was.

Weymouth's short-stick midfielder, Mike Guilfoy, was attached to D'Addario's hip as the Tanners' middie gradually curled toward the visitor's goal. As D'Addario neared the point of firing, Guilfoy lifted his stick up and over the head of D'Addario and slashed down on his opponent's stick.

The Tanners completed their first season in the NEC perfect at 11-0 by beating Beverly twice in the same season for the first time in school history. The Panthers led by four at halftime before Peabody (13-5 overall) came roaring back and won 9-5 on three goals each from Billy Daly and Derek West. Greg Shidler added a pair while Mike Pennachio had a goal and an assist.

Despite playing two of the last four minutes down a man, the Tanners outlasted Marblehead 8-7 thanks in part to a late kick save from goalie Justin Famigletti, who totaled 23 stops. Billy Daly provided the offense for Peabody (11-4) with four goals while Derek West, Mike Martin and Mike Pennachio each added a goal and an assist.

Will Beringer scored three times and added a helper on the Marblehead side, as the Magicians came within a goal late but could never knot the score.

The Hawks watched Peabody get within one at 4-3 in the second half and then turned on the jets to pull away and win 9-3. Billy Daly scored twice and Derek West had a goal for the Tanners (9-3), who got 25 saves in net from senior Justin Famigletti.

The Peabody boys team is quietly making a name for itself this spring.

The Tanners, who ended Beverly's long Northeastern Conference win streak a week ago, seem to be a great fit for their new conference, but it also seems possible that they could be a factor in the Division 1 postseason.

Streaks are meant to be broken sooner or later, and it finally ended for Beverly High's lacrosse team yesterday at Donahue Field.

After winning 103 straight Northeastern Conference lacrosse games dating back to 1997, Beverly's remarkable streak was abruptly finished by Peabody, 9-3.