RallyNorth.net

READING — Whether last year's triple overtime, penalty stroke loss in the Division 1 North Finals is still fresh in Andover's mind is anyone's guess, but what can't be denied is the familiar feeling coach Maureen Noone and her team have now that they're going back. "They have had returning as their goal the entire year," said Noone. "They are definitely excited. It was hard to keep regrouping during the game. The Golden Warriors left no doubt in Tuesday's 3-0 win over previously unbeaten Needham, dominating the North Semifinal matchup from the get-go to punch their ticket back to the regional finals. It only took sophomore forward Emma Farnham four minutes to get Andover on the board. Senior captain Tori Roche fired a shot on Needham keeper Ali Dugan that was turned away, but Farnham was in good position to clean up the rebound. Farnham added another goal midway through the first to give Andover a comfortable 2-0 lead at halftime, and Brenna Keefe put the game out of reach with another goal off a corner 10 minutes into the second. "She's done a good job for us all year," said Noone of Farnham. "The first goal definitely settles the team. You can take chances you might not have taken if you didn't have that one. So it really puts you in a nice place." The early goal put Needham in an unfamiliar positon. Andover may have entered the matchup with an impressive 18-1-1 record, but Needham came in without a single loss on the season. Andover goalie Megan Hartnett has now recorded three straight shutouts. The junior goalkeeper has kept a clean slate the entire postseason, and recieved high praise for keeping a potent Needham offense off the board. "She's awesome," said Noone. "She's been incredible. When we get into big games she always steps up, and she's done a fabulous job for us not only this year, but for the past two as well." Hartnett certainly had help. Senior caption Jillian Hughes was a constant pest for Needham attackers on the defensive end. Hughes led a defensive unit that did not allow the Rockets many good chances to fire at Hartnett. A defensive unit as strong as Andover's has helped the offense to tally 10 goals in three playoff games. "I think they've been capitalizing when they need to," said Noone. "We have a lot of versitile kids, and we have some really fast wings that have been stepping in and giving our starters a break. We have a lot of depth at that forward line." Andover now awaits the winner of Wednesday night's semifinal between Acton-Boxboro and Belmont.