RallyNorth.net

LOWELL - For a team forging ahead into history, North Andover High looked quite at home here on the finely-manicured diamond at LeLacheur Park.

Sophomore Alec Jillson slapped a two-run single in the first and Aaron Brunette - with a save from Mike Weisman - made it work swimmingly as the Knights knocked off Reading, 2-0, before about 500 fans for the Division 2 North championship.

No. 9 Andover led by a goal at the half, but could not hold on and fell to Reading 9-7 in the first round of the Division 1 North girls lacrosse tournament. Heather Sullivan and Cat Gross (two assists) each scored once and Ally Fazio had a goal and an assist for the Golden Warriors (14-5-2). 

Jenn Pino's fourth goal was her biggest as she scored with 1:09 to play to lift North Andover (15-3) to a huge 8-7 win over a tough Reading squad. Katie Kleiendorft had a goal and three assists and goalie Stephanie Taylor made 18 saves.

HAVERHILL — Nobody seemed positive who actually won the 33rd annual John Ottaviani-Haverhill Invitational. The teams listened intently and Central Catholic erupted when it heard, ‘‘In second-place, Methuen ...’’

Led by a six-run fourth inning, North Reading downed Division 1 Reading for the third time in four meetins with 8-6. Jenn Shields sparked the big inning with a two-run double, and Brittni Coppola and Mary Batalis each drove in a run with a bunt single.

Tom Franklin factored into all three of Haverhill's victories in its 98-83 loss to Reading as he won the 100 butterfly (58.95) and was on the first place 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. Mike Carbone, Tony Lekani and Mark Lalli swam the other three legs on both relays.

John Belanger dropped four seconds off his personal best in the 200 individual medley and swam the anchor leg of the winning 200 medley relay team as Andover boys swimming beat Reading 95-80. Paul Hunter won the 100 backstroke in 59.78. 

Both Paonessa sisters, Heather and Danni, scored goals for Andover as it improved to 3-1 with a win over Reading. Andover goalie Meaghan Petteruto posted a shutout with 13 saves.

ANDOVER - The main event of a North sectional volleyball tripleheader here lived up to the billing:

Reading's power vs. Lawrence's grit for the Division 1 sectional title.

In the end, it was the Middlesex League's Rockets, somehow willing their way to the victory in a two-hour, five-game marathon, 30-28, 17-25, 25-22, 12-25, 15-13. 

NORTH ANDOVER — This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

Reading, the 12th seed in Division 1 North, scored just two minutes into its quarterfinal fild hockey matchup with No. 4 North Andover yesterday and dominated possession for much of the first half.