RallyNorth.net

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.

The North Reading girls volleyball team improved to 14-1 thanks to an impressive all-around performance by Adrianna Doyle (10 kills, 22 service points, three aces). Also doing some damage against Reading was Nicole Cecchini, who racked up a game-high 40 digs.

After yesterday's 18-12 loss in the preliminary round of the Division 1 North tournament, Andover head coach Stephanie Ragucci was left scratching her head.

You can't blame her because Andover had a whopping 23 hits and still lost.

Lawrence's KB Oshodi has been one of Central Catholic's best and brightest track stars. And he has the Raider football program to thank for it.

"In my freshman year, the football coaches wanted to get us to do track," Oshodi explained. "They said it would be good to try and do a lot of different stuff. In the triple jump, in my first year, I was doing better than the varsity guys. I did well and I just continued to improve."

Trailing Reading 52-41 in the fourth quarter, North Andover coach Mike McVeigh put the Division 2 North semifinal game and the season in the hands of his five seniors.

The gallant Knights nearly pulled off another sectional semis miracle.

Like the New England Patriots prior to beating the Indianapolis Colts, there was a question about how the undefeated North Andover field hockey team would play when it finally got a challenge.

Last night in the Division 1 North semifinals at Walsh Stadium, the Knights finally got that test, and they passed it with flying colors, holding off a tough Reading team, 2-1.

Irene Cassidy saved 23 in Methuen's 4-1 loss to Reading in the Division 1 North tourney opener.

The Rangers' lone goal was scored by Dana Shaffer. "Cassidy definitely kept us in the game in the first half. She just made some outstanding plays," said Methuen coach Karen McLaughlin. Despite the 4-1 final, Reading was held scoreless until the second half of play.