RallyNorth.net

The soccer god of health has not favored Colleen Coviello and especially Shannon Fitzgerald in the recent past, but this year the senior duo have recovered to play pivotal roles in the success of the Newburyport girls soccer team, which has advanced to the Division 3 North semifinals.

When it comes to playing St. Mary's of Lynn, Newburyport can relate to the way the Yankees used to feel about playing the Red Sox:

"How can there be a rivalry if we keep beating them?" The No. 2 Clippers sent the No. 7 Spartans packing in the EMass. Division 3 North tournament for a second straight year (last year 2-1 in OT in the North final) yesterday, doing so in style with a 4-0 victory in the quarterfinal round. However, it was some choice words from star St. Mary's forward Amanda Webster that provided a little extra motivation for the reigning North sectional champion Clippers.

The Newburyport girls soccer team made its first step toward repeating as Division 3 North champions yesterday. The second-seeded Clippers beat No. 15 Bedford, 2-0, in the opening round of the Division 3 North at Cherry Hill Park. The victory gives the Clippers the first of four wins they'll need to reclaim the North crown.

In preparation for the state tournament Newburyport and Pentucket met up at the New England Soccer School in Amesbury to do some training and scrimmaging on the turf surface.

The Clippers had not played since last Friday, and after working on some technical training for an hour, they finally got a chance to get back in the game mind set with a scrimmage against their familiar rivals.

Ipswich soccer coach Manny Lopes issued a written apology to Newburyport girls soccer coach Robb Gonnam yesterday, only days after he alleged the Clippers coach recruited players from outside the Newburyport area.

Newburyport High Principal Michael Parent defended Clippers girls soccer coach Robb Gonnam yesterday in the wake of allegations that the veteran coach recruits athletes from outside the Newburyport area.

The talent factory that is the Newburyport girls soccer team is being dealt its biggest shots off the field these days. Following last Tuesday's 9-3 victory over Ipswich, the Clippers drew the ire of opposing coach Manny Lopes, who deemed the Clippers' recent spell of Cape Ann League domination as tainted. The Clippers have posted a 49-5-6 record since 2005 and advanced to the EMass. Division 3 Final last fall.

After completing what may prove to be its most difficult week in the regular season, Newburyport (10-1-1) clinched an EMass. Tournament berth. The Clippers encountered the first blemishes on their record last week in a three-game stretch that saw the locals lose to North Andover, beat North Reading and tie Mascomomet. Yesterday's nine goals were four more than Newburyport scored all of last week.

The Clippers played what coach Robb Gonnam believes to be their best half of the season en route to taking a 1-0 lead into the break against Masconomet. Jillian Kinter scored the lone Clippers' goal at 16:19. Unfortunately, the home team came out of the break a step behind and Masco's Ashley McKinley made the Clippers pay with a goal in the 55th minute.

NEWBURYPORT | For a Newburyport girls soccer team that is 45-5-5 since 2005, rarely does a match pass in which the Clippers don't get another team's best effort.

In a rare circumstance, the Clippers weren't able to match an opponent's best effort yesterday, dropping a Cape Ann League rivarly game to North Andover, 2-0, at Cherry Hill Field. The Scarlet Knights had plenty of motivation; The win moves the squad into a first-place tie with Newburyport for the Cape Ann League title and avenges a 1-0 defeat last year at the hands of the Clippers.