Acton-Boxborough Halts Lincoln-Sudbury Field Hockey Team's Postseason Run

READING — A third meeting of the season between fourth-seeded Lincoln-Sudbury field hockey team and top-seeded Acton-Boxborough ended with familiar results on Wednesday night.

A-B senior Lindsey Gibbs slipped a goal through in the final minutes of the MIAA Division 1 North Sectional semifinals, helping eliminate the Warriors, 2-1, in another one-goal battle between the Dual County League Large leaders.

"The teams are so evenly matched in terms of skill, ability and speed." said A-B coach Mae Shoemaker. "I do not know what it is with L-S and A-B. You can get it in your head. Whatever my players did, they got it out off their heads and onto the field."

With A-B pressing in the last 15 minutes, the Colonials (21-0-0) managed to break a 1-1 tie with a third-minute goal from Gibbs. The senior received a left-side lead pass from senior teammate Molly Feit and snuck a shot to the right side of the net.

"When we had the timeout I said, 'You are not showing me you want this game more than they do,'" said Shoemaker. "Lindsey has had a great year."

The Warriors (15-3-1) managed to created pressure on the counter attack, but were unable produce any late corners. As a dangerous cross from L-S junior Annika Nygren slipped untouched past the net and into a Colonials set pass, hopes of a comeback slipped away.

The Colonials ran down the clock and advanced to play Andover in the sectional finals at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

"We were working our tails off," said L-S coach Vicky Caburian. "You just got to finish."

The Warriors won the battle for corners, 7-6, producing a majority of their corners in the first half and early in second half. L-S had a shot advantage of 13-11.

However, the Colonials managed eight shots in the final 15 minutes, while the Warriors only had four.

"We outplayed them in many parts of the game, but you have to score more goals than the other team," said Caburian. "The ball just did not bounce our way."

Gibbs proved the difference by scoring two goals for the Colonials. The senior broke open the scoring at 25:20 in the first half off a pass from senior teammate Sarah McNicholas.

"When we were in the huddle I said, 'I need every one of you to pick it up,'" said Shoemaker. "(Gibbs) and Diane Kim picked it up more than I could ask and they knew what they had to do."

The Warriors responded by controlling possession and creating a four to one corner ratio for the next 10 minutes. At 15:50 in the first half, sophomore Ellie Landsman evened the score with a goal off a corner pass from senior teammate Laura Ganio.

Landsman received the pass 15 yards from the net and shot a laser under goalkeeper Hannah Clough.

"Ellie Landsman slammed it home and that set a statement for L-S field hockey," said Caburian. "There was plenty of time left. I knew my girls would come back and were capable of finishing."

The Warriors threatened early in the second half with a dangerous rebound shot from junior Devon McCann. The center managed to get wedged in the hook of a defender's stick to produce a corner.

A quick give-and-go effort between Landsman and Nygren off the set pass was again blocked.

"A goal's a goal whether it is pretty or scrappy," said Caburian. "A-B got two goals and we had needed to shut them down."

Acton-Boxborough averages 3.5 points per game, while L-S averages 2.6. Both goalkeepers, L-S junior Grace Sweetser and A-B's Clough, had seven saves.

"Hannah was amazing," said Shoemaker. "She probably made more saves than in the last few games combined."

The Colonials have recently had an upper edge in the rivalry going undefeated against the Warriors in the past two seasons. A-B beat L-S 3-2 and 1-0 earlier this season.

"One day hopefully the ball will bounce our way," said Caburian. "(The players) left it all on the field. Hats off to the DCL to represent in the state championship once again."