In Heart-Breaking Final, Sachems Lose In OT To Andover

The win over Watertown and the wins over Acton-Boxboro were nice, something the members of the 2017 Winchester field hockey will look back on with pride. But they had more in mind including a Division 1 state championship.

Those hopes came to an end Saturday in North Andover as the Sachems lost to Andover, 1-0, in overtime.

Freshman Hannah Medwar continued her post-season success, scoring in the extra session to lift the Golden Warriors to the Division 1 North field hockey title. On the same night Winchester beat A-B, Medwar scored two goals against Central Catholic in their semifinal win. Andover (20-0-1), which last won a state title in 2011, will face South champion King Philip in the state semifinals Tuesday in Braintree.

After a scoreless 60 minutes, the teams faced off in a 15-minute sudden victory 7 vs. 7 format. Early in OT, Winchester (20-1-1) took advantage of the extra space on the field but was unable to push anything past Andover senior goalie Julia Gordon. Andover gained possession and just 3:08 into the OT Medwar's shot eluded Winchester goalie Brooke Ross and the celebration was on.

"Seven v seven is tough. It's a matter of keeping possession and we lost possession and they had a run down the field and put the ball in the net," said coach Michelle White. "We practiced it once we made the tournament just because you have to. You don't play it in the regular season. We have a good 7 vs 7 team, it just didn't go our way."

Regulation play was even and scoreless, despite the Golden Warriors playing shorthanded for seven of the first 30 minutes because of two penalty cards.

"It was a physical game, we just don't play that game. It is what it is, but that's not how we play," said White. "Their defense played well, keeping us out of the circle, and the couple times we did get in the circle we didn't get great shots. We could have drawn some more quarters and maybe given ourselves out, but they played their hearts out."

And Winchester's defense was outstanding as well.

"They didn't have many opportunities either, coming into the circle," said White. "The ball was played between the 25s. Again, once you get to overtime it's a different game."

Photo by Bob Holmes