It may have just been a scrimmage, but whenever Andover and North Andover take the field it's always competitive and yesterday’s field hockey clash was no exception. 

In an abbreviated scrimmage, the Golden Warriors controlled the tempo throughout and beat a game, but over-matched the Scarlet Knight squad 2-0 at North Andover High School.

The defending state champion Warriors imposed their will for much of the opening period but were unable to penetrate the Knights back line.

Early in the second period (the game was cut into three periods of 20, 20, and 10 minutes respectively) junior Meagan Keefe was able to get the edge of her stick on the ball and roll into the goal amidst a gaggle of players to give Andover a 1-0 lead. Junior Danielle Gibbs would add Andover’s second goal near the end of the second after another small skirmish in front of the North Andover goal.

After the scrimmage the teams ran drills together. Both coaches said they were excited for the upcoming season.

“I think the thing is is that we’re starting over again,” Andover coach Maureen Noone said. “That [winning the championship] was great. We have the experience there, and I think experience can take you a lot of places; however, you also have to have that luck, the work ethic, and with girls, especially, team chemistry.  That’s what we’re kind of looking for right now. Who plays well together and who steps it up.”

While Andover has the experience of last year’s run to the title to learn from, the Scarlet Knights, according to head coach Courtney Breen, has to find its way with a roster full of young players.

“This is kind of our first time that we’ve played as a group,” Breen said. “I’m really pleased with how the girls came out strong and weren’t intimidated that they were playing a defending state champion.”

The Warriors begin their 2011 campaign September 12 under the lights at Lovely Field against Tewksbury. They’ll take on North Andover for real on October 15.