Lincoln-Sudbury Eliminates Andover in Hard Fought 12-7 Contest

Following the script of last year’s Division 1 North Sectional Final, the Warriors of Lincoln-Sudbury will once again head to the state girls’ lacrosse semi-finals, defeating Andover 12-7 on Wednesday.

This year Lincoln-Sudbury had home field advantage, but the visiting Golden Warriors drew first blood, with two goals from Ally Fazio and Weezie Gross in the first 10 minutes of the contest.

Lincoln-Sudbury countered quickly with a pair of goals in just over two minutes from Abby Quirk and Rachel Sexton to even things up, beginning a run that led to a 5-2 advantage for the home squad at the break.

However, Andover would start the second half with an extra player thanks to a yellow card by Quirk on a free shot just three seconds before the halftime horn.

Gross would get a goal back for Andover on the advantage, but Quirk rapidly responded upon her return to the game, setting up Sexton for another goal to return the home team’s three goal lead.

A check to the head by Lincoln-Sudbury’s Madison Acton would once again give Andover a three minute one-player advantage, letting them get within a goal of tying it up, but they wouldn’t be able to pull ahead, with the teams trading goals until Lincoln-Sudbury ended the contest with three straight goals.

“It was a crazy start of the game and everyone was kind of frazzled. We just needed to calm down and control the draw,” said Lincoln-Sudbury head coach Debbie Dejesus. “When we’re down in our attack end, we’re able to do that by passing the ball and when we got our rhythm going, we got more comfortable and relaxed.”

On the other sideline, Andover head coach John McVeigh believed that his girls could have pulled out the win, but was satisfied with the season as a whole.

“It was a war, anyone who was here knows it wasn’t a five-goal game,” said McVeigh. “I’m really proud of our girls, we had seven seniors who I will have treasured coaching forever.”

Acton and Sexton each scored four goals for Lincoln-Sudbury and Quirk pitched in four assists while Fazio and Gross each contributed a pair of goals apiece for Andover.

Lincoln-Sudbury will now face Division 1 South champion Westwood, who defeated Needham 12-9 in other action on Friday. The two teams will play at 5 p.m. on Monday at Babson College.