Agganis Women’s Soccer Classic ends in tie

LYNN ? It appeared the South had wrapped up a win in the Agganis All-Star Women’s Soccer Classic when it scored two goals in about 30 seconds. However, Erika DiGiacomo of Peabody earned her team MVP trophy by scoring a goal in the 76th minute to make the game end in a 3-3 draw. It was only the second time in the 14-year history that the women’s soccer classic ended in a deadlock.Click here for an Agganis photo gallery.”DiGiacomo did a great job out there,” North coach Kristin Macdonald said.St. Mary’s coach Jim Foley had the rare opportunity to coach four of his own players: Amy Bozarjian, Stephanie Mowry, Amanda Webster and Brittany Naumann. They did not disappoint, as Mowry earned the Offensive Player of the Game honors for the South and Webster’s two goals were good enough to make her team MVP.”Just to have a chance to coach in the event is a great experience,” said Foley, “but it was very nice to get a chance to coach these girls one more time.”The South controlled the play in the first half and took a 1-0 lead into the break. Webster scored her first goal about 30 yards out.”I think we had to knock the cobwebs out in the first half,” said Macdonald. “It was good to get back in there.”The North then seized control in the second half. Laura Sprang of Wakefield finally got the North on the board in the 46th minute. Ten minutes later, Nikki Kourembanas of Classical scored after Saugus’ Belinda Cresta-Devine connected on a beautiful corner kick to give the North a 2-1 lead.”There were a lot more girls scoring out there than I expected,” said Macdonald.While she did not score a goal or an assist, Swampscott’s Marissa Gambale also stood out on the field. She made one sensational 30-yard leading pass to a teammate that forced goalie Annie Abber of Malden to make a tough save.Naumann and Webster would connect 11:27 and 10:44 remaining in the game to again give the South a lead. Webster’s goal again was a beauty as she fired a turnaround blast from about 35 yards out.”Amanda (Webster) is one of the best players in the North Shore,” said Foley. “That is why she will be playing in Santa Clara.”One of the more interesting stories going into the game was about Lucy Francisco from Lawrence. Lawrence High School does not have a girls soccer team and she was forced to play on the boys team. Not only did she play regularly, but she excelled and was named to the All-Conference Team. She did not disappoint as she picked up an assist and played very solid defense.Joel Simons, Howard Simon and Mark Shapiro manned the field as the referees.