Beverly puts the clamps on Marblehead’s offense

SALEM – It was a tight game between two of the best girls? lacrosse teams in the Northeastern Conference, but Beverly triumphed over Marblehead, 7-5, at Salem State University on Wednesday.
The Panthers improved to a division-leading 12-2 with the victory, while Marblehead dropped to 9-3-1.
Beverly?s Grace Otterbein kicked off the scoring with her first of two goals. Marblehead came storming back with a goal less than a minute later from Hadley Carlton. The Magicians kept the pressure on as junior Corinne Mayle?s gave them a 2-1 lead.
After Otterbein scored again to tie the game, possession bounced back and forth until the 10-minute mark.
Beverly dominated much of the latter part of the first half, keeping the ball around Marblehead?s goal. Elizabeth Musumeci scored three times to give the Panthers the 5-2 advantage.
Caroline Driscoll?s goal pulled Marblehead to within two, but Meghan Henrichon scored for Beverly with less than a minute to go in the half, giving the Panthers a three-goal lead.
Niamh Healy scored for the Magicians early in the second half, but Henrichon responded with a goal for Beverly. Marblehead kept the pressure on the Beverly defense, but was unable to find the net. Amanda Gregory broke through for the Magicians, bringing the score to 7-5, but despite Marblehead?s offensive attack, the Beverly defense held firm and shut the Magicians down for the remainder of the game to lock up the win.
Earlier in the season, the Marblehead defeated Beverly, making this win sweet for the Panthers.
?There are no words to describe how this win feels,” said Panthers? coach Alyson Healey. “Marblehead always has a strong team, and I have such respect for their coaching and what they?ve done for the program over there. But we felt like we had the team to beat them.”
Healey praised the play of her defense and the two goalies, Catherine Cross and Kyra Wolonsavich.
?Our defense has been so strong, and we?ve been concentrating on learning some new things, and the girls caught on really quickly,” said Healey. “We have so much trust and faith in the whole group.”
Marblehead also played very well on defense, with coach Annie Pugh crediting defenders Kylie Cronin, Casey Collins and goalkeeper Brittany Lydon.
?Beverly came to win today. They?re very athletic and fast,” said Pugh. “But our defense was outstanding. They stepped up in a big spot.”Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieMo61.