LYNN — The Agganis All-Star Girls Soccer game kicked off Tuesday evening on a scorcher. North prevailed against South in 4-1 fashion at Manning Field.
The game started with a bang, as South scored 30 seconds into the action. Pippa Spingler, of Manchester-Essex, saw her cross-turned-shot find twine, giving her squad the early cushion.
But midway through the half, St. Mary’s Cierra Johnson let one rip from outside the box, right into the top corner to put North back in the game (1-1). Then, Lauren Boughner, of Masconomet, capped off a brilliant run that included multiple feints before finding the back of the net to put North on top (2-1).
North coach Chris Coviello, of Saugus, talked about giving his team freedom, which led to goals.
“I just put them out there and they do the rest. They’re all very talented,” he said. “You just let the kids free play out there. It ended 4-1, but it was an even game.”
North retained its 2-1 lead by halftime, and the second half was more of the same. Its next two goals were scored by Austin Prep’s Sydney DeRoche, who earned Most Valuable Player honors.
DeRoche could have netted a second-half hat trick, if not for the brilliance of Winchester’s Reagan Murray, who registered eight first-half saves and 12 in total.
South coach Jaymie Caponigro, of Swampscott, spoke highly of her goalie, as well as the talent across the field.
“She did great. She really commands the backline. She uses her voice a lot, which is unique to hear from such a young keeper. Finding your voice is something people struggle with,” Caponigro said. “All across the field, we were strong and it was great to see the best players in the area go against each other.”
Murray received MVP for the South before taking her talents to St. Lawrence University this fall.
For Caponigro, the game was bigger than the final score, and she was glad to be involved.
“To be a part of it is the whole thing,” she said. “I was saying to the players, ‘It might not have been the result we wanted, but to be recognized and be a part of the game means way more than the final result.’”
“Unfortunately, my three players couldn’t be here tonight. They’re all away, but it’s great to get to coach some of the girls I got to coach against,” Caponigro said.
For Coviello, he was glad the game stayed clean in his team’s win.
“The kids are great. They all know each other. It was a clean game – it’s what you want,” he said. “If you’re keeping score, you might as well win the game.”
