The unbeaten Danvers Falcons at 8-0 traveled to Boxford on Veterans Day to take on the unbeaten Masconomet Chieftans at 7-0-1.  This game was suppose to be played 2 weeks earlier but was postponed due to snow.  The weather on this day was a cloudy, 70 + degrees, perfect weather for soccer.

 

The game started off very even, but Danvers had a slight edge in play with possession.  The Falcons got a few decent early chances from attacking players Riley DiGilio, Reese Pszenny and Arianna Bezanson but couldn't get the goal.  The Danvers defense played terrifically limiting Masco's time in their end of the field.  Gabby Chisholm did a fantastic job slowing down one of Masco's top offensive threats, Lindonen and Livvi Anderson and Avery Scharffenberg made sure sure Masco's dangerous Morgan Bovardi had limited touches with the ball.  The second quarter was very even as well, but this time Masco seemed to have the territorial advantage.  Defender Emma Dunn made some key defensive plays to keep the hosts off the score sheet.  The half ended 0-0 with play fairly even, but the visitors enjoying a 10-5 edge in shots.  Danvers keeper Holly DeAngelis made 4 first half saves.

 

"I thought we looked strong in the first quarter and then they did in the second quarter.  I was very please at how we were limiting them from good look on goal in our end of the field.  We had a few very good chances that normally we would have put in the back of the net, but Masco did well to slow down our attack just enough."

 

One thing we wanted to do better in the second half was defend better off of Masco restarts.  They were very dangerous on those."

 

The second half appeared to be more of the same.  Masco put some pressure on early, but the Danvers defense stayed strong.  Mikayla Shaffaval took where Chisholm left off, marking the dangerous Lindonen tightly.  Seniors Mia Jordan and Julia Vaillancourt did well to try and keep posession and feed their attack.  Senior Haley Murphy and sophomore Ellie Anderson worked hard up top trying to create scoring chances.  Once again, the quarter ended scoreless with 20 minutes left to play.

 

"They came at us hard in the third quarter.  I thought they had the edge for those 20 minutes.  We encourage our girls to step it up and play their type of game for the last 20 minutes.  Livvi Anderson was clearly our emotional leader and I wanted our other players to pick up and match her intensity."

 

The Falcons did.  Just minutes into the frame, top goal scorer Arianna Bezanson was sent in alone on goal, but her shot sailed just wide.  Danvers had numerous chances in the final 20 but just couldn't seem to find the back of the net, until there were 10 minutes left.  Off of a corner kick, Reese Pszenny sent a great cross into the box that Bezanson was able to take out of the air with her body.  The ball found Mia Jordan who had a made a run towards the back post and she was able to deflect the ball in for the only goal of the game.  Danvers continued to control play for most of the rest of the way, but not before DeAngelis had to make one more save to preserve the shut out.  Shots favored the Falcons 20-9 on the afternoon.

 

"That was a great game with both teams playing really hard.  I feel both team's defenses neutralized the other team's attacks pretty well.  I have to give a lot of defensive credit to Livvi Anderson who played amazing today.  She plays amazing every game and never really gets the recognition she deserves but she was clearly the best player on the field today.  She was playing at a whole different level out there.  Hats off to her."

 

With the win Danvers improves to 9-0 on the season.