The Danvers Girls Soccer Team traveled to Beverly Tuesday afternoon for a battle of 2 of the top Girls Soccer Teams on the North Shore.  Danvers came into the game unbeaten at 4-0 while Beverly came in at 4-1.  Danvers hadn't beaten Beverly in Beverly in at least 4 years.  The weather was sunny, but bitterly cold.

 

The Lady Falcons came out hungry right from the start.  Seniors Mia Jordan and Julia Vaillancourt maintained possession in the midfield with Junior Arianna Bezanson and routinely fed attackers with through passes.  Junior Reese Pszenny and senior captain Riley DiGilio had several chances early on, as did Bezanson.  However, after 20 minutes of play, the Falcons had no goals to show for it.

 

"We were playing extremely well early on and I thought we had several good opportunities to get at least 1 goal.  Credit Beverly with defending well and their keeper making some key stops."

 

Only 2 minutes into the second quarter, Danvers got on the score board.  After making a save in goal, senior goalkeeper Holly DeAngelis through a great ball to DiGilio who found a streaking Bezanson heading up the middle of the field.  Bezanson beat a defender and then left footed a shot into the open corner of the net for the 1-0 lead.  It would be the only goal the Falcons would need on this day.

 

"That goal was all about transition.  Holly distributed a perfect ball to Riley who then found Ari making a great run.  The ball traveled about 80 yards in less than 10 seconds.  It was a pretty goal all around."

 

Danvers continued to apply pressure throughout the remainder of the half.  Senior defenders Livvi Anderson and Avery Scharffenberg did a wonderful job keeping the ball out of the Danvers end.  Outside backs, junior Gabby Chisholm and sophomore Mikayla Shaffaval limited the touches of the attackers in their end of the field and also made some terrific attacking runs up the outside of the field.  Despite the continuous pressure in the Beverly end of the field, the score stayed 1-0 at half.

 

The 3rd quarter was more of the same as Danvers dictated the pace of the game with great 1 and 2 touch passing.  Bezanson hit a beautiful shot off of the crossbar and several other chances by the Falcon attack went wide.  Still 1-0 through 3 quarters, the Falcons continued to press.  Reese Pszenny was sent through on a pass through the Panther defense but keeper Sydney Anderson made a great save.  Senior Haley Murphy sent a nice diagonal pass to DiGilio but again, the visitors couldn't finish.  As time ticked away, Beverly picked up the attack and had some chances in the Falcon's end.  However, the Danvers defense held strong and closed the door for the shutout.  

 

"We got some key play from junior Emma Dunn at center back, sophomore Teagan Price at mid and sophomore Ellie Anderson at forward today.  We haven't won at Beverly for at least 4 years, so this was a satisfying win for us.  This is not an easy place to play and certainly not an easy team to beat.  Mia Jordan was amazing in the middle today once again.  She distributes the ball so well and every pass she makes is measured and right on the mark.  Julia Vaillancourt, Avery Scharffenberg and Livvi Anderson also really played well.  It's great to see our seniors really stepping up in a big game like this."

 

Holly DeAngelis made3 saves on the day and the Falcons held a distinct 35-4 shooting advantage.  The win puts Danvers at 5-0 heading into their next game vs. Saugus, Wednesday night.