November 10, 2020
Danvers 3 - Marblehead 0
The Danvers High Girls Varsity Soccer Team traveled to Marblehead Tuesday evening to play the Magicians. This would be the first of back to back games for the Falcons with them heading to play Masco the following day. The game started off very evenly played with Marblehead showing that they could possess the ball well and make things difficult for Danvers. However, Danvers showed why they are currently 7-0 and got the only goal they would need in the 10 minute of the game. Junior Reese Pszenny sent a beautiful cross on the ground across the goal box and found senior Haley Murphy who slammed it home for the 1-0 lead.
"That was a gorgeous goal. Reese put the ball right across the box and Haley hammered it home 1 touch. It was an absolutely terrific goal and we needed it. Marblehead was playing us tough and we had just missed an opportunity where Haley sent Reese in on a great chance. We had hit a crossbar and we needed this goal to get us going."
Minutes later senior Captain Riley DiGilio made a great back post run and scored what appeared to be the second goal, but the ref called it back for offside. Even with the goal disallowed, it was clear the Falcon offense was starting to heat up. Danvers answered again about midway through the second quarter. Junior Arianna Bezanson scored off another fine pass from Pszenny to double the lead. The Falcons had 14 shots in total the first half to the Magicians 1. This was in part mainly due to the stingy defense Danvers was playing. Backs Livvi Anderson, Mikayla Shaffaval, Emma Dunn and Gabby Chisholm beat their man to the ball time after time and the result was Marblehead not being able to penetrate the Danvers end of the field. Avery Sharffenberg played extremely well according to the Coach, playing both midfield and on defense. The score remained 2-0 at halftime.
Danvers got their third and final goal midway through the third quarter. A miscue between the Magician goalkeeper and a defender lead to a wide open goal which sophomore Ellie Anderson passed the ball into for the unassisted score. Holly DeAngelis only had to make 1 second half save to preserve the 5th shutout of the season for Danvers.
"I thought Reese and Haley had fantastic games tonight. Reese is so talented with the ball on her foot. She was beating a defender or 2 and then making great passes to open teammates. She is so dangerous with the ball that teams tend to send several defenders at her. When Reese can get through the defenders and find her open teammates it really takes our offense to another level. Tonight she was superb."
Haley Murphy also drew great praise from her Coach. "Haley had an awesome game as well. Her goal was huge but she contributed so much more. Her first touch was great and Haley always plays unselfishly. She's always looking for her teammates. She also defended well and pressured the Marblehead backs into making mistakes. Haley's confidence seems to be growing more and more each day. She was really clicking well with Reese tonight."
At 8-0 Danvers next travels to Boxford Wednesday afternoon to take on the 7-0-1 Chieftans.