The Danvers Varsity Girls Soccer Team was back in action Friday night playing host to North Andover in their second non-league match of the week.  Both Teams came into the tilt with identical 9-1-2 records.  

 

Danvers took all the momentum from the very start.  Early on the Falcons sent freshmen Georgia Prouty in on a break away but the play was broken up by a North Andover defender.  Soon after, senior captain Arianna Bezanson had a great opportunity that was saved by the visiting goalkeeper.  Danvers also sent junior, Ellie Anderson in on a break but the North Andover goalkeeper made a crucial save on that play as well.

 

"We had numerous chances early on in the first half.  If we connected on just 1 of those, this probably would have been a much different game.  Instead, they made it through our most dangerous attacks with us having nothing to show for it."

 

About midway through the half a Falcon defender miss-hit a defensive clear and it went right to North Andover. The opponent was able to finish for the score which would be the only goal of the game.   Not long after, Danvers was awarded a direct kick from about 25 yards out.  Bezanson stepped up and took the kick, clanging the ball off the post.  

 

"The chances were there for us for sure.  We just didn't stay composed enough to finish them.  We made a mistake on their goal but I felt we were certainly holding our own and that we'd get more chances in the second half if we kept playing hard.  Teagan Price and Courtney Hinchion defended well from their mid spots throughout the half.  North Andover was very talented at midfield and I felt Teagan and Courtney did a nice job containing and competing for balls in that area of the field.  I also felt Brooke Wynott played very well in the middle for us and added some clean passing to our attack."

 

Goalkeeper Emily Goddard made 5 first half saves and Gabby Chisholm and Emma Dunn did well to keep the visitor's scoring opportunities at bay.  

 

The second half was back and forth with North Andover able to get off more shots.  The Falcon defense did well to slow down the middle of the North Andover attack though and limit their good chances.  Danvers was only able to get 3 shots off in the second half.  With time winding down, Ellie Anderson did a flip throw in that got the team and the crowd fire up, resulting in a Danvers corner kick.  However the Home team was unable to convert.  Late in the game, Arianna Bezanson was taken down on what looked like it would have been a clean break away on net for her.  The game ended soon after with the visitors taking the 1-0 victory.  

 

"Our effort was there the whole game.  North Andover is a good team with strong players, especially in the midfield.  We had our chances and made some mistakes offensively and defensively and those were a major factor in this game.  Going forward we need to be better at seizing the moment when opportunities arise during the game.  We also needed to get more involved in our attacks.  Arianna is so good that I feel a lot of the time we get her the ball and then watch her when we should be helping her more and giving her support.  We can be better all over the field and I know that we will be."

 

Danvers dropped to 9-2-2 on the season and will travel to Saugus and Beverly for 2, big N.E.C. matches next week.