MARLBOROUGH — Andover’s Bella DiFiore saw the ball bounce off the goalie’s pad, come free in front of the net, and with a third straight trip to the Division 1 title game on the line, she delivered a massive blow.
“Rose (Memmolo) had a great, really hard shot,” said DiFiore. “I just knew I had to finish it, because it wasn’t going to go in by itself. I knew it was going in once I hit it. It was just an amazing moment.”
Off a penalty corner, DiFiore fired a pass to Memmolo, then positioned herself to knock home the rebound with 1:28 to go in the third period, a monumental, game-changing goal after 43:32 of scoreless play.
It was all Andover from there, as the No. 2-seeded Golden Warriors defeated No. 3 Wachusett 3-0 in the Division 1 semifinals at Assabet Valley Tech.
“This is amazing!” said Memmolo. “Coming into the season, going back to the championship was the last thing on our minds. It’s crazy. This isn’t something I thought would happen, but it has. We’re all so excited. This is just great. I was so nervous when it was tied, and to get it done is just amazing.
Andover is now just one victory from a state title three-peat. The Golden Warriors (19-2-0) will take on top-seeded Walpole (21-1-0) in the Division 1 title game on Saturday (time TBA) at WPI (Worcester Polytechnic Institute).
“I don’t have words for what this team has accomplished,” said first-year Andover head coach Bridget Morris. “They have worked so hard for this. I thought this was going to be a transition year, honestly. I told them early on that they were going to have to work harder than previous groups, and they have done that. I am so proud of them.”
For nearly three full quarters, Andover and Wachusett engaged in fierce back-and-forth play, with both surrendering few scoring chances. When the Mountaineers did muster a chance, Golden Warriors goalie Maddie DiGiorgio (eight saves) was there to slam the door.
But everything shifted late in the third, when Memmolo and DiFiore struck.
“I just really wanted to get the shot on net,” said Memmolo. “The other shots (on corners) were getting there, but weren’t going where I wanted them to. So I decided to switch it up and go for more of a lift instead of a hit to throw them off a little, and it worked. Bella is amazing on posts. When it went in I just said, ‘Finally!’ We have so many tips, and they never seem to go in. But that one did.”
Once that tip found the back of the net, and the scoreless tie was snapped, a massive shift was clear.
“That was huge!” said Morris. “The two of them are so reliable. That goal changed the whole tone of the game. It just lit a fire, and from there we just took off.”
DiFiore erased any thought of a Wachusett comeback by adding an insurance goal with 4:04 left in the game, a rebound home off a Casey Michael shot from a corner.
Then, just 25 seconds later, Mia Giaimo blasted home a long shot from the right side — with an assist to Mia Batchelder — and the Golden Warriors kicked off the celebration.
Next up, the Golden Warriors will look to take home that third straight state crown, and sixth state title overall.
“I’m just so happy to be heading back to the championship game,” said DiFiore. “It’s so amazing. We have worked so hard for this, today and all season. We were very determined, we had our eyes on the prize, and we’re heading to the championship.”
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