BURLINGTON — The dream still isn’t dead.
After 22 games this spring, a total of 1,056 minutes of competitive lacrosse, the Newburyport girls have earned themselves 48 more — at least. Every team across the entire state dreams of playing on the final day of the spring season, and for the second year in a row, the Clippers are.
Through it all, a repeat Division 3 State Championship is just one win away.
And the opportunity to go back-to-back is something that No. 2 Newburyport earned for itself in another dominant showing on Monday night. On the same Burlington High School field where they won the title last year, the Clippers overcame a slow start to stifle No. 3 Hanover, 19-5, in the Division 3 Final Four. The Clippers will now play No. 1 Medfield for the State Championship on Thursday, with a location and start time not yet announced.
“We have some good mojo here!” said senior Josie Palma. “We were on the same sideline where we won the State Championship last year, so definitely coming into it there were a lot of good vibes. We were pumped up and super excited to play, and now we’re excited for the next one.”
Through four playoff games, Newburyport (20-2) has outscored its opponents 69-13.
It’s been pure domination.
But while Monday’s semifinal eventually ended in a running clock that was triggered midway through the third, for a little while, the outcome was in question. Hanover (15-5) won the majority of the draws in the first quarter, and really controlled the bulk of the possession. Lilly Pons and Reese Bromby both scored for Newburyport, but their goals were countered by Anna Canniff and Ayla McDermod — a St. Anselm’s commit — to make it 2-2 after the first 12 minutes.
You could easily argue that the Clippers were getting outplayed.
“We came out a little slow,” said Newburyport coach Catherine Batchelder. “I think they weren’t quite ready, they didn’t seem themselves during warmups. We say it all of the time, ‘You have to come out ready to play.’ And I think they eventually recognized that they weren’t playing to the best of their abilities, so they turned it up in the second quarter.”
A major reason why it was still just a tie game, though, was the defense.
Even though Hanover controlled the bulk of the possession, the Newburyport back line was steller in making sure goalie Kate Keller (8 saves) didn’t see many dangerous shots. Palma was a catalyst behind that defensive effort, as was Rita Cahalane, Ani Mellet, Olivia McDonald, Grace Chandler, Jade Steinberg and Olivia Foley.
“We were just saying to stay active and trust ourselves, and be confident in who we are,” said Palma. “(Hanover) kind of had the ball for a while, so the most important thing was to stay active and play the kind of defense we know that we can.”
They certainly did.
“Our defense across the board was really strong,” said Batchelder. “They really held them and Kate came up with some big saves, but we were forcing bad shots, which is what you want to do. They didn’t get a lot of clean looks to the cage, which is what you hope for.”
And eventually, the offense woke up.
Batchelder also mentioned how Pons made “a slight adjustement” in taking her draws, and it showed at the start of the second quarter. With Cahalane (7 draw controls) and McDonald (6 draw controls) putting in excellent work in the circle, the Clippers slowly started to dominate possession. The defending champs would go on a seven-goal run to open the second, with Pons (3x), Cahalane (2x), Bromby and McDonald all scoring to make it 9-2.
“We knew we had to come out and put our best foot forward,” said Cahalane. “Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud of our team. Everyone came out strong today, and I think the best part was that we continued to trust each other and we kept battling.”
McDermod would score on a free position with 34 second left to make it 9-3 at halfime.
But after McDonald and Eva Kelliher traded goals to make it 10-4 early in the third, the Clippers scored the next five to initiate a running clock with 6:30 left in the quarter. Pons would finish with six goals, Maddie Heath had four, and the trio of Cahalane, Bromby and McDonald all had three.
So now it all comes down to Thursday.
Just one more game awaits.
Newburyport 19, Hanover 5
Division 3 Semifinals
Goals: N — Lilly Pons 6, Maddie Heath 4, Reese Bromby 3, Olivia McDonald 3, Rita Cahalane 3; H — Ayla McDermod 2, Eva Kelliher 2, Anna Canniff
Assists: N — Cahalane 5, Pons 2, Bromby 2, McDonald, Emma MacIsaac
Draw Controls: N — Cahalane 7, McDonald 6, Pons 4
Saves: N — Kate Keller 8; H — Emma Dolan 3
Hanover (15-5): 2 1 2 0 — 3
Newburyport (20-2): 2 7 7 3 — 19