Ailing Nickerson keeps focus for King Philip
A day after being too sick to even speak, King Philip goalkeeper Lauren Nickerson let her play do all her talking in a 1-0 win over visiting Sandwich in an MIAA Division 1 South field hockey quarterfinal playoff game yesterday.
Nickerson recorded 20 saves and led the Warriors (15-2-3) to their 10th shutout of the season despite nearly missing the game because of the illness, according to coach Liz Hathaway.
"The doctor said she had a virus and I wasn't sure if she'd play," Hathaway said of her junior keeper.
"When I didn't get a phone call in the morning, I knew she'd play."
With 22 minutes left in the second half senior Kerry Eaton scored on an Allie Lomp assist for the game's only tally.
Lomp fired a crisp pass from the top of the circle that Eaton was able to redirect from 6 feet out.
Sandwich was awarded 17 corners and kept constant pressure on the Warriors' defense, but the Blue Knights (13-3-4) simply couldn't break through.
"The defense was outstanding," Hathaway said.
The Hockomock League champions enter the semifinal round, where they will meet to Somerset tomorrow.
Division 1 South: Adrienne O'Donnell's goal with one second left in the initial overtime advanced Wellesley to the semifinals in a 2-1 win over Mansfield.
Division 1 North: North Andover defeated Reading, 3-1, as Candace Waldie had a goal and two assists . . . Julia Bernstein and Olivia Piccione combined for 16 saves in Weston's 1-0 win over Acton-Boxboro.
Volleyball
Division 1 North: Kelly Cusolito scored 11 straight points in Reading's 3-2 victory over Chelmsford.
Division 2 South: Amy Lepley recorded 16 kills and Jackie Atkinson added 12 in Bishop Feehan's 3-0 win over Old Rochester . . . Notre Dame of Hingham's Samantha Whitham recorded 47 assists and Margaret Riordan 20 kills in a 3-1 victory over Dennis-Yarmouth.
Division 3 North: Shay Belanger recorded 29 assists, 19 service points, 4 aces, 13 digs, and 4 kills for Notre Dame of Tyngsboro in a 3-1 victory at Whittier.
Division 1 Central/East: Victoria Young's 11 assists helped 10th seed Newton South upset No. 2 Cambridge, 3-1.
Boys' soccer
South Shore: Gus Ribiero's 24th goal of the season helped Harwich win the league title with a 2-0 triumph at Cohasset.
Hockomock: Ramon Ambrosio scored two goals to help league champion Canton defeat Oliver Ames, 3-0 . . . Tomek Narckak's third shutout of the season propelled Sharon over Mansfield, 2-0.
Dual County: Wayland's Griffin McGrail scored his first varsity goal in a 2-0 win over Tyngsboro.
Nonleague: Matt Quadros scored two goals and assisted on another in Peabody's 5-0 win at Bishop Fenwick.
Girls' soccer
Cape Ann: Lisa Rooker scored one goal and assisted on two in Wilmington's 6-0 win over Amesbury.
Hockomock: Oliver Ames clinched the league title with 2-1 decision over Canton; Carly Frazier scored the winner.
Tri-Valley: Amy Fester recorded a hat trick and an assist in Medfield's 4-1 victory over Dover-Sherborn.
Nonleague: Gabby Bard's second goal, with three minutes left, gave Bedford a 3-2 triumph over Ursuline Academy . . . Alex Doody scored twice in Framingham's 4-1 win over Nashoba Regional . . . Amanda Webster scored two goals for St. Mary's in a 2-1 win over visiting Dracut.
