A-B gives Weymouth the boot again

Acton-Boxboro senior Martha Dane had never taken a penalty kick during a game before last night's Division 1 Eastern Mass. final against Weymouth at Cawley Stadium in Lowell.

But that didn't stop her from driving the Colonials' eighth penalty kick into the top right corner of the net, giving A-B a 6-5 advantage. Weymouth senior Jess Henney, who helped keep a potent A-B offense off the board all night, had a chance to keep her team alive, but Jessi Wiggins made a diving save that gave the Colonials a 1-0 win and a chance to play for back-to-back state championships Saturday against Minnechaug.

"It's senior year; you know you have to step up," Dane said. "I think adrenaline just kicked in."

For the second year in a row, A-B and Weymouth met in the EMass final, and they couldn't settle it in regulation in 2007, either, the Colonials winning, 2-1, in overtime.

Weymouth senior Jenn Bell used the fast break to pressure A-B throughout the game. Stellar defensive play from the Colonials' Kristen Gargiulo and Tricia Giglio helped Wiggins keep the Wildcats scoreless.

"They are as good moving the ball as we are," A-B coach Ru Sweeney said. "They worked harder, they truly worked harder. As usual, this group just somehow finds a way. That's what they do. All year they have found a way and now they have one more chance."

The Colonials welcomed back junior Hayley Brock from her duties with the US U-17 National Team, but A-B still couldn't get one past the Wildcats' defense and goalie Kristen Darling.

"They are a great team," Sweeney said of Weymouth. "They put pressure on us and made life difficult. I will call this one the great escape."

Division 2 EMass girls' soccer final - Duxbury didn't have as many chances or control the play like Belmont did, but last night the opportunistic Dragons got the job done when it counted.

Senior midfielder Stacia Boynton took a cross from classmate Jess Lizza with about 30 seconds left in regulation, and as Belmont goalie Emily Canina rushed out to stop the attempt, Boynton sent the ball into the back of the net, giving Duxbury a 3-2 victory at Cawley Field.

"[The ball] was coming from [the opposite] end and it came here and Jess crossed it over, and as the goalie was coming out, I just knew I had to get it in somehow because there was no time left on the clock," Boynton said. "We needed to find a way to get that ball in because we weren't going home with a loss tonight. If it was going to be in overtime or in those last few seconds, it was going to happen."

Duxbury had taken a 2-1 lead behind goals from Melissa Gavin and Lily Peterson. Gavin scored in the third minute on a direct shot into the right corner of the net, and five minutes later, Belmont evened the score on a goal by Claire Mackevicius. The Dragons regained the lead on Peterson's goal off a deflection of Emily Gallagher's blocked shot.

Belmont controlled play in the second half, but Duxbury managed to hold the Marauders off until about 10 minutes remained, when sophomore Laura Thurber tied the score again.

"The kids stay together; they don't panic," said Duxbury coach Emerson Coleman. "Belmont just kept taking it to us and taking it to us. They really dominated the second half, but we took advantage of our chances and finished them."

Duxbury takes on Wahconah for the Division 2 title Saturday.

Football

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association announced the host schools for its football playoffs and Super Bowls.

The EMass playoffs Dec. 2 will be held at Cawley Stadium, Lynn's Manning Field, Reading High School, Arlington High School, Brockton High School, Taunton High School, Durfee High School, and Bridgewater-Raynham High School. All sites have artificial surfaces.

It is expected Brockton will host the Division 1 semifinal against Dartmouth and Reading will host its Division 2 game against Walpole. Winners advance to the Super Bowls at Gillette Stadium, Dec. 6, except Division 3A, which will play at Bentley University.

Central Mass. playoff sites are Wachusett High School, Foley Stadium in Worcester, and Oakmont Regional. The CMass Super Bowls will be at Worcester State.

Western Mass. playoffs will be at Roberts Stadium at Holyoke High School and Westfield State College. The WMass Super Bowls will be at Westfield State.

Volleyball

Barnstable senior Stephanie Bristol was named an All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Barnstable won its sixth straight state title Saturday.

Bob Holmes of the Globe staff and Globe correspondent Jonathan Raymond contributed to this report.