Dudney, moved from center midfielder to forward in the second half because of a clogged up midfield, scored the lone goal on a through ball from Josh Ryan seven minutes into the second half and the Scarlet Knights (15-1-2, 11-0-2) topped Newburyport, 1-0, yesterday at home.

“It was really a great assist by Josh, to find him on stride and make it happen,’’ Scarlet Knights coach William Tarbox said. Tarbox added that the decision to move Dudney, who finished the regular season with 18 goals and 11 assists, to forward really put the Clippers at a disadvantage after a first-half stalemate.

“When we’ve needed to use [Gareth’s] dribbling skills and one-on-one abilities, we move him up,’’ Tarbox said. “It was the right move to make in the second half and it put the other team on their heels.’’

After losing in the first round of the state tournament as a middle-of-the-pack seed in 2008, Tarbox and the Scarlet Knights have their sights set on something much greater than an early exit.

“I told them after the game, ‘It was our goal to get to the tournament. Now it’s time to take the next step,’ ’’ said Tarbox.

Medway 4, Ashland 1 - Senior Brad Pearson collected a goal and an assist to help the Mustangs move to 14-3-1 with a Tri-Valley victory. Seniors Ryan Cahill and Derek Phillips and junior Mike O’Brien also scored for Medway.

New Bedford 7, Somerset 1 - The Whalers (15-0-1) were led by senior Karim Fernandes’s two goals.

Wilmington 4, Tewksbury 0 - Senior keeper Marty Bamberg recorded his seventh consecutive shutout as the Wildcats remained unbeaten at 14-0-3. Junior striker Andy Owens tallied two goals and an assist and senior midfielder Caleb Rogers added a goal and an assist for the Wildcats.

Ipswich 3, Georgetown 1 - Senior midfielder Robby Dick, freshman midfielder Slater Sullivan, and junior forward Steve Hamilton scored as the Tigers won a Cape Ann League matchup.

Cambridge 2, Xaverian 0 - Ingo Roeger and Pouthy Guerrier netted goals and Oliver McNeely recorded his fourth shutout for the Falcons.

Randolph 1, Plymouth North 1 - The Blue Devils wrapped up their regular season at 9-6-3 to earn their first bid to the state tournament since 2001.

Andover 3, Lawrence 0 - Sisters Kirsten and Sarah Arvidson helped the host Golden Warriors improve to 18-2. Kirsten, a senior middle hitter, tallied 14 kills and seven blocks, bringing her season totals in the two categories to 200 and 100, respectively. Sophomore outside hitter Sarah had nine kills and classmate Elise Brogan, a middle hitter, had eight kills.