Berwick Loses 1-0 in Final Minutes at Brewster

The Bulldogs traveled to Wolfeboro, NH to take on Brewster Academy who was NEPSAC Champions in 2012 and lost in the finals in 2013.  The Bulldogs came out strong looking for a result that could help get them into the NEPSAC tournament this year.  In the opening 10 minutes neither team could capitalize despite Berwick earning four corners and Brewster two freekicks just outside the box.  In the 13th minute Sam Montagno (Exeter, NH) came up with a big save tipping it over the bar to keep the game scoreless.  Not much later Montagno made another great diving save to her right tipping the ball wide and a defender was able to clear it of the end line so there was no corner.  In the 34th minute Berwick had a great chance to score when Maddie Balas (Rye, NH) got the ball back after her throw in and found Caroline Hernon (Hampton, NH) in the 18 whose one touch shot was saved by Brewster goalkeeper Bailey Kolinski.  In the 37th minute Brewster had a good opportunity off a corner, but the Bulldogs managed to clear the ball and go into the half tied 0-0. 

The Bulldogs came out strong in the second half with three good opportunities to get on the board in the opening 10 minutes of the half.  One off a throw from Maddie Balas, another off a corner from Sahana Heiderscheidt (Lee, NH), and a shot just over the bar by Kat Reid (Dover, NH).  In the 57th minute Caroline Hernon slotted the ball to Brooke Downey (Eliot, ME) who almost got there before Brewster's keeper Bailey Kolinski.  Just 5 minutes later the Bulldogs almost got on the board with multiple shots and deflections in the box including two potential handballs in the box, but no call was made and the Bulldogs couldn't score.  The Bulldogs pulled Kenza Farid (Hampton, NH) back to mark Brewster's most dangerous striker Elizabeth Lane.  Kenza worked tirelessly shutting her down until a rough challenge by Lane sent Farid tumbling to the ground and no call was made.  With Farid sidelined due to injury Caroline Hernon stepped into the role of right back while Emily Brokowski (Wells, ME) and Emma Brin (Newburyport, MA) would anchor the midfield.  In the 71st minute Sam Montagno had another big save when Brewster's Elizabeth Lane took the ball off a drop ball and hit a solid shot.  In the 75th minute Christina Grassie (Sommersworth, NH) had a shot go just over the bar.  In the 78th minute Kaylee Dufresne one of Brewster's fast forwards broke behind the defense on a breakway, but Sam Montagno came up with a huge initial save, unfortunately the rebound bounced through and Kaylee put it away for what would be the game winning goal.  With little to no time left the Bulldogs couldn't come back, but the team played amazingly well for the entire match.  Parker Johnson (Kittery Point, ME) and Christina Grassie anchored the Berwick defense in front of Montagno that held Brewster, a team that is undefeated and has averaged 3 goals per game, scoreless for 78 minutes.