Bulldogs earn 11th shutout and beat Portsmouth Abbey

The Berwick Bulldogs earned their 11th shutout on Saturday on their home turf against Portsmouth Abbey, coming away with a 2-0 win. The game was extra special as it was the Bulldogs' last Saturday home game, their Senior Game, and Pink Day for Breast Cancer Awareness. All of these reasons highlighted that these varsity players were playing not simply for themselves and their team, but also for their school, their families, and an important cause. 

 

The Berwick team battled under the sun on an uncharacteristically warm and humid October day. They hit their stride midway through the first half, and the defensive line played a particularly strong  game all the way through, giving Portsmouth Abbey a run for their money. 

 

With two minutes left on the clock in the first half, Senior Allie Moore (North Berwick, ME) made a gorgeous goal -- off a free kick -- into the top corner of the net. The ball soared on the curve as it sailed into the goal, and, according to Senior Lindsay Bennett (Sanford, ME), "Allie outdid herself (from the  last game a few days ago when she scored)."

 

In the 44th minute, Senior Ginger Friedman (North Hampton, NH) headed the ball into the net off a corner kick from Moore, solidifying the Bulldogs' ownership of the game, by giving them their second goal. 

 

A few other note-worthy moments occurred when 11th Grader Eliza Small (Portsmouth, NH) carried the ball from the back center of the field, all the way up the right side and shot wide, but the Bulldogs couldn't finish it; in the 70th minute, Goalie Alexa Garcia '26 (Dover, NH) showed her prowess when she tipped the ball up over the net off a Portsmouth Abbey corner kick. She also made seven saves during the 40-min. half of the game she played.  Senior Kaya Garside (Portsmouth, NH) exhibited her calm and measured approach to the game, clearing the ball, and volleying it up and over her opponents a few different times. Taylor Anderton '24 (Exeter, NH) battled for and won the ball multiple times, reminding the other team of her persistence. Additionally, in the final two minutes of the game, Senior Leah Zaheer (West Newbury, MA) made a beautiful shot from out wide, and it nearly went in the goal. 

 

Seniors Anderton, Garside, Moore, Bennett, Keenan, Zaheer, Wojdak, and Friedman will leave huge shoes to fill. They are a force to reckon with.  

 

The Bulldogs improved to 11-3-2 on the season. With three games left in the regular season, the Bulldogs hope to qualify for EIL and NEPSACs. They will play New Hampton at home on Wednesday. Go Bulldogs! 

 

38th min.: A. Moore (no assist)

44th min.: G. Friedman from A. Moore