Two undefeated girls soccer teams battled at Andover High School on Thursday night.
Both teams went home undefeated as well.
After 80 minutes, Andover’s Golden Warriors and the visiting Billerica High Indians finished in a 0-0 tie, moving both teams to 3-0-1 overall.
“It almost felt like it was a state tournament game,” said BMHS coach Tom Foley. “I think both teams handled each other very well from the standpoint of the pressure we both were able to give. I think (Andover) is one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the league right now. For us to go to their place and get a 0-0 tie was a good result.”
Andover controlled much of the second-half play and pressured BMHS for a majority of the stanza, but the Indians never broke.
“The whole team defended with a lot of effort and a bit of poise,” said Foley. “Andover was all over us in the second half.”
Foley was pleased with the play of junior goalie Grace Carter and a defense anchored by seniors Julia Nott, Molly Murphy and Kylie McGowan along with junior Kaylie Govoni and sophomore Molly Fitzgerald.
“I think they did a great job,” said Foley. “And there was a tremendous amount of work that had to be done by our midfield in order to help everyone defend. Defensively, it’s a team effort.”
In its four matches this fall, Billerica has allowed just one goal.
“It was a much better second half,” said Andover coach Meghan Matson. “I always tell the girls that we have to do the simple things well. In the second half, we sort of settled down and just played our game.”
“They had a lot of great opportunities,” agreed Foley.
In the first half, the Indians had the better chances.
Junior Audrey Toce, sophomore Sara MacLeod, senior Lily Baldwin and senior Jillian Weeks all helped put pressure on the Warriors.
“I was a little worried actually,” Matson said. “They’re a great team. That’s probably the best Billerica team we’ve played in a while.”
Billerica opened the season with a 2-1 win against Dracut, a 9-0 shutout over Lowell and a 3-0 triumph against Chelmsford.
The Indians have 10 seniors on the squad, a group that consists of Nott, Isabella Pereira, Sofia Manne, Jayden Darris-O’Connor, Baldwin, Murphy, Emma Jacob, McGowan, Weeks and Shannon Bailat.
Captains include McGowan, Jacob, Baldwin and Manne.
BMHS returns to action next Thursday for another difficult road test in Methuen at 6 p.m.
