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Sports

Freshmen help unbeaten Peabody eliminate Haverhill

By Dan Harrison
sports@eagletribune.com
Published: November 9, 2009

PEABODY — Haverhill's season is over thanks to a group of talented freshmen.

Peabody freshman Hayley Dowd scored three times and fellow freshman forward Victoria Digiacomo added a goal and two assists as the Tanners rolled over visiting Haverhill, 5-0, in a Division 1 North first round playoff contest at Donahue Field.

"No. 21 (Dowd) and 13 (Digiacomo) are players," said Haverhill head coach Fred Tarbox. "They're really fast and caused a lot of problems for us."

Haverhill finished 9-6-4.

"These freshmen continue to amaze me," said Peabody coach Dennis Desroches. "Most of them have played in big games in the past with club or state teams."

Dowd put the Tanners on the board a mere five minutes into the match when she took a perfectly placed through ball from junior captain Angela Ellison and booted it past Haverhill goalie Meghan Gulbrandsen.

Dowd scored again before the end of the half when she curled a shot from the side of the box into the top far corner of the net. She added another goal to open the second half when she took a well-placed feed from Digiacomo and slipped the ball past Gulbrandsen to give Peabody a 4-0 lead.

"I think because (Peabody's freshmen) are so young and new (to the tournament) that a game like this doesn't rattle them," said Tarbox.

Desroches added: "I'm very proud of the way we came out fast and got on the board early. But credit our defense, too. From the forwards to the midfield to the defenders and goalie, they all played well."

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