NORTH ANDOVER — Senior Gareth Dudney was robbed of scoring the game-winner when his breakaway boot was saved by Reading's keeper in the final seconds of the first overtime. Dudney then fired a shot that hit the post 1:51 into the second overtime of North Andover's Division 2 North quarterfinal against Reading at North Andover High School.

"I was a little bummed out, but I knew I had to keep my head up and come back and try to net the winner," he said. "I knew the goal was coming sooner or later for us."

Dudney did not miss on his third chance to end the match. He drilled a free kick into the back of the net with 5:17 left in the second overtime to lead No. 3 North Andover to a 1-0 victory over No. 6 Reading at North Andover High School.

North Andover advances to play Wilmington in a 7:30 p.m. semifinal tomorrow at Woburn High School.

North Andover and Wilmington tied 2-2 in their regular-season contest back on Oct. 8.

"Let's go Gareth, let's go Gareth," some North Andover fans chanted as Dudney lined up to take his free kick from about 25 feet out after getting tripped.

"Any shot in that area is always going to be dangerous," he said. "So I was excited for the opportunity. I knew once he fouled me, it was going to be a good chance to score. I've been practicing free kicks since I was like 7, so I was just trying to remember all the times practicing, and what it had built up to."

Dudney sprinted over in front of the stands and stared up at the North Andover fans after blasting in his shot. He then got mobbed by his teammates.

"Gareth is that strong of a player that if he gets that ball in the right area and the right distance from the goal ... he can bury it," North Andover coach Bill Tarbox said.

Dudney was named this year's CAL MVP. He has scored in 10 of the past 12 games.

Dudney leads his team with 19 goals. He scored 14 goals as a forward last year. Ironically, he has been a better scorer as a midfielder this fall.

"He has a lot more ballhandling skills individually," Tarbox said. "And he's better in the midfield area for us because he can work the ball to Jay (Marchand) and he can work the ball to the outsides more fluently than other players."

Marchand added: "Me and him (Dudney) work well with him in the midfield and me up top. We do some layoffs and some give-and-goes and it's been working all year."

Dudney had to step up extra in overtime because Marchand (17 goals) was forced to play defense when his brother, co-captain and defender Ross Marchand, left the game soon after colliding with another player and hitting his head during the second half.

Ross Marchand said after the game that he does not know yet if he will play tomorrow.

Jay Marchand provided solid defense and felt confident. He plays center back for his club team.

"This was the last game ever at this field (for the seniors)," Ross Marchand said, "so hopefully we can take it all in and continue to go farther in the tournament."

North Andover 1, Reading 0 (2OT)

Division 2 North Quarterfinal

Goals: NA — Gareth Dudney

Saves: NA — Jack Hyman 7; R— 11

Reading (14-3-3):0âÇ0 0 0 — 0

North Andover (17-1-2):0âÇ0 0âÇ1 — 1

Next game: Tomorow vs. Wilmington at Woburn, 7:30 p.m.