Corner kick success leads Hampshire past BC

It didn't take long for Hampshire's work on corner-kick plays to pay off.

Jori Anderson scored the Whip-Purs' first goal on a rebound following a corner kick, and Hampshire went on to down Burlington Central, 2-0, in Big Northern East girls soccer action at Hampshire Thursday.

Alex Field added an insurance goal late in the game as the Whip-Purs improved to 10-5, 3-0.

"It was something that we've been emphasizing," said Hampshire coach Patrick O'Brien. "Schedules being what they are, it's sometimes difficult to work on set pieces, but we spent a good portion of the day (Wednesday) on corner kicks. We really wanted to bring our level (of play) up in that regard."

After a quiet first 20 minutes, Hampshire found itself with a corner kick. Burlington's defense stopped the initial shot, but the ball bounced out in front of Anderson.

"I just saw it and I just kicked it in," she said.

As always, the Burlington-Hampshire rivalry was intense.

"There's an adrenaline rush, of course," Anderson said. "You always want to get to the ball before them. You always want to beat Burlington, because it's Burlington."

Hampshire dominated the second half, outshooting the Rockets 7-1, but couldn't find the net until Field bounced in a header off Dakota Walther's assist with 4:45 to play.

Hampshire's defense, led by freshman sweeper Elizabeth Panzica and Kelsey Anderson, kept the pressure off goalkeeper Haylee Moscato.

Erica Heissler and Madalene Stoneman generated some chances for Burlington, but the Rockets couldn't cash in.

Former basketball teammates Karla Vietinghoff and Cassie Dumoulin took turns dribbling through the defense. Each had a couple of solid shots during the second half.

Hampshire beat Burlington for the third straight time after beating the Rockets for the first time in program history last year.