After two strong practices, Middlesex hit the road to take on the Big Blue of Andover on another spectacular fall day. With a renewed focus and determination, the Zebras came out fighting from the very beginning of the first half. Middlesex and Andover played with high intensity and shared possession as they both looked to get onto the scoreboard first. However, it was Andover that found the back of the net midway through the first half on a well-played cross into the back post beyond the Middlesex keeper. However, the Zebras upped their fight and rallied with a fantastic team goal with less than a minute to go in the first half. Freshman Carly Tilson '20 crossed the ball into Andover's back post finding Shannon Wing '17 there to put the ball into the net. 

Both teams came out in the second half with fierce determination and the battle ensued throughout the second half. Andover continued to pressure the Zebra backline, but Emma Murphy '19, Corina Kotidis '18, Caroline Reynolds '17, Caroline Hughes '18, and Eliza Jevon '17 held tight and played tenacious defense and thwarted the Andover attack. Anika Dixon '18, in her varsity debut, came up with a couple gutsy saves to keep the score tied well into the second half. Middlesex began to find its rhythm with well played balls to feet and in behind the Andover defense. Finally with less than twenty minutes to go, Maddie MacMaster '18 found Jac White '17 in the midfield who quickly laid a ball off for Ellery Winkler '19 up top who went one on one with the Andover keeper and slipped the ball into the back corner while Lucie Gildehaus '18 pushed it definitively into the net. As the clock wound down, Middlesex played strong defense and hunkered down to protect the lead and came out on top. It was a hard fought team win for the Zebras. Middlesex now looks to channel this grit on Friday when they host St. Mark's for their I.S.L. opener at home at 4:30 PM.