LONDONDERRY — As has been the case thus far this season, it was just a matter of time for Londonderry’s offense.



The winners pushed forward as steadily as soccer fan Keegan Smith, an LHS student, tapped a beat on his snare drum from the bleacher seats. The home team generated 33 shots on goal. Two bounced off the crossbar. Concord keeper Diamond Chaplin made 17 saves, several of the spectacular variety. And, defender Molly Zollo cleared two shots away from an empty net.

“Over the first 20 minutes of the game every player seemed to be on the same page. We were knocking the ball around pretty good, putting a lot of pressure on the defense. It was just a matter of how long it would take for the defensive wall to come down,” said Londonderry coach Derek Dane after watching his team improve to 5-1 while shutting out its fifth straight foe.

“Their offense was good,” said Chaplin, Concord’s senior keeper. “We held them off for a while, but they kept crossing the ball and getting off shots. In the second half, they found the corners.”

The Crimson Tide graduated 10 players from the squad that defeated Londonderry in a 2011 Division I semifinal game. They fell to 1-2-1.

The Lancers generated their first goal in the 42nd minute of the game when Aliza Simpson’s left-footed cross set up Emily Crocetti, who nestled the shot just under bar on the far side of the net. Four minutes later, Crocetti returned the favor, feeding Simpson a cross for a close-range goal.

Crocetti and Simpson each scored twice. Lydia Simmons assisted on one score and tallied the fifth goal in the 76th minute on a cutback move that shredded two defenders.

“We score our goals in bunches, a few minutes apart,” said Dane. The Lancers’ first and second scores were five minutes apart. The fourth and fifth tallies occurred in a span of 2 minutes. “We put one in and then get another one by the time the other team can absorb and understand what’s going on.”

Londonderry’s focus is moving the ball forward. Defenders Jackie Giesler and Jordan Marett initiated scoring drives with long passes to open space.

Midfielders and forwards uniformly rotated positions as the team advanced toward the net. Maeve Holland and Kayleen Walberg consistently contributed defense-breaking passes. Simmons, Simpson and Crocetti took the bulk of the shots on goal.

Concord managed just three shots. Caroline Andy and Mary Annon forced Lancers goalie Merissa Brousseau to make her two saves.

“We’re young, but we’ll learn from this game and improve as the season progresses,” said Concord coach Bill Nardino.

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Eric Emmerling may be reached at eemmerling@unionleader.com.