WOBURN --- It's hard to live up to the billing of a No. 1 seed. Yet, Acton-Boxboro continues to do so night in and night out with even more hype because of its undefeated record.
The Colonials continued the pattern Thursday in a convincing 4-0 victory over Dual County rival Westford in the second of two Division I North semifinals at Woburn High School. Peabody won the first game in thrilling fashion over Winchester.
Acton-Boxboro got on the board early and often, scoring all four goals in a lopsided first half.
Marie Margolius scored twice, Danielle Cremmin found the back of the net and Kristen Gargiulo scored on a header to supply the firepower for the top-seeded Colonials.
"It feels good," said A-B head coach Lee Billiard, whose Colonials improved to 20-0. "You start out in August and work hard and set goals. We have big goals but (Peabody) is as far as we're looking.
This was the third time these two league foes matched up this year. Acton-Boxboro won the regular-season meetings, 3-1 and 2-0.
"Once I found out we were playing Westford, I knew it was going to be tough," Billiard said. "Through the regular season, they were the toughest team we played."
The four-goal explosion in the first half was certainly the goal, but not necessarily expected.
"Westford has been our best competition this year," said Margolius, a junior midfielder. "It was great to start out strong, but we knew to never quit, especially with a team like Westford."
Acton-Boxboro followed a similar path last season when the Colonials marched all the way to state final, only to fall to Minnechaug.
While the A-B players realize it's still premature to think about a rematch, the thought of revenge is certainly in the back of their collective mind.
"I would love to get a chance to play (Minnechaug) again," Margolius said. "We put our heart and soul into everything and because of what happened last year, we would love to see them again."
Acton-Boxboro will face Peabody in the Div. I North final Saturday at 1 p.m. at Manning Field in Lynn.
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