School roundup: Undefeated Avon field hockey ranked No. 5 in state

The Avon High field hockey team has gotten off to a strong start. The Falcons are 4-0 and haven’t been scored upon yet this season.

Defending NCCC champion Avon earned its biggest win to date on Tuesday with a 1-0 win over Granby on a goal from senior forward Maddy Ricardi off an assist from Sarah Kate Mascoli with about seven minutes left in regulation. Ricardi has scored a team-leading nine goals including four goals each in wins over Somers and Enfield.

Goalie Nicole Andrew made four saves against Granby to earn her fourth shutout of the season. The Falcons have outscored their first four opponents, 15-0.

Avon is ranked fifth in the first coaches top 10 poll of the season behind Cheshire, Wilton, Farmington and Glastonbury, respectively. The Falcons play at Stonington Saturday and face undefeated Stafford (5-0) on the road.

First win for Canton
First-year coach Brian Roy earned his first field hockey win as Canton (1-2, 1-2 NCCC) beat Enfield, 1-0 on Emily Chouinard’s goal. Freshman goalie Natalie Nardello made two stops to earn her first shutout of the season.

Canton plays its first night game of the season Thursday night at Suffield High at 7 p.m. before a tough week next week. Canton is at Granby (1-3) on Tuesday and travels to Avon (4-0) on Thursday.

“We have to improve every day,” said, Roy, the long-time Canton High baseball coach. “They’ve been working hard. Our midfield is pretty strong.”

Senior midfielder Leigh Fitzgerald, right wing Lindsay Mulligan and center back Kylie Delos are anchors for the Warriors along with sophomore wing Maggie Bidwell.

Canton has 23 players in the program including five seniors and five juniors. The rest of the team are underclassmen.

BOYS SOCCER: Canton (1-3, 1-3 NCCC) has had trouble stopping the opposition from scoring in its first four games. The Warriors have scored eight goals but have allowed 12. James Spatcher, Alex Davey and Ben Corbett had individual goals in Canton’s 3-1 win over Bolton last week.

Canton will host Coventry on Saturday, Oct. 13, as part of its annual night game doubleheader at Bowdoin Field. This year, the CHS boys will play at 6 p.m. and the CHS girls will play at 8 p.m.

100th career win for Mulligan
Avon coach Patrick Mulligan earned his 100th career victory last week in an 8-0 rout of Windsor Locks. Mulligan, now in his eighth season as the varsity coach, is 101-23-12. Avon, which is 4-1 on the season, lost in the Class L championship game a year ago to Bunnell. Riley Strassner had his third goal of the season on Monday as the Falcons outlasted pesky Stafford, 1-0.

The Falcons host Enfield on Friday at 4 p.m. at Fisher Meadows.

GIRLS SOCCER: The Canton High girls soccer team has had trouble scoring goals this season. The Warriors (0-4) have scored just one goal and have allowed 17. Elizabeth Graves scored against Somers on Sept. 14. … The Avon High girls soccer team (3-1-1) has received balanced scoring. Four players have two goals each. The Falcons are ranked No. 11 in the latest Class LL/L state coaches poll.

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL: In its first varsity season, the Canton High girls volleyball team is finding life on the varsity level a challenge. In three matches, the Warriors have yet to win a game. The closest they have come was a 25-21 loss in game two of a 3-0 loss to Enfield on opening day. … The Avon High girls are off to a 4-0 start and haven’t dropped a game this season. Claire Nelson had 23 assists in a 3-0 victory over Sport Medicine Science Academy of Hartford on Monday. A big test will be next Wednesday, Oct. 3 when the Falcons host defending league champion Coventry at the high school at 6 p.m.

CROSS COUNTRY: The Avon High girls cross country team (4-0, 4-0 NCCC) is ranked No. 5 in the first state coaches poll of the season. … The Canton boys are 3-4 after dropping a pair of matches to Suffield and Ellington on Tuesday.