Emotional win for Granby over Avon in girls lacrosse

Avon’s Ali Condon (14) keeps the pressure on Granby’s Krista Iwanicki (8) Saturday at Avon.

AVON – A year ago, the Avon High girls lacrosse team owned Granby. They won three times, including an 11-8 decision in the NCCC Tournament championship game.

But times have changed –for Avon and Granby.

The visiting Bears came away with an emotional 12-8 win over the defending NCCC champion Falcons last Saturday at the high school. Granby has won four of its first five games this season.

Avon (4-2, 2-1 NCCC) lost two in a row to Glastonbury and Granby. Injuries to seniors Britt Douglass and Hunter McCarthy haven’t helped. Douglas missed both games while McCarthy sat out the Granby contest.

Avon got back on the winning track Tuesday with a 14-7 win over Ellington behind four goals from Sammi Maniatty, a season-high four goals from Hannah Davies, two goals from Riley Hagan and a goal and four assists from Kaylan Conrad.

It’s a different Granby team that beat Avon. A small core of about a half dozen players that played on two teams that played in the Class S finals remain on the field this spring with Granby. But it’s not the same.

“On those two teams, we had some very strong players who helped carry the team,” Granby senior Kelsey Iwanicki said. “This year because we don’t have that, we have to adapt and learn about all of us instead of relying on one or two specific players.”

It was Granby’s first win over Avon since 2011 and snapped a four-game losing streak against the Falcons. “Last year is gone. Now, it is this year. You can’t look at what we don’t have. You have to look at what we do have,” said Granby coach Terri Ziemnicki.

This year’s Bears have a big scorer with sophomore Olivia Johnson, who has 23 goals in five games. She had eight goals in a 16-12 win over Suffield and had five goals and two assists in the win over Avon.

Senior Mia Olsen has 16 goals including five in a 18-5 win over a young Canton team and four goals against Suffield. After you get past Johnson and Olsen, the offense is spread out. Sophomore Krista Iwanicki had six goals while her sister Kelsey has five. Jenna Glynn has four goals while Abigal Hokunson has scored three.

“We’re trying to gather together a lot of players with different strengths,” Krista Karlson said. “We’re trying to put it together and make it gell.”

Sophomore goalie Hala Van Nostrand has been excellent. She had 15 saves in the win over Suffield and 11 in the win over Avon.

“She does well under pressure,” Karlson said. “She communicates (with her teammates), tells the defense what to do. She has been improving every single game.”

So far, it’s working out pretty well. The Bears beat Suffield, 16-12 and outlasted Windsor, 11-10 in overtime with Johnson scored two goals in the overtime period, including one goal with 57 seconds left in OT.

The Bears stumbled in a 9-7 loss to Northwest Catholic but rebounded a week later with a spirited win over Avon. It was just Granby’s fourth win over the Falcons.

“We were ready to play,” Ziemnicki said. “We wanted to play. We played focused.”

It was tied 5-5 at halftime and Avon scored two of the first three goals of the second half to take a 7-6 lead with 20:58 remaining in the game when Sammi Maniatty took the ball the length of the field and fired it into the net.

But Granby gave up just one goal the remainder of the game, outscoring Avon 6-1 in the final 20 minutes.

The Bears had a two goal lead, 9-7, with about 15 minutes left thanks to a pair of goals from Olsen. On one possession, Granby had three shots on goal. Hammick made the saves but it was the Bears who dug up the loose ball and retained possession. Krista Iwanicki eventually skipped the ball into the net for a 10-7 lead.

The remainder of the game, Granby controlled the play with their passing game and hustle.

“It’s not always easy,” Karlson said. “But when you have a game like we did today, it is so rewarding.”

Another game with Avon looms on Tuesday, April 30 at Ahrens Park. The Falcons will be looking forward to the contest.

Avon played without its two best players against Granby due to injuries. Senior Hunter McCarthy, who scored 11 goals in Avon’s first three games, missed the game after twisting her ankle two days earlier in a loss to Glastonbury. Senior Britt Douglas, who had six goals and three assists in a 14-10 win over Joel Barlow earlier in April, also sat out with a leg injury.

Maggie Magrini led Avon with three goals against Granby while Vicki Zirotti scored her first two goals of the season. Maniatty also added two goals.

Granby 12, Avon 8
At Avon
Granby (3-1)      5  7 – 12
Avon (2-2)          5  3 – 8
Goals: Vicki Zirotti (A) 2, Sammi Maniatty (A) 2, Kaylan Conrad (A), Maggie Magrini (A) 3; Molly Freedman (G), Jenna Glynn (G), Mia Olsen (G) 3, Kelsey Iwanicki (G), Olivia Johnson (G) 5, Krista Iwanicki (G); Shots on goal: Granby 23-17;  Saves: Hala Van Nostrand (G) 11, Paige Hammick (A) 9