Granby’s Olivia Johnson, shown in last year’s Class S final, had five goals and three assists in Tuesday’s 16-10 victory over Canton as Granby captured the NCCC championship.
CANTON, May 19 – The Canton High girls lacrosse team may have snuck up on some teams in the first half of the team. Before this spring, the Warriors had never posted a winning season or contended for a conference championship.
It’s been different this spring. Canton has been a contender. They beat Avon for the first time ever on a Grace Giancola goal with 1:19 left in regulation. The Warriors also beat Granby for the first time when Giancola scored with four seconds remaining in a 12-11 victory in April.
The Bears didn’t forget that.
In a winner-take-all game for the North Central Connecticut Conference championship, Granby raced out to a quick, six-goal lead and was never really threatened in a 16-10 victory over the Warriors to win the NCCC title for the third time in the last six years. It’s Granby’s first outright league title since 2010.
“The girls played well,” Granby coach Terri Ziemnicki said. “We never trailed. The first time we played Canton we showed up to play but we didn’t show up to win. This time, we showed up to win and we had a fire in our belly.”
All-State forward Olivia Johnson led the way for the Bears (12-3, 8-2 NCCC) with five goals and three assists. All-State forward Krista Iwanicki added four goals and an assist while Hannah Davin and Abby Phillips had two goals each.
“We’ve been getting stronger as the season progressed,” Ziemnicki said. Since losing that game to Canton on April 22, the Bears have won nine of their last 10 games, including a dominant 12-8 win over Avon last Friday.
The Bears celebrated their championship but they know they still have other goals they want to achieve. Granby will be the top seed in next week’s NCCC Tournament and will face either Canton or Somers in the championship game next Thursday in Suffield. The Bears are also looking to win a state championship. In two of the last three seasons, they have lost in the finals.
“It’s the conference and that’s great but we’re not stopping here,” Ziemnicki said. “We want more.”
It was an eye-opening lesson for the Warriors (9-7, 7-3 NCCC) in their first chance to play for a championship. “Granby played better and they were hungrier,” Canton coach Sean Cole said. “Before we could take a breath, it was 7-1. They were much quicker to the ball than we were.”
Grace Giancola led the Warriors with three goals while Emma Charron, Carly Atkinson and Olivia Sullivan had two each. Goalie Amanda Gottlieb made five saves in net.
It was the final regular season game of the season for Canton, which will have the opportunity to play one or two more games next week in preparation for the Class S tournament. The Warriors will play Somers (13-3, 7-3 NCCC) in the semifinals on Tuesday at a site and time to be announced.
NOTES: Canton has four players who will participate in this weekend’s USA Lacrosse women’s national tournament at Lafayette in Bethlehem, Pa., for players in grades 9-11. Participation is approved through the CIAC. Giancola and Gottlieb were selected by a committee of state coaches to the Connecticut No. 1 team. Charron and Daubert were selected to the Connecticut No. 2 team. Teams from all over the country will be at the tournament.
Granby 16, Canton 10
At Canton
Granby (12-3) 10 6 — 16
Canton (9-7) 6 4 — 10
Goals: Olivia Johnson (G) 5, Krista Iwanicki (G) 4, Hannah Davin (G) 2, Abby Phillips (G) 2, Rachel Laflamme (G), Katie Martel (G), Bridgitte DeGagne (G); Grace Giancola (C) 3, Emma Charron (C) 2, Carly Atkinson (C) 2, Olivia Sullivan (C) 2, Jackie Grabowski (C); Saves: Hala Van Nostrand (G) 7, Amanda Gottlieb (C) 5
Recent NCCC girls lacrosse champions
2015: Granby (8-2)
2014: Avon (10-0)
2013: Avon and Granby (9-1)
2012: Avon (10-0)
2011: Suffield (9-1)
2010: Granby (10-0)
2009: Avon (8-0)
2008: Avon and Suffield (7-1)
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