Canton’s Grace Giancola (9) moves with the ball ahead of teammate Alexa Szczepanski (20) in Tuesday’s 4-3 win over North Branford in the Class S tournament. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)
NORTH BRANFORD, Nov. 10 – In the rain, the Canton High field hockey scored three goals in nine minutes and junior Grace Giancola won a game in overtime for the second time this year as the No. 12 Warriors upset No. 5 North Branford, 4-3.
Canton (9-5-2) took a 3-2 lead with three goals in a span of nine minutes early in the second half only to see the Thunderbirds (14-5) rally with two late goals to force overtime. Emma Hansen scored with nine seconds left in regulation for North Branford.
In overtime, Giancola did what she does best – score goals. She got her team-leading 15th goal of the season on a breakaway with 4:26 remaining to lift Canton to the win. It was her third OT game-winner for the Warriors in her career. She beat Suffield with an overtime goal in the season-opening contest in September, 3-2.
Canton advances to Thursday’s Class S quarterfinals against No. 4 Stonington, on the road, at 5:30 p.m. The Bears, who won the ECC championship, are 13-1-3.
“It was an amazing game,” Canton coach Margaret Bristol said. “We came out of halftime with confidence and composure. They played smart and communicated with each other. It was the game I knew they could play if they worked together and communicated.”
North Branford led 2-0 at halftime thanks to goals from Sidney Hogan with 7:10 left in the first half and a second score from Haley Basil with 29.7 seconds remaining.
But Canton remained confident. Kaelyn Oliver scored less than four minutes into the second half to cut the lead to 2-1. Erika Nedderman’s goal tied the game at 2-2 and Giancola gave the Warriors its first lead of the contest by scoring with 22:39 remaining.
“They used some nice quick passes that worked well,” Bristol said. “We moved well to the ball.”
Giancola’s game-winning goal began on a penalty corner that the Thunderbirds were able to clear out of the circle. But Giancola grabbed the ball, quickly reversed direction and went toward the goal with a breakaway opportunity. “It’s always a nice shot with her,” Bristol said referring to Giancola’s game-winning hit.
Even with the Thunderbirds sending the game into overtime with their goal with nine seconds left in regulation, the Warriors stood tall and remained confident. “They were so intent on winning that game,” Bristol said. “They left everything on the field.”
North Branford outshot the Warriors, 15-11. Canton goalie Natalie Nardello made 12 saves in net in the victory, stopping several hard shots.
Canton’s Erika Neddermann (7) chases down a loose ball in Tuesday’s Class S tournament game in North Branford. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)
Avon 2, Guilford 0
AVON, Nov. 10 – Hannah Deppe scored her team-leading ninth goal of the season and Megan Foley scored her second goal of the season as No. 4 Avon eliminated No. 12 Guilford, 2-0 in a second round Class M tournament game at the high school. Olivia Jackson had two assists for the Falcons, now 13-2-0-1.
The win sets up a rematch of last week’s game with No. 5 Farmington in Thursday’s quarterfinal at Avon High beginning at 2 p.m. The Falcons are looking for a berth in the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.
The Indians (12-3) handed Avon a 1-0 loss last Wednesday in the regular season finale for both teams.
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