Avon’s Lauren Jeandell (13) had two assists, including one on the game-winning goal in OT, as No. 4 Avon moved into the Class M semifinals for the fourth straight year.
On paper, it looks like business as usual for the Avon High field hockey team. The Falcons qualified for the CIAC tournament for the 52nd consecutive season – they are one of the very few teams to have played in each state field hockey tournament.
After an four-goal loss to Glastonbury on opening day, Avon won 12 straight games and finished the regular season with an 12-2-0-1 record.
But it is a young team with just three seniors on the roster – midfielder Rebecca Bonini, utility player Annie Kuo and midfielder Megan Foley.
“We’re still young,” long-time coach Terri Ziemnicki said. “We’re still figuring things out. When we make mistakes, we make young mistakes.”
Now, the Falcons are learning to win big games. Avon scored a goal just 2:57 into overtime to beat Farmington, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Simsbury High and earn a spot in the Class M semifinals for the fourth straight year and the sixth time in the last seven years. Bonini took a pass from junior midfielder Lauren Jeandell and with one swing ended the game with her second goal of the season.
Farmington (13-4) led virtually the entire contest. The Indians scored with just 3:30 gone in the game and the Falcons tied the game with 2:40 remaining in regulation on a goal from junior Olivia Jackson off a nice assist from Jeandell.
“We’re still a young team but today was about perseverance,” Ziemnicki said. “We decided to persevere.”
The win puts No. 4 Avon (14-2-0-1) in the Class M final on Tuesday at 4 p.m., at Watertown High against top-ranked Joel Barlow-Redding (18-1-1), which won their first Southwest Conference title a week ago.
It was a little over a week ago that Farmington ended the regular season with a 1-0 victory over the Falcons. The Indians took command immediately when Sarah Wolkoff scored to give the Indians a one goal lead.
But Farmington couldn’t built on that advantage and Avon couldn’t muster much of an attack. The two goalies combined for just four saves in the game.
Things turned late in the second half when Farmington called timeout with about 14 minutes left in regulation. It gave the Falcons an opportunity to refocus.
“We were disconnected,” Ziemnicki said. “We weren’t playing as a team. We were trying to do it ourselves. We just needed to believe we could do it.”
Avon tied the game with 2:40 left in regulation when Jackson scored off a scramble in front of the net that began with a corner hit from Jeandell. It was Jackson’s fifth goal of the season – the second-leading scorer for Avon.
In overtime, Avon made the big play. Near midfield, Jeandell slipped around two Farmington defenders and got into open space. She fired a hard pass to Bonini, who in one motion, swung and blasted a shot past the Farmington goalie for the game-winner.
It was her second goal of the season and the first since Sept. 15 against Wethersfield.
“We’ve had 13 players score this season,” Ziemnicki said. “You can’t shut down one person.” Hannah Deppe leads the Falcons with nine goals, including a goal in Tuesday’s 2-0 second round win over Guilford. Jackson is second on the team with eight goals and Paige Deppe adding five goals.
NOTES: The game was played in Simsbury due to standing water on Avon’s field hockey field. … It was the first time that the two schools have met in a CIAC tournament contest. … Avon will be looking to earn its first berth in a CIAC championship game since 1998. … Avon’s sophomore goalie Emily Foley made two saves to earn the victory. … Video of the two goals is courtesy of Reel Sports Productions.
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