‘Hockey smart’ Bears win ECC
Lennon sparks Stonington attack with two goals, assist
Stonington — Trinity Lennon had two goals and an assist and the Stonington High School field hockey team clinched the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship Tuesday night with a 4-0 victory over Norwich Free Academy.
Lennon scored both goals in the first half, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead when she converted a pass from Olivia Feliciano off a penalty corner with 16 seconds on the clock. Miranda Arruda then scored twice in the second half for Stonington (10-3, 9-0), which has won nine straight ECC titles and 26 of the last 27.
Stonington outshot NFA 32-0 and the Bears scored three of their four goals on penalty corners.
Stonington coach Jenna Tucchio said her team's fast attack offense has been its driving force this season, with the Bears using five midfielders to advance the ball.w
"They're really smart, book smart, but hockey smart, too," Tucchio said. "The success they find has come from being really good students of the game; I've enjoyed coaching the strategy part . ... The chemistry is really good. We lost some key players, but some kids have stepped in." In other games: • Kaylee Wilcox, Regan Mazzulli and Cassidy Susi all scored for Waterford in its 3-0 win over Woodstock Academy. Molly Quiles and Michelle Linicus each had an assist for the Lancers (7-4-1, 6-3) and Lili Stoddard had five saves.
H.S. volleyball
• Jemima Appolon had 21 assists and Marissa Parker had 16 digs and eight kills as New London swept Norwich Tech 25-22, 25-23, 25-13. Madyson Robledo-Ramsey had 14 digs and five kills, Yamilka Ramos had 13 digs and three kills and Natalia Paul had six kills for New London (3-9). Kaitlyn Gifford had nine assists and four digs, Courtney Majewski had 13 digs, and Halle Barren had 10 digs for Norwich Tech (13-5).
• Cheney Tech topped Grasso Tech 25-14, 2514, 25-17. Erin Blake had seven digs, two assists, two blocks and an ace for Grasso and Hailey Beal had six assists, four blocks and two kills.
H.S. swimming
• Anna Ciriello broke her own school diving record for the third time this season, lifting NFA to a 99.5-81.5 victory over Suffield. Ciriello scored 223.05 in the six-dive format. Gloria Ng won the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke for the Wildcats (3-6), Ciara McDonough the 200 freestyle, Madison Lacy the 50 freestyle and Katie Provost the 500 freestyle. McDonough, Lacy, Ng and Provost teamed to win the 4x100 relay.
• Maddie Johanson won the 200 IM (2:27.72), the 100 breaststroke (1:17.07) and swam a leg on the winning 200 medley relay team as Ledyard defeated Windsor Locks/Ellington/Granby 8684. Katey Trucale, Erin Lyons and Madison Sanborn joined Johanson in winning the medley relay and Gabrielle Schaufler took the 200 freestyle for the Colonels (5-6).
Women's soccer
• Gabrielle Auzenbergs scored off a cross from Felicia Lombardi at 90:50 in overtime to give Coast Guard a 3-2 win over Emerson in a NEWMAC game. Lombardi tied the game at 53:10. Waterford's Claire Hurley had a goal and an assist for Coast Guard (8-7, 4-4). Veronica Alberts had a goal and an assist for the Lions (3-8-2, 3-4).
Men's soccer
• Mass Maritime's Adam Crawford headed in a direct kick by Mick Rouette at 87:45 as it tied Coast Guard 1-1 in double overtime. Brock Hassett scored an unassisted goal at 59:18 for Coast Guard (8-4-2) and Dakota Harich had eight saves. Mike Pruchnik had 13 saves for the Buccaneers (5-8-1).
College volleyball
• Sophomore Angelou Dunton had a matchhigh seven kills and 12 digs as Coast Guard secured a berth in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference tournament for the 20th straight season with a 3-0 win over Smith on senior night, the final home match of the season for the Bears. Coast Guard (15-9, 5-4) won 25-15, 25-14, 25-16. The match marked the final home game in the careers of Michelle McGill, Emma Saunders and Madison Scott. Sophomore Alex Kempf had a match-high four blocks.