Gorjanc takes over Hawken attack

County Line Road is a point of demarcation between Cuyahoga and Geauga counties.

But that driveway leading out of Hawken has been an exit ramp in recent years for some of this area’s premier attackers.

That line out in the form of graduation took a heavy toll after 2016 on the Hawks’ attack, but they are hopeful one constant who still enters campus off County Line Road every day can ease that burden.

As a junior, Laura Gorjanc takes over a new role for Hawken this fall as a central midfielder after excelling for the Hawks in recent years as an outside mid and a force with pace on the flanks in a potent side.

But with All-Ohio caliber performers in mids Maggie Canitia and Danielle Drockton and striker Daysha Randelson capping their careers at Hawken a year ago — and with 12 freshmen and sophomores in the side in 2017 — the time has come for Gorjanc to take over the keys to the engine room.

“We have a very young attack, so I guess someone has to take initiative,” Gorjanc said. “We have a great group with (center mid) Izzy (Culver) and I and a lot of our other juniors. We’re just working the younger players in.”

Gorjanc opened her 2017 account in style Aug. 24 with two goals and two assists in a 4-0 CVC Chagrin win over Kirtland.

As a freshman, Gorjanc had six goals and 14 assists as the Hawks went 13-4-2 and advanced to a Division III district final, bowing out to eventual state final four side Kirtland.

Last year as a sophomore, Gorjanc recorded 11 goals and 16 assists for a 135-1 squad, whose campaign ended in extra time in a district final loss to Gilmour amid the Lancers’ run to the D-III state title.

She was a 2016 thirdteam News-Herald all-star and second-team D-III allCleveland honoree.

It’s likely a safe bet the honors will be more lofty this fall at the controls in the middle of the park.

“I think Laura is really a universal player and she can play in any position up top,” Hawken coach Anton Trifonovs said. “With our methodology going into Division II, I said, ‘Hey, if you really want to compete against a team like Chagrin Falls, Rocky River, Holy Name, we need to put the ball down, because your crosses that Laura can produce really well, the chances that we’re going to score against the center backs Chagrin Falls has? Really limited.’

“So our central penetration and short combination play, where Laura can accelerate through the center and produce a shot on goal instead of a cross, to me, will have more value in it.”

If the win over Kirtland was indicative, it’s a role that suits Gorjanc. As the Hawks employed trademark pace and spacing through midfield, the standout junior could use her technical skill and speed to take on defenders 1-on-1 and be dangerous as a playmaker while occasionally working out wide for crosses.

“I feel pretty comfortable,” Gorjanc said. “I got to play center mid all club. This past winter helped me work on it.

“I feel comfortable in the middle, and it’s great.”

A new-look for Hawken isn’t just on the pitch with new personnel in the starting 11. The Hawks joined Gilmour in making the move from D-III to a loaded area D-II district with Chagrin Falls, a 2016 D-II state finalist, and a highly capable Lake Catholic side.

Gorjanc hopes a young squad that, like her, will be entering the driveway on County Line Road for the foreseeable future will have a say in that argument.

“It is a very tough district,” Gorjanc said. “But I think we’re able to compete with them. And if we keep working hard, keep winning the games and keep doing what we’re doing, I think we can do it.”