Nolan, McMillan each score twice as Granby rolls to championship

way to go out with a win.”

Plainfield scored its loan goal Hartford – When the Granby with just over a minute left, girls soccer team beat Berlin for courtesy of sophomore Olivia Dithe Class M state championship giacamo. Junior Natalia Shock two years ago, then-sophomore scored Granby’s final goal from midfielder Tessa McMillan knew outside of the box with 19 seconds the Bears would reach that stage remaining. again. “I think how we work is, once

“Knowing the talent this team we get a ball in, we relax a little bit has, I knew we’d be back,” McMiland start playing our game,” Nolan lan said. said. “After I scored, everything

It took two years, but McMiljust changed.” lan’s prediction came true. The Head coach Ed Dzielak, admitBears (20-0) ran through the tedly, was not as confident as regular season and postseason McMillan in regards to the Bears untouched before dicing apart returning to the state title game, third-seeded Plainfield 6-1 in the with it having less to do with the They needed an extra 30 Class M state championship at team’s talent, and more so due to minutes to do it, but the Old Two years ago, Holy Cross lost Dillon Stadium on Saturday. the unpredictable nature of the Saybrook High boys soccer won to Old Lyme in the Class S

It took just over 30 minutes for tournament. its second straight Class S title championship game, the third of the Bears’ offense to find the back “I did’t think they’d be back, Saturday afternoon, beating Holy four straight titles the Wildcats of the net. Senior Maria Nolan, a you never know. It’s hard to be Cross 3-1 in overtime. would win. Saturday morning in Sacred Heart commit, scored with here,” he said. “For [Plainfield] to “It’s been a lot of tough work,” New Britain, the Crusaders nine minutes left in the first half to come here two years in a row, it’s Old Saybrook senior captain flipped the script, beating Old put Granby on the board. Classvery hard to do that. Good team, Colin Shulmeister said. “A lot of Lyme 1-0 to win the program’s mate Samantha St. Pierre scored we were just a little better today.” rigorous hours on the field with first state title. on a breakaway five minutes later. As the Bears kicked off against the boys, trying to work out and “I’m just happy we played Lyman Memorial won its sec

McMillan scored 10 minutes Plainfield, Granby’s field hockey perfect what we do. It feels competitively for 70-plus minond Class S championship in a into the second half, and Nolan team - which won the Class S state insane to win as a captain with utes,” Old Lyme coach Paul row and third in five years, with a scored again seven minutes later championship earlier in the day the whole team.” Gleason said. “My girls started straight-set victory over Haleon anRay.assistfromSt.Pierre-theagainstNorthBranford-enteredShulmeisterscoredtwiceforcryingandIsaidwehavenothing

95th and final goal of her career. the stadium to cheer on the soccer the Rams in the win. His first to cry about, there are 164 other Hale-Ray came out of the gate McMillan found the back of the team. Nolan said she and the rest came with 8:57 left to play in the teams that would love to have looking good, eventually taking a net again four minutes after that of the team hard of the field game, after a scoreless first half, silver. But they’re emotional be12-7 lead in the first set, but off of an assist from Nolan to give hockey’s win on the bus ride to to give the Rams (17-2-5) to early cause they had high expectations Lyman Memorial went on a 12-2 the Bears a commanding five-goal Dillon Stadium. lead. He would score the gocoming in.” run to take a 19-14 lead and lead. Five of Granby’s goals came “It was a little bit of pressure, ahead and eventual game-winAfter a back and forth first eventually take the set 25-16. from its senior class, which posted because we knew, ‘Well now we ner with 6:05 left in the first half, Old Lyme (14-3-4) would In the second set Lyman Mea career 67-8-2 record playing for have to win too,’” Nolan said with overtime period, after Holy Cross come out firing in the second morial went on a 10-2 run and the Bears. a laugh. was called for a push in the back half, putting the ball on goal off a then an 11-3 run in the third,

“They mean so much to me, in the box, giving the Rams the corner kick and some nice passwinning those sets 25-14 and each and everyone of them,” penalty kick. ing in front of the box. But it was 25-18 for the title.

McMillan said. “It’s just the best Gannon Efinger would seal the deal with 1:20 left in the game, scoring for the 3-1 lead.

Class S boys soccer: Old Lyme falls

the Crusaders (19-1-2) who took advantage of a scoring opportunity. With 10:31 played in the first half, Holy Cross sophomore Devon Bushka buried a loose ball home for the game-winning goal. Old Lyme keeper Sam Gray, who finished with 10 saves, had stopped one shot but couldn’t readjust in time for the rebound.

Class S girls volleyball: Hale-Ray swept