Granby Stuns Waterford Girls In Soccer Tourney

The Waterford High girls' soccer team turned Granby Memorial goalkeeper Ellie McDougall into a acrobat in the first half of a CIAC Class M state tournament second round game Thursday.

Five minutes into the game, Olivia Mallari's indirect kick from 35-yards out soared toward the crossbar, causing McDougall to leap and bat the ball away. Two minutes later, Julie Lavoie's 18-yard shot sent McDougall sprawling. A minute later, Melina Spanos curled a direct kick from the left side of the scoring box just wide of the right post. Lavoie made a steal later in the half and tested McDougall, who again was up to the task.

Granby dodged Waterford's first-half onslaught. Then, things began to turn.

Winners of 17-straight, including the championship of the first-ever Eastern Connecticut Conference Tournament, Waterford appeared as if it was just biding its time to break the ice and put the ball in the net. Unfortunately for the Lancers, they put the ball into their own net seven minutes into the second half for an own goal.

That score, plus Granby's improved play, turned the game around and suddenly ended Waterford's season in a frustrating 2-0 loss.

"You could see the wind go out of their sails after the own goal," Granby coach Gerry Treischmann said. "It's tough to get down 1-0 in the state tournament, and we were starting to play better. The team and the coach was nervous early on and we had our bus legs after the two-hour drive. We rode the play of Ellie. We think we have one of the better keepers in the state. She was tested and stands on her head if she has to."

Granby (14-4-1) added the second goal off a corner kick when Gabby Dixon headed in a corner kick at the 66th minute. Waterford (17-3) couldn't  duplicate its early scoring chances in the second half.

"We had a lot of great opportunities in the first half but couldn't capitalize," Waterford coach Rob Brule said. "Their goalie made a number of goal-saving saves, and it could have been a 2-0 lead early. She was the difference. We came out strong and focused and executed the game plan."

A Waterford back miscleared the ball on one of Granby's deepest penetration and the ball sailed past Lancer goalie Emily Diana for a 1-0 lead.

"You never want that to happen," Brule said. "That had very little to do with where we were at then at the moment. We were trying to stay in it with the wind at our back. It was just bad luck, a bad break. We've had 17 wins in a row, so I can't complain about bad breaks. That goal kind of evened the score a bit in terms of getting breaks."

The second goal, though beautifully executed by Granby, frustrated Brule even more than the own goal.

"It was a great goal, but inside the 6, our defenders are taught to run shoulder to shoulder with their man, and [Dixon] ran in unopposed," Brule said. "We should have defended that much better, but you have to give credit. Granby won the battle at midfield and won every 50-50 ball at the end. They play in a good, physical conference (North Central Connecticut Conference)."

Though Brule thought the Lancers could advance to at least the quarterfinals, he said "I'll take a season like this any day of the week. Everyone had us dead in the water after we started the season 0-2."

The Lancers will hold the distinction of winning the first-ever ECC Tournament, beating Lyman, 2-1, Nov. 5. Brule dismissed any talk that playing in the ECC took some spotlight off of advancing in the states. The Lancers blasted Seymour in the first round, 7-0, behind two goals by Lavoie (21 goals).

"The ECCs helped us," Brule said. "We were ready. The ECCs prepared us very well for this, playing two good teams (Stonington and Lyman)."