Girls Lax Tournament: Olsen, Griffin Lead Granby Memorial in Rout of Immaculate

Possession may be 9/10s of the law.

In lacrosse, however, possession is even more important - 100 percent - of the game.

The No. 2 girls lacrosse team proved that in its 19-5 victory over No. 15 Immaculate-Danbury in the first round of the state Class S tournament on Thursday.

Time and again, when Granby Memorial scored, it regained possession on draws by midfielder Megan Griffin, which invariably led to a Bears player racing down the field to score again. Repeat.

Indeed, out of the first 20 draws of the game, Granby Memorial won 18. It’s a recipe for victory that the Bears hope to follow all the way to the state championship.

“That’s the name of the game,” Granby Memorial head coach Terri Ziemnicki said. “It was something that we struggled with in [the NCCC tournament final] game against Avon.”

Mia Olsen led the Bears with four goals, while Griffin had three goals and two assists, freshman Olivia Johnson had three goals and an assist, Cailene Gunn had two goals and three assists, Krista Iwanicki had two goals, Kelsey Iwanicki had a goal and two assists, and Samantha Fairman Abigail Orosz and Abigail Hokunson each added a goal.

Emily Bernard made 12 saves for the Bears as well.

It was a nice opening round game for the team, which continues to build its confidence.

“I thought we played well,” ZIemnicki said. “The key for us is that we can’t rush. … This is a team that they like to be light and loose. … But when the game starts, they can be all business. I leave them alone and that’s their way of getting ready.”

For Immaculate, Alexa Sakorafos had two goals and two assists, Jaclyn Daily had two goals and an assist and Maeve Reilly
added a goal.

Mustangs head coach Tom Murtha credited the Bears for their strong play, which led his team to lose a little confidence as the game progressed.

“They’re a very good team,” Murtha said. “[But] we didn’t play as well as we could have.”

With the victory, the Bears advance to play No. 7 Laurelton Hall in the quarterfinals at home on June 4.