High School Soccer Roundup: Zaffanella, Ellington vanquish Granby
Sep. 22—The Ellington High girls soccer team had been searching for a win over NCCC power Granby since 2016.
Nadia Zaffanella made sure that wait ended Wednesday afternoon.
The senior scored twice to lead Ellington's offensive attack in its 7-2 win over the Bears in NCCC play at home.
The Knights (4-0-0) had been 0-6-0 against Granby (1-2-1) since their last win on Oct. 11, 2016, including falling to the Bears in the quarterfinals of the 2019 Class M state tournament.
Granby had outscored Ellington 21-1 in those six games.
During Wednesday's match-up, the Knights erupted for four first-half goals, taking a 4-2 lead into the break. The hosts added three more scores over the final 40 minutes.
Emily Charbonneau, Casey Rice, Erica Paparian, Gillian Paseka, Brooke Diwinsky also scored for Ellington. Junior goalkeeper Kyra Kobak made eight saves in the win.
Addyson Earl had both goals for Granby. Divine Collins stopped six shots in goal.
Ellington travels to Coventry Friday.
STAFFORD 2, BOLTON 1. Kacie Consolini scored the game-winner as host Stafford won a NCCC game.
The senior netted the tiebreaker with under two minutes left in the game. She now has eight goals in three games for Stafford (3-0-0), which has outscored its opponents 12-2 on the season.
The game was scoreless at the half. Abby Kearns had the other goal for Stafford while Madison Peacock scored for Bolton (1-2-0).
Drea Oswell made 15 saves in the win. Her counterpart, Allie Buonomano stopped seven shots.
Boys
SOUTH WINDSOR 2, RHAM 0. Drew Monteserin scored both goals as the Bobcats won a CCC East game in Hebron.
The win extends South Windsor's unbeaten streak to four games. The Bobcats are 2-0-2.
One of Monteserin's goals came on a converted penalty kick. Teammate Kyle Sullivan made six saves. Erik Buden stopped six shots for the Raptors (2-2-1).
CHENEY TECH 3, VINAL TECH 1. Gregory Edwards, Josh Blake, and Aiden Torres scored a goal apiece as host Cheney Tech posted a CTC victory.
It was the first victory for coach Kassiani Bisbikos with the Beavers' program.
Edwards gave Cheney Tech a 1-0 lead early in the first half on a strike into the upper left corner from approximately 30 yards out.
Seven minutes later, Elias Robeiro finished a cross from point-blank range to tie the score at one.
But Blake found the back of the net just before halftime to put the Beavers ahead once again. Torres extended the hosts' lead to two seven minutes into the second half.
Goalkeeper Matthew Caron made 10 saves for the Beavers (1-1-1), who host Ellis Tech today. Vinal Tech falls to 0-2-2.
BOLTON 4, STAFFORD 0. Dimani Rainford netted two goals as host Bolton blanked Stafford in NCCC play.
Keno Morrison and Andrew Baranov added a goal apiece for Bolton (4-2). Gavin LaPlante had two assists while Rainford and Somari Brown provided one apiece. Gaolie Sam Segar made four saves to record his third shutout of the season.
Goalie Josh Tuller made 10 saves for Stafford (1-3).
Both teams return to action Friday. Bolton visits Somers, while Stafford travels to SMSA.
