Lights out early for Horde boys
By Keith Harrington
It was the opening of “Lights Week” last Monday for Granville athletics but it was lights out early for the Golden Horde boys soccer team as Bolton-Warrensburg scored twice in the opening minute and rolled to an 11-0 victory.
Jace Hubert scored just seconds into the game and Dante Corriveau scored seconds later for the Eagles, who remained unbeaten in Adirondack League play.
Hubert and Corriveau scored their second goals and Louis Lang got into the act to make it 5-0 Bolton-Warrensburg.
The Eagles scored three more times before the half as AJ Moore, Stas Wiktorko and Daalten DeMarsh found the back of the net.
Andrez Krzypkowski, Kazmir Krzypkowski and Cameron Hunt-Allen added second-half scores.
Collin Norton had a pair of nice scoring opportunities for Granville. In the first half Norton made a run down the right sideline and played a beautiful cross through the box that no teammate could get a foot on.
Norton is the only senior and a team captain. Even though the team is shorthanded and has been affected by injuries Norton knows that continuing to step up is key.
“When people are injured and not eligible you have to step up and prove to the coaches and the community that you want to continue,” Norton said. “Being the captain of the team the biggest responsibility between trying to play a position I haven’t played in years and now teaching the younger kids how to play is tough because everyone has a different skills level.”
In the second half Norton made an overlapping run, received a pass and placed a nice serve into the box, but the Bolton-Warrensburg defense cleared it away.
Keith Sonley had one save in goal for B-W.
The Eagles outshot Granville 16-1.
Even with the mounting losses Norton stated it’s important to enjoy playing the game.
“The most important thing is to keep it fun and motivating to push through the struggles as a team,” Norton said.
Before he closes his out his final season in the blue and gold, Norton shared some words for the younger players on the squad.
“Don’t let a loss or a season’s record reflect how you play. The more you lose the more you push and show you want that win and eventually it will come,” Norton said. “Don’t let the downs ruin it for you. Just play hard. No matter what, show you want to be there.”
Watching Norton play he has certainly heeded his own advice.
Bolton-Warrensburg is now 7-0.
On Wednesday the Golden Horde returned to its home pitch to take on Argyle. Granville played the Scots close for a half, but eventually dropped a 6-0 decision in Adirondack League play.
Shea Squires and Preston Gulick each scored two goals for Argyle. Both Squires and Gulick also had assists.
Ben Randles and Gabe Burch also each hit the back of the net for the Scots.
Cole Schilling added a pair of assists.
Argyle is now 5-3, 5-4. Granville is 0-5, 0-7.
Salem-Cambridge nips Horde in OT

By Keith Harrington
If at first, you don’t succeed . . . that familiar moniker could be the theme for the Salem-Cambridge field hockey team when it comes to facing Granville. After falling to the Golden Horde in overtime in last year’s sectionals and a shootout earlier this year, Salem-Cambridge finally got it done.
Kady Crosier scored with 52 seconds remaining in the second extra session to hand Salem-Cambridge a 2-1 win in Wasaren-Adirondack League play.
The last time Salem-Cambridge defeated Granville was in October 2019, a 3-2 win, fittingly in OT. The Golden Horde had won eight straight times since.
It was Senior Night for Granville, but Salem-Cambridge didn’t waste any time jumping in front. Lexi Cary converted a pass from MaryKate McPhee at the 6:12 mark of the opening period to give her squad a 1-0 lead.
Granville got even when Claire Gould scored an unassisted goal with 2:50 left in the half.
Thank you! Granville coach Katie Barber would like to thank everyone who participated in the concession stand fundraiser at the game. The Golden Horde program raised $1,000 for the Woodell family who recently suffered a tragic loss. DJ Ray Monroe donated his fee for the night to the concession stand.
Neither team could hit the back of the cage during the remainder of regulation time, forcing yet another overtime between the two rivals.
Granville dominated the first overtime but couldn’t cash in on multiple opportunities. Gould had a couple of good looks, one that was stopped by Salem-Cambridge goalie Brailyn Wright and another that hit the crossbar. The latter sent the Golden Horde bench into celebration thinking they had won it after hearing the clink.
Raegan Swain squeezed off a rocket that seemed destined for the back of the cage with just over five minutes to play in the stanza, but again Wright came up huge. The Golden Horde used textbook passing from Natalie, Williams to Swain to Gould to produce another stellar chance, but Wright again denied them.
Salem-Cambridge controlled possession in the second overtime and it finally paid off. Claire Toleman pushed the ball up the right wing on a deep 2 on 1 run. Toleman fired a long pass across the field to Crosier who fired a shot past Granville goalkeeper Megan Decker to give her team the long-awaited win.
Salem-Cambridge held a 12-7 advantage in shots on goal and a 12-6 edge on penalty corners.
Both Wright and Decker put on a goalkeeping clinic, each coming up with clutch save after clutch save in the second half and overtime.
Wright had seven saves for Salem-Cambridge. Decker stopped nine shots for Granville.
Salem-Cambridge is 4-2, 4-3. Granville is now 5-2, 7-3.
Earlier in the week Granville dropped a 2-0 decision to Schuylerville.
Sora Dupras and Jordan Dooley netted goals for the Black Horses. Makenna Hart added an assist for Schuylerville.
Petra Gamage had five saves in goal to record the shutout.
Schuylerville is now 3-6. Granville fell to 7-2 with the loss.
Horde edges Whitehall in girls soccer

By Keith Harrington
In a matchup of teams who have struggled to put the ball in the net and win this season, Granville rallied from a 1-0 deficit to edge Whitehall 2-1 under the lights at Sam Eppolito Field in Adirondack League girls soccer.
It was a very important win for the Golden Horde as it was coming off a loss to a Spa Catholic team it had previously handled easily and North Warren in overtime on a Golden Goal.
The Railroaders controlled play for much of the evening, peppering the net in the second half, but were unable to cash in on their chances.
Whitehall jumped out to a 1-0 lead and could have led 3-0 at the break but were stoned on a couple of penalty kick chances by Granville freshman goalie Kara Jurnak.
“That’s kind of the story of this year a little bit,” Whitehall coach Boyd Hunt said after the game. “We made a couple of mistakes there and they capitalized. Right now, we struggle to find the net. We’ve been working on trying to find that. Hopefully it comes someday.”
Mia Waters scored in the first half to give Whitehall a 1-0 advantage. Teaghan Cutter scored early in the second half to equalize for the Golden Horde.
Paige Taylor scored the eventual game winner off a loose ball in front of the net after a strong run by Alyssa Welner to set things up for Granville.
“These girls have come a long way. Especially the last three weeks,” said Granville coach Dan Poucher. “We’re trying to build something here. They’re starting to really buy in and they’re starting to really play for each other. That to me that is more important than anything else. I’m really proud of their effort.”
Jurnak was outstanding in goal for Granville with 15 saves.
Khloe Paddock had seven saves for the Railroaders.
“It was just a great effort by them,” Poucher said. “And they’re growing. If we can sustain this these girls will continue to improve and we’ll see some good things.”
Granville moved to 1-5, 2-9 with the win. Whitehall fell to 3-8.
On Thursday Granville was riding high after the win over Whitehall, but Fort Ann wasn’t worried about that as they rolled over the Golden Horde 9-0 in another Adirondack League contest.
Paige Trzaskos had a strong game, leading the Cardinals with three goals. Angel Aratare added a goal and three assists.
Riley Echeandia, Ella Gadway, Olivia Winchell, Brieanna Garner and Natalie Cody also contributed to the balanced attack.
For Garner and Gadway it was their first career varsity goals.
Fort Ann is now 3-2-2 in league play, 5-4-2 overall. Granville dropped to 1-6, 2-10.
Granville nipped in volleyball thriller
By Keith Harrington
In the volleyball version of “Lights Week,” an afternoon Assembly Game in front of the student body, Corinth edged host Granville 3-2 in a five-set thriller on Wednesday in Adirondack League play.
Set scores were 25-11, 25-20, 26-28, 24-26, 15-10.
Samantha Petteys had a monster match for the Tomahawks, recording 17 points, 17 aces and five assists.
Desiree Neville and Vivian Millis had nine aces each for Corinth. Neville finished with 14 points, five kills and 11 assists, while Millis chipped in 10 points and seven kills. Erin Ward had seven kills.
For the Golden Horde, Sydney Liebig led the way with five aces and four digs. Lily Strout contributed five kills and three blocks. Vivian Green had six assists and Emma Hover four kills and two aces.
Corinth raised its mark to 4-2 on the season. Granville fell to 1-6.
On Friday Granville tried to bounce back against Hadley-Luzerne. The match was tightly contested but the Eagles topped the Golden Horde 3-1.
Set scores were 25-20, 16-25, 25-22, 25-20.
Riley Daniels led Hadley-Luzerne with eight service points, six kills, six digs and five assists.
Jordanna Kenny added six aces, 10 kills, four blocks and six digs. Jenna Shannon had seven service points, five kills, four digs and four assists.
For Granville Emma Hover had one ace, four kills, and three blocks. Lilly Strout chipped in three aces, three kills, four digs and two blocks, while Vivian Green had two aces and three assists. Mara Haskins had two aces and four digs.
Hadley-Luzerne improved to 3-4, 3-6. Granville fell to 1-7, 1-7.