Granville sports round-up, Oct. 27, 2022

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Granville’s Melissa Beaver dribbles the ball while Jocelyn Spiezio of Greenwich chases her down during last week’s sectional game. (Photo by Keith Harrington)
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Horde rides shootout win to semi-finals

By Keith Harrington

There’s a saying that makes its way around at playoff time: “Survive and advance.” That is exactly what the Granville field hockey team did last Thursday.

The Golden Horde was pushed to the brink by a determined Greenwich squad but after an epic two-and-a-half-hour marathon Granville managed to pull out a victory in the Section II Class quarterfinals.

The game ended deadlocked at 1-1 with the Golden Horde advancing in a dramatic shootout. Raegan Swain’s goal in the second shootout series and Megan Decker’s clutch saves were instrumental in the Granville win.

For Swain, a senior leader, it was more about leading her team than scoring the eventual game-winner.

“Honestly, it was just everything leading up to it. It wasn’t even the goal,” Swain said. “The whole teamwork. The whole everything. Every time it is double overtime it is always so exciting.”

Granville swept the season series with the Witches, claiming a pair of 2-0 wins. However, this time one team was picking up the gear and heading home when the final horn blew, although neither squad deserved it.

Greenwich struck first. Jocelyn Spiezio scored with three seconds left in the first quarter off a pass from Olivia Davis to make it 1-0 Witches.

Granville pulled even with just under 11 minutes to play in the half when Raegan Swain hit the back of the cage off an assist from Haylie Barber.

From that point on it was a defensive struggle with very few good scoring chances for the remainder of regulation.

Business picked up during the 7-on-7 overtime periods where there were a handful of serious opportunities. Granville’s Natalie Williams slipped a perfect pass to the far side post but Melissa Beaver could not quite redirect the ball into the cage. Spiezio had the best chance for the Witches on a long solo run where she navigated around a Granville defender before being stoned by Megan Decker.

In the first shootout session, Beaver gave Granville a quick 1-0 advantage. Spiezio, the third shooter for the Witches, beat Decker to make it 1-1. No other shooter could get a ball past Decker or Greenwich goalie Maddie Curley.

In the second shootout round, Swain fired a blast that went between the pads of Curley to put the Golden Horde in the driver’s seat.

Decker denied the next two Greenwich shooters to set off a Golden Horde celebration.

Decker admitted to not having a set strategy to use during shootouts. She lets the opponent’s approach dictate her approach.

“Once I hear that whistle, I’m on my toes and I just follow the ball,” Decker explained. “I don’t worry about anything else. I zone in.”

Decker added that a lot of her actions are based on those of the attacker.

“It’s more mind over matter at that point. You just have to go with it,” Decker said.

Greenwich outshot Granville 11-3. The Witches also held a 14-10 edge in penalty corners. Decker had eight saves for Granville. Curley stopped two shots for the Witches.

It was not the first time the Golden Horde has been in a shootout this season. Swain was asked if that gave them an advantage.

“For sure. And we work on it in practice all of the time,” Swain said. “I think a lot of teams don’t focus on the after aspect. And we do. We look at the whole picture.”

Third-seed Granville advances to meet two-seed Johnstown in the semifinals Thursday at 3 p.m. on the Sir Bills’ home field.

Granville is 11-6 on the season. Greenwich finishes 6-8.


Four teams compete in cross country

By Keith Harrington

Granville-Whitehall, Warrensburg, Argyle-Fort Edward and North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva squared off Tuesday in a four-team cross country meet at North Warren.

On the boys side Granville-Whitehall topped Warrensburg 28-29, North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva 15 to incomplete and Argyle-Fort Edward 15 to incomplete.

Warrensburg defeated North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva and Argyle-Fort Edward 15-to incomplete.

All four girls teams were incomplete.

Dante Corriveau of North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva was the winner of the boys race.

Granville’s Amber Gibbs crossed the line first in the girls race.

Here are the complete results:

Boys

1. Dante Corriveau (Warrensburg) 16:10

2. Brody Olden (Warrensburg) 16:26

3. Quinn Johnson (Granville-Whitehall) 18:07

4. Parker Cornwall (Granville-Whitehall) 18:41

5. Aydan Higgins (North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva) 19:31

6. Joseph Cain (Warrensburg) 20:07

7. Carter Powell (Granville-Whitehall) 20:09

8. Joel Rivera (North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva) 20:24

9. Finley Vanderminden (Granville-Whitehall); 21:28

10. Tristan Teer (Granville-Whitehall); 22:19

Girls

1. Amber Gibbs (Granville-Whitehall) 20:24

2. Kara Tucker (North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva) 23:18

3. Carlie Depew (Argyle-Fort Edward) 24:04

4. Erica Siaulnski (Argyle-Fort Edward) 24:58

5. Avah Lohrey (Warrensburg) 26:12

6. Lillian San Antonio (North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva) 26:26

7. Keegan Mottram (North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva) 30:04

8. Natalie Morin (Granville-Whitehall) 30:44

9. Mary LeBraque (Warrensburg) 38:05

10. Riley Mosher (North Warren-Johnsburg-Minerva) 41:27


Horde volleyball team ends at 2-12

Eight Granville volleyball seniors were honored before their home game last week. (Photo by Ben Hover)

By Keith Harrington

The Granville volleyball team wrapped up its season last week with a trio of games. For eight of the 10 players on the roster, it was their final week wearing the blue and gold as they will graduate in June.

On Tuesday night the Golden Horde hosted unbeaten Lake George, which swept Granville 3-0. Set scores were 25-6, 25-6, 25-17.

Maddie Burke led the Warriors with 17 points, eight kills, nine digs and six aces.

Lake George also got 25 assists from Shannon Starratt and 12 points from Maya Johnston. Anna Richichi contributed 10 points and six aces.

Granville was led by Jordan Chadwick with six digs. Lilly Strout added three digs, two aces and two blocks.

Lake George raised its record to 13-0. Granville fell to 2-10.

On Friday Granville hit the road to Corinth for the regular season finale. The Tomahawks defeated the Golden Horde 3-1. Set scores were 25-21, 23-25, 25-11, 25-21.

Morgan Richards led the Tomahawks with seven kills, eight points, two aces and three blocks. Emma Mack added six kills and five points. Vivian Mills had 12 points, five aces and four kills. Desiree Neville chipped in 11 points, 11 assists, four aces and five kills.

Granville got six kills, six digs and three blocks from Strout. Emily Monroe had seven digs and two aces. Chadwick had five digs.

Corinth finished the regular season 10-5. Granville ended the season 2-12.

On Wednesday the Golden Horde lost to Hartford 3-0. No other details were reported.


See also “Golf all-stars named” and “Granville-Whitehall wins again, 33-6” in “Whitehall sports round-up, Oct. 27, 2022”