The Granby Memorial High field hockey team ran its unbeaten streak to 30 straight games on Thursday afternoon with a decisive 5-0 victory over North Central Connecticut Conference rival Canton High in Granby.
Forward Morgan Malone paced Granby’s offense with two goals and an assist, while Brooke Kumnick, Mia Olsen and Cailene Gunn each scored goals for the Bears, who ran their early season record to 2-0 (1-0 in the NCCC).
“We came out fired up and with a lot of intensity,” Granby head coach Sandy Wickman Mason said.
The result spoiled the the regular-season debut of Canton’s first-year head coach Jodi Petrozak, who praised her team’s second-half performance.
“If we played the first half like we played the second half, it would be a 0-0 tie,” Petrozak said. “I do believe we are just as good a team as Granby.”
Petrozak attributed the Warriors’ improved play in the second half to the defense pushing out more against Granby’s offense, particularly on penalty corners.
As it was, but for for the solid, if not spectacular play, of Canton goalie Kayla Fournier (19 saves, including 17 in the first half), Granby’s margin of victory would have been even wider.
“She was outstanding,” Petrozak said of her goalie.
Central midfielder Leigh Fitzgerald also enjoyed a strong game for the Warriors.
“She did a nice job changing fields and staying with the play,” Petrozak said.
But, as Farmington found out two days ago, it’s just not easy opening the season against Granby, which last lost a game on Oct. 29, 2009, when Avon High defeated the Bears 2-1.
Since then, Granby has grabbed two consecutive state titles and, judging by the start of this season, is in search of a third.
“We’re good,” Wickman Mason said with a shrug.
Granby 5, Canton 0
Canton 0 0 - 0
Granby 0 5 - 5
Goals - 1. Granby, Brooke Kumnick, 22:49, 2. Granby, Morgan Malone, 19:05, 3. Granby, Mia Olsen, 15:27, 4. Granby, Malone (Haley Makuch), 8:17, 5. Granby, Cailene Gunn (Meg Griffin), 2:08.
Saves - Granby, Nicole Kuhnly 1, Canton, Kayla Fournier 19
Penalty Corners - Granby 15, Canton 1
