The Greenwich Academy field hockey and soccer teams both played Tabor Academy at home on Saturday on fields right next to each other and both squads registered significant victories.
The Gators’ field hockey team notched a 4-1 victory over Tabor Academy from Massachusetts, while GA’s soccer team came from behind to post a dramatic 2-1 win against Tabor.
In field hockey action, senior Grace Schulze scored two goals, while senior Katharine Glassmeyer had one goal and one assist to pace the Gators past Tabor.
Junior Kathryn Gregory was strong in goal for the Gators, recording nine saves. Greenwich Academy jumped out to a 2-0 lead, before Tabor closed to within 2-1.
With the triumph, GA raised its record to 10-0-1, heading into games against Holy Child and FAA rival Sacred Heart Greenwich next week.
Schulze gave the Gators a 1-0 lead, knocking in a rebound off a shot from senior Antonia Packard off a penalty corner early in the first half. Senior Maya Walker had the initial shot on goal.
Julia Freedman converted a penalty stroke, putting GA on top, 2-0. Schulze scored off an assist from Glassmeyer in the second half and Evelyn Barringer helped set Glassmeyer up for a goal.
“This is a really big NEPSAC Class A win for us,” Barringer said. “We were able to put pressure on them and generate scoring opportunities. We have been putting a lot of work in on our penalty corners and its working out well for us.”
Gregory has performed well in her first season as a starting goalie.
“I owe a lot to my teammates for supporting me,” Gregory said. “I am i awe of them and how well they play. Our team is playing so well right now and we have a lot of momentum going into our next game
At GA’s soccer pitch on Saturday, it trailed Tabor Academy 1-0 late in the second half. The Gators tied the score at 1-1 however, on a goal by senior midfielder Taylor Lane in the 74th minute.
On a strong run, senior forward Tessa Brooks crossed the ball to a charging Lane, who finished in front, making it a 1-1 game.
“We were relentless in putting pressure on them and Tessa did a great job of passing the ball to me in the box,” Lane said. “This was the first time we had Tabor on our schedule and they’re a great team, so this is a big win for us.”
With the score knotted at 1-1, junior defender Schuyler Sargent gathered a loose ball at the top of the box and booted a long shot inside the left post, giving Greenwich Academy a 2-1 lead with just 1:31 remaining in the second half.
Senior Katie Goldsmith began the play with a free kick. She moved the ball to Brooks, whose shot bounded off a Tabor play and found the foot of Sargent.
“It felt really good to get that goal,” Sargent said. “The ball came right to me near the box, I shot it and fortunately, it went in.”
Up next for Greenwich Academy, which was also sparked by junior Paige Lipman and junior goalie Ella Fugelsang on Saturday, is a game against Westminster on Wednesday, followed by a matchup against Greens Farms on Thursday. Both games are home.
SACRED HEART FIELD HOCKEY
The Tigers kept their undefeated record intact, beating Hotchkiss School on the road, 2-0, on Saturday.
Sacred Heart scored both of its goals in the first half against formidable Hotchkiss.
Katie Keller scored at the 7:59 mark off an assist from Beth Yeager. Delfi Gonzalez Lobo made it 2-0, tallying off a Hanke Govaert assist.
Olivia Caponiti made one save in goal for the victors.
“We are all very proud and excited about the determination of the team,” Tigers coach Alex Gheorghe said. “We played with lots of confidence and took control of the game early on. Hotchkiss gave us a good match today, but we were the better team.”
Sacred Heart hosts Rye Country Day School on Wednesday, then visits rival Greenwich Academy on Saturday.
SACRED HEART VOLLEYBALL
Olivia Lockwood registered nine kills, 12 digs and one assist for Sacred Heart, which continued its strong play, defeating host Kent on Saturday, 25-22, 25-21, 16-25, 25-23. Kellie Ulmer celebrated her birthday by posting five kills, eight aces and two assists for the Tigers (11-4).
Annabelle Hartch had six kills, six digs and one ace, while Eva Canellakis notched three kills, 20 digs and eight aces. Morgan Wilkens helped ignite the offense, tallying 24 assists, eight digs and five aces.
GREENWICH ACADEMY VOLLEYBALL
Greenwich Academy recorded a 3-1 win against visiting Miss Porter’s School on Saturday. GA is 5-3 on the season following the win. Whitney Wise had 13 kills and 21 service points for GA, which won the match, 25-15, 17-25, 25-13, 26-24. Evie Kay Girard added 22 service points, 11 kills, 18 digs and three aces for the Gators.
Alexandra Trofort posted 11 kills and two blocks, while Megan Belcastro had 14 digs in the winning effort. Valeska Lasky posted 31 assists for GA.
“We had a terrific offense today and our defense was good,” GA coach Christy Girard said. “Our goal was to keep them out of system.”
