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Granby's Alyssa Mackowski (right) gets a toe on the ball to knock it away from East Granby's Aislinn Moore. (Steve Smith/Courant Community)
A hat trick by senior Addyson Earl was more than what Granby Memorial needed, as the girls’ soccer team cruised past their East Granby neighbors by a score of 5-0, on Oct. 17.
The Crusaders’ defense held off several Granby attacks in the first half, but senior Alyssa Mackowski broke through with the Bears’ first goal with 3:13 to play before halftime.
The second half was a different story. Earl scored just 53 seconds into the second half. She scored another goal exactly two minutes later… and a third just 19 second of playing time after that.
Granby coach Ed Dzielak said there were some halftime adjustments made, and that Earl did what has come to be expected of her.
“We had a little conversation at halftime,” he said. “We said we wanted to come out right away fired up. We need to. Our second halves the last three or four games, we’ve come out slow, and we need to come out stronger so the other team doesn’t come back into the game on us.”
Earl, the coach said, is heading to UNC at Charlotte next season, on a full ride scholarship.
“She’s our leading scorer and she has more than 20 goals,” Dzielak said, adding that she likely will have many more the rest of the way.
Granby’s fifth goal came on a long cross from senior Olivia Samalus that was initially batted down by East Granby keeper Kaya McKay, and found the feet of senior Jaida Roberts, who tucked it into the net.
Given that she has a young squad, East Granby coach Kim Hillman said that while her team lost, she was actually pleased with how they played, and urged them to keep up the momentum for the next game.
“I have a very young group,” she said. “This team has got a lot of heart and a lot of fight in them, and they show that.
Calling it a slow process, it is one that will pay dividends for the Crusaders in coming years.
“I only have two seniors. It’s good. We’re growing and we’re going to grow together. We are looking to have more growth over the next few years, and once those girls hit their senior year, we’ll do some damage.”
Granby has four sophomore starters. The rest are seniors, so the experience level has been great, and the team is still working on all phases of the game, including the defense and mid-fielders distributing the ball better.
“We’re getting there, slowly,” he said. “We’re improving in the areas where we need to improve. The back line is getting better, and the midfielders are getting more composure. We’re starting to play as a team, as a unit, starting to connect a little better.”
East Granby fell to 2-10-1, and Granby improved to 9-2.
For complete schedules and results, visit www.ciacsports.com.