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09/25/2017 12:00 AMFootball
The Warriors’ football team matched up against Coginchaug/Hale-Ray at Old Lyme High School on Sept. 23. Valley-Old Lyme scored another one-sided victory by winning 41-13 to improve to 3-0 on the season.
Coginchaug/Hale-Ray got the scoring started with a touchdown in the first quarter for a 7-0 advantage. The Warriors responded when senior quarterback Mike Cullina broke free for a 35-yard run that was followed by an extra point from Bryan Funk to tie the game 7-7. In the second quarter, Coginchaug/Hale-Ray had a long run to put another touchdown on the board for a 13-7 advantage. Valley struck back again with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Cullina to junior wide receiver Jason O’Brien to tie the game 13-13. Before the end of the half, Cullina and O’Brien connected for a 42-yard TD strike, after which Funk converted the kick to make it 20-13 at intermission.
It was all Valley-Old Lyme in the second half. In the third quarter, Jake Kruszewski had a 3-yard run for a touchdown, and Funk put another one through the uprights to extend the lead to 27-13. Then in the fourth quarter, Nick Braga carried it in from the 6-yard line for another score and a 34-13 advantage following Funk’s point-after kick. Braga punched it in again with a 4-yard run for his second touchdown, and Funk booted another one through to bring the final score to 41-13.
Braga carried the ball nine times for 87 yards and two touchdowns on the day. O’Brien caught two TD passes from Cullina, who was 11-for-27 with 185 yards and the two touchdowns. Kruszewski snagged two interceptions on defense to go with his rushing touchdown.
Volleyball
The Warriors had two matches last week and came away with a pair of sweeps to move to 5-1 this year.
On Sept. 18, Valley was on the road against Morgan and won 3-0 against the Huskies. The Warriors claimed the victory by scores of 25-8, 25-21, and 25-17. Valley’s senior captains all had strong games Jessica Paholski had 13 kills, 10 digs, nine receptions, and an ace; Electra Cassells had seven digs, three kills, three aces, and a block; and Hannah Clark provided 23 assists, five kills, two aces, and a block. Heidi Clark had another solid showing on serve with seven aces and nine receptions, while Alex Figuenick recorded 14 receptions, 12 digs, two aces, and two assists for the Warriors.
Then on Sept. 23, the Warriors headed to Cromwell and defeated the Panthers 3-0 behind scores of 25-9, 25-18, and 25-20. Paholski notched 12 kills, four aces, seven digs, and 10 receptions; Hannah Clark had 29 assists, junior Emily Hutchinson had six kills and two blocks, Heidi Clark posted 10 receptions and eight aces, and Figuenick totaled 16 receptions, eight digs, and two aces for Valley Regional.
Girls’ Soccer
The Warriors played two games last week emerged with a pair of ties to stand at 1-0-4 for the season.
On Sept. 19, Valley was at Old Saybrook, where the teams played to a 0-0 final. Neither team was able to create much offense, as most of the action was in middle of the field, according to Warriors’ Head Coach Lloyd Warren, who said the speed of the game took some getting used to on the turf field. Valley had one solid scoring opportunity that went just off target.
“We hit the bar in the first half from a corner header. It was frustrating. It’s just important for the girls to understand that chances will come and so will the goals,” said Coach Warren. “I see a tie as not a terrible result. It means that the teams around us aren’t getting those point either.”
Then on Sept. 23, the Warriors and Morgan battled to a 2-2 draw at the Indian River Complex in Clinton. Coach Warren said that heat was a factor on a hot day on another turf field, affecting the speed of the game at times. Valley struck first in the first half when senior Kathryn Burr had a nice finish on a shot outside the box to put the Warriors up 1-0 at the 10-minute mark. Morgan came back with a goal to tie the game at 1 at halftime.
In the second half, junior goalkeeper Kelli Schaefer made a fantastic save for Valley, but ended up knocking the ball off the post. A trailing Morgan player got the rebound and put the ball in net for a 2-1 lead around 70-minute mark. In the final 10 minutes, Valley went with an all-out attack formation, and Alexis Finnerty pulled off a hot shot from the left side that Morgan’s goalkeeper couldn’t get her hands on, as the Warriors tied the game at 2. Finnerty normally plays in goal for Valley, but with Schafer showing that she can also fare well at that position, Coach Warren said the Warriors may bring Finnerty out on the field for a bit more offensive firepower.
“It reminded me of what I see from her on the basketball court. It’s nerves of steel to come back like that,” said Warren. “She’s a fantastic goalkeeper, but we’re lucky we have Schafer able to be strong in the net, as well. It gives us another outlet. With Lexi showing a little more in the outfield, it will give us more of an attacking presence.”
Coach Warren that senior Kylie Papoosha played a great game on defense against Morgan.
“She proved that she’s an outstanding person to have on the squad,” he said. “I feel we’re an unbeaten team because of the defense that we have.”
Boys’ Soccer
Valley Regional split a pair of matchups last week and is now 3-3 this year.
On Sept. 18, the Warriors faced off against Old Saybrook at home and lost by a 4-1 final. Michael Dilger scored from Sean Cole at the 26-minute mark to give Valley a 1-0 lead that held up at intermission. Unfortunately, Old Saybrook scored four goals in the second half to take the 4-1 win. Charlie Haughton made 10 saves for Valley.
Then on Sept. 23, the Warriors were on the road to play Morgan and won 3-2. Morgan scored the first goal at the 23-minute mark, but Valley struck back four minutes later when Dilger converted on an assist from Cole to make it 1-1 at the half.
In the second half, Jaden Veiga put one past the Huskies’ keeper on an assist by Charlie Ferrucci for a 2-1 Valley lead. With less than 10 minutes to go, Morgan pushed up with an aggressive attack and tied the game 2-2. Then with just less than four minutes remaining, Cole got the ball to Kevin Michel, who planted one into the corner of the net to give Valley a 3-2 victory. Morgan had been undefeated prior to this contest.
Field Hockey
Valley Regional claimed a pair of victories last week to move to 2-0-2 on the season.
On Sept. 19, the Warriors hosted Old Saybrook and defeated the Rams in an exciting 1-0 overtime victory. On Sept. 23, Valley was home against Stafford and prevailed 4-2.