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11/09/2019 11:00 PMThe Guilford field hockey squad claimed its second-straight conference title when the Indians posted a 1-0 victory against Amity in the championship game of the SCC Tournament at Kavanaugh Field on Nov. 7. The win boosted Guilford’s overall record to 19-0 as the team prepares to defend its state crown in the Class M State Tournament that gets underway this week.
The No. 1 seed Indians had defeated 2nd-seeded Amity by a 6-1 score back in September. Although this game was much closer, Guilford still prevailed as junior Hannah Tillier scored the only goal of the night with 7:49 remaining in the first half to lift the Indians to the victory. Head Coach Kitty Palmer’s club, which won its first SCC Tournament title by beating Cheshire in last year’s final, has now won 27 games in a row dating back to the 2018 season.
“That win over Cheshire in last year’s championship game made believers out of these kids,” said Palmer, who was named the SCC Coach of the Year. “Our players knew after that. It spilled over into this year.”
Tillier netted the game-winning goal after putting herself in perfect position deep in the circle. On a corner play, Tillier deflected a pass from senior captain Jaime Neleber over Amity goalie Payton Rahn into the right-hand corner of the net to give Guilford a 1-0 edge.
“That goal was all Jamie,” Tillier said. “She put it right on my stick. Give her all the credit.”
Rahn made 14 saves in goal for the Spartans, who put a lot of pressure on the Indians during the early stages of the game. Junior goalie Eve Young stopped all four of Amity’s shots to get the shutout on a rainy night in Guilford.
“Our team was working hard out there. I really think that the conditions made us play better,” said Young. “It turned out to be a great matchup. I know that I had some raindrops in my eyes most of the game.”
While the slippery conditions didn’t make life easy on the Indians’ offense, Coach Palmer felt proud of her squad for grinding out the victory after slipping one past Amity’s keeper.
“I think the rain and field conditions made it difficult for us to get our offense going, but it was that way for both teams,” Palmer said. “Payton was outstanding for them. We didn’t see her in the first game. They played Ana Carney, who was in the field tonight. Both of them are very good goalkeepers.”
Sophomore midfielder Maddie Epke was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Tournament for Guilford. Tillier and Amity’s Tess Csjeka were selected as the SCC’s co-Players of the Year. Epke, Tillier, and senior captain Ella Stanley made the All-SCC First Team with Young and senior Cat Larrow earning Second Team honors.
Earlier in the SCC Tournament, Guilford notched a 7-1 home win versus No. 8 seed Hamden in the quarterfinals on Nov. 2 and then posted a 2-1 victory against No. 4 Hand in a semifinal home game on Nov. 5. Stanley and senior Ava Bucci scored the Indians’ goals against Hand.
Guilford is the No. 1 seed in the Class M State Tournament and hosted the winner of No. 16 Avon and No. 17 Farmington in the first round on Nov. 12 (after press time). If the Indians win, they will host the winner of No. 8 South Windsor and No. 9 Fitch in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 14. The semifinals are on either Tuesday, Nov. 19 or Wednesday, Nov. 20. The Class M state final is at Wethersfield High School on Saturday, Nov. 23.
Tillier felt thrilled that the Indians kept the SCC title in Guilford for another year. However, she knows that they now have to quickly turn their attention toward states.
“We may be 19-0, but that means nothing,” said Tillier. “Over and over again we keep stressing the fact that we’re confident, not cocky. Now, we’ll be playing some teams that we haven’t seen before. So, again, being undefeated means nothing.”
The athletes on the Guilford field hockey team’s roster are senior captains Ella Stanley and Jaime Neleber, seniors Sarah Minuit, Sadie Smith, Mia Suchy, Lily Mackey, Nicole Auger, Ava Bucci, Lexi Hitchcock, Cat Larrow, Bridget Tower, Caitlyn Cunneen, and Megan Fernandes; juniors Madden Cunningham, Ella Kagan, Kathryn Amatruda, Janna Ellman, Hannah Tillier, Kelly Calistro, and Eve Young; and sophomores Maddie Epke, Daniella Vickerman, Olivia McDonald, Jadeyn Violette, Allie Petonito, and Julia McDonald.