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05/31/2021 12:00 AMThe Guilford girls’ lacrosse team has been nothing short of sensational this year. After posting 13 victories during the regular season, the Grizzlies entered the SCC Division I Tournament with their sights set on claiming their second-straight conference title and accomplished that mission with authority.
Guilford notched two dominating victories in the tournament on its way to defending the SCC crown that the club won in 2019. The Grizzlies earned a 16-3 win versus Lauralton Hall in the semifinals and then defeated Hand by a 13-6 score in the final to once again capture the league championship and improve to 15-2 overall entering states this week.
“I’m so proud that we have stayed healthy and made it to this point in the season,” Head Coach Wendy Epke said. “After missing out on the opportunity last year, we are so grateful we are playing and training as a team. It’s great to repeat as SCC champions and get the opportunity to make a run at a state title.”
As the No. 1 seed in the SCC Division I Tournament, Guilford opened the draw by hosting No. 5 seed Lauralton Hall in the semifinal round and netted a 16-3 victory over the Crusaders on May 25. Senior captain Hannah Tillier led the Grizzlies with four goals and an assist in the win. Freshman Payton Root, junior Maddie Epke, junior Taylor Farace, senior captain Sydney Cunningham, and sophomore Ella Clarke each scored two goals, while sophomore MJ Santa Barbara added one goal. Root and Epke tallied three assists apiece for Guilford. Junior goalkeeper Sydney Widlitz made five saves in net.
“We have a very competitive team at all the positions. The defense was able to communicate, make defensive stops, and help transition the ball out as a unit,” Coach Epke said. “Our middies did an excellent job of controlling the draw and contributing in the offense. Our attackers showed patience and maturity and were able to settle the offense.”
Two days later, the Grizzlies faced No. 3 seed Hand in the final of the SCC Division I Tournament at Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School. Guilford stormed out of the gates by scoring eight goals in the first half and went on to get a 13-6 win against the Tigers to take the conference title for the second-consecutive season. The Grizzlies held an 8-3 halftime advantage and then outscored Hand 5-3 in the second half to come away with the victory.
Maddie Epke scored four goals to go with three assists for Guilford, in addition to winning 18 out of her 21 draw controls. Tillier also scored four goals and had an assist in the win. Farace scored two goals, while Root, Cunningham, and Santa Barbara contributed one assist apiece. Widlitz made six saves to help Guilford maintain its place atop the SCC.
Widlitz was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SCC Division I Tournament. Maddie Epke was named the SCC Division I Player of the Year, and Coach Epke was selected as the Coach of the Year.
“This year, we finished the regular season as the No. 1 seed. The semifinal and final games had a different level of anxiety than two years ago, when we were the underdogs,” said Coach Epke. “But the team did a great job of working as a unit and coming home with the championship.”
Now that Guilford has defended its SCC title, the team will compete in the Class M State Tournament as the No. 3 seed beginning this week. The Grizzlies hosted No. 14 seed Stratford in a first-round matchup on June 1 (after press time) and, with a win, would host the winner of No. 6 Masuk and No. 11 RHAM in the second round on Friday, June 4 at 5 p.m. The semifinals are on Tuesday, June 8, and the Class M state final takes place on Saturday, June 12.
“We are looking forward to playing teams we didn’t face in the regular season and proving ourselves on the field,” Coach Epke said. “The team has really come together. We have players in every high school grade on the team, and the girls do an excellent job of supporting each other and working together.”
During the regular season, Guilford two recorded victories over Cheshire (17-10 and 17-3), Hand (20-10 and 21-9), and Branford (15-2 and 17-3) to go with wins against Glastonbury (14-6), North Haven (19-1), Trumbull (17-5), Lauralton Hall (16-5), Mercy (20-3), Stamford (20-3), and Old Lyme (11-0). The Grizzlies’ only two losses were non-conference defeats versus Fairfield Ludlowe (12-11) and Staples (12-10).
Guilford’s roster also includes senior captain Jordan Filley; fellow seniors Ella Kagan, Kathryn Amatruda, Izzy Gurnham, Natalie Hudak, Lauren Skoglund, Katelyn Russell, and Emma Appleman; juniors Lorelei King, Paige Crowley, Olivia McDonald, and Caroline Kane; sophomores Scout Climie and Kat Baseggio; and freshman Maya Stoddard.