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11/07/2021 11:00 PMWhen the Guilford field hockey team took its first defeat of the season against Darien on Oct. 9, Head Coach Kitty Palmer knew that the loss would serve as a valuable lesson for her squad. Since that game, the Grizzlies have responded in a big-time way by going on a nine-game win streak, allowing just four goals and, most recently, claiming their fourth-straight SCC title.
Top-seeded Guilford squared off against No. 2 seed Cheshire in the championship game of the SCC Tournament at Amity High School on Nov. 3. The Grizzlies blanked the Rams by the final score of 3-0 to take home a conference trophy for the fourth year in a row and make Palmer one proud coach.
“Darien’s loss was a wake-up call to work harder on the basic skills that Darien has perfected. They showed us that great execution of stopping, close dribbling, and passing on the run is what a team needs to do all the time in order to be great,” Palmer said. “The players and the coaches learned a lot from the Darien program that day.”
Guilford posted SCC Tournament wins over Mercy and Branford prior to defeating Cheshire in the final. The Grizzlies improved their overall record to 18-1 as they get ready to play in the Class M State Tournament this week.
“It’s always a thrill to be SCC champions. As you know, you’ll have to beat good teams to attain the title,” said Palmer. “For many years, Cheshire, Branford, and Hand got the best of us. So, it’s nice now to turn the tables in our favor. We will have to continue to work hard to defend our title.”
After earning a 10-0 win versus Mercy in the quarterfinals, Guilford hosted No. 4 seed Branford in the SCC semis on Nov. 1 and notched a 4-1 victory against the Hornets. Senior captain Allie Petonito and juniors Ella Clarke, Grace Barlage, and Gigi Meneo each scored a goal for the Grizzlies in the win. Senior captain Maddie Epke handed out three assists, and Petonito also had an assist. Senior goalkeeper Julia McDonald made eight saves in net.
“We have a very steady goalie in Julia McDonald. She gives our defense the confidence to be more aggressive in their tackles,” Palmer said. “This win against Branford showed our team defense has really stepped up when the games mean the most.”
Two days later after beating Branford, Guilford faced Cheshire in the SCC title game and recorded a 3-0 shutout versus the Rams. Epke netted two goals for the Grizzlies, and junior forward Kim Evans scored their other goal. Epke scored the first goal of the game within the first three minutes and then added another with two minutes to play in the third quarter. Evans finished off the victory with a goal in the final minutes of the contest.
Barlage, Petonito, and Clarke had one assist apiece for Guilford. McDonald made one save in goal.
“The game story was great defense by our defenders and midfielders,” said Palmer. “We had 18 shots on goal on offense. Cheshire’s defense was strong protecting their goal and made 10 saves. I was very pleased with the team’s effort over our three games in the tournament.”
Epke was named the Most Outstanding Player of the SCC Tournament and was also recognized as SCC Player of the Year. Epke, Petonito, and Clarke were selected to the All-SCC First Team. Junior Scout Climie was an All-SCC Second Team honoree.
“Maddie and fellow midfielder Allie Petonito are the players that often bring the ball up the field. They are key players on our offensive corners. Allie is our defensive corner flyer who plays such an important role,” Palmer said. “We have a great senior class of 11 players. They’ve led the team all year, and we are hoping for one more two-week run in them.”
Guilford enters the Class M State Tournament as the No. 1 seed and hosted No. 16 New Milford in the first round on Nov. 9 (after press time). With a win, the Grizzlies would host the winner of No. 8 Avon and No. 9 Masuk in the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 11. The semifinals are on Tuesday, Nov. 16 and Wednesday, Nov. 17, and the Class M final takes place at Wethersfield High School on Saturday, Nov. 20.
Guilford has won the Class M State Tournament the last two times that it was held in 2018 and 2019. Coach Palmer knows that there is pressure on the Grizzlies, but she feels confident in her squad heading into states play.
“We know going into the State Tournament that we have a bull’s-eye on our back,” Palmer said. “Being the No. 1 seed has a lot of expectations, and we hope to continue to play our tough defense, execute our corners, and use our speed. We want to generate as many shots on goal as possible.”
The Guilford field hockey team’s roster for the 2021 season includes senior captains Maddie Epke and Allie Petonito; seniors Julia McDonald, Caroline Kane, Tessa Dahlberg, Jadeyn Violette, Olivia McDonald, Daniella Vickerman, Isabel Matthews, Ava Singleton, and Haley Fulton; juniors Grace Barlage, Kim Evans, Scout Climie, Gigi Meneo, Sami Green, MJ Santa Barbara, Ella Clarke, Delaney Victor; and sophomore Payton Root.