Killingly volleyball ends six-year drought: Top performers from Oct. 16-22
Week 7 of the fall high school season saw Killingly’s boys soccer and girls volleyball teams qualify for the CIAC state tournament. Killingly volleyball earned a state tourney berth for the first time since 2017.
The Norwich Free Academy girls soccer team extended their unbeaten streak to seven games, while Ellis Tech/Putnam improved to 12-0-1.
The Griswold girls volleyball team had a perfect 3-0 week to improve to 11-6.
And the Ellis Tech boys cross country team won the CTC championship meet at Wickham Park in Manchester.
The Norwich Bulletin has you covered for what's happening this fall at Norwich Free Academy, Killingly High School, Plainfield High School, Griswold High School, Norwich Technical School, and Harvard Ellis Technical School.
Here are the highlights and top performances from Week 7:
Boys soccer
Killingly earned a berth in the CIAC state tournament with a 1-0 against Wheeler. John Fitzgibbons had the game’s lone goal, off an assist from Christian Tremblay. Trent Pichie earned the shutout with six saves, including a penalty kick stop, as Killingly improved to 6-5-2.
Earlier in the week, Pichie made another huge penalty kick save to prevent Griswold from tying the game en route to a 3-2 victory over the Wolverines. Landon LeSage and Gibbons each had a goal and an assist, while Alec Basley also scored a goal for Killingly.
Norwich Tech kept rolling with a pair of 3-0 victories over Cheney Tech and Tourtellotte. Against Cheney Tech, Hunter Jackson, Jadiel Marinez, and Emerson Avery netted one goal apiece.
Michael George powered the Warriors against Tourtellotte with two goals and an assist. Anthony Caisse and Avery added assists for Norwich Tech (11-1-2, 7-0-1 CTC).
Norwich Free Academy fell to East Lyme, 3-1. John Lopez Choc had the only goal for the Wildcats (8-5-1). Earlier in the week, NFA topped Woodstock Academy, 2-0, behind goals from Louis Hawkins and Erik Portillo. Griffin Chapel and Logan Jenkins each had one assist for NFA.
Gavin LaRose scored in the 46th minute and freshman Ben Oduro scored his first career goal to lift Plainfield to a 2-0 Senior Night win over Putnam. The Panthers (3-8-1) kept its hopes alive for qualifying for the state tournament with the win.
Ellis Tech won two of three games last week. The Golden Eagles (9-3-3) defeated Grasso Tech and Plainfield but fell to Goodwin Tech.
Cameron Fulone and Hunter Giovanni netted two goals apiece, Seamus Morse dished out four assists, and Sam Stone made eight saves in Ellis Tech’s 6-2 win over Grasso Tech. Cody Cramer’s penalty kick score was the Golden Eagles’ only goal in a 3-1 loss against Goodwin Tech.
Ellis Tech completed a season sweep of Plainfield with a 2-1 win. Cody Cramer and Isaid Galdamez scored for Ellis in the first half, while Sam Stone finished with seven saves. The Panthers got a second half score from Jahvar Green, off an assist from Jose Calle, but could not find the equalizer.
More: 45 ready to thrive: The Bulletin's High School Girls Soccer Players to Watch in 2023
Girls soccer
Norwich Free Academy extended their unbeaten streak to seven games with wins over Bacon Academy and East Lyme.
Jordan Fabry scored two goals and goalkeeper Ava Boenig was tremendous while making 10 saves as the Wildcats (10-2-2) avenged an early season loss to the Vikings with a 2-1 victory. Fabry’s first goal was scored on a bending direct kick, while her second goal came on a header off a corner kick from Emily Tucker.
NFA got goals from Leah Burchman, Sadie Daniewicz, and Chloe Green to edge Bacon Academy 3-2. Boenig finished with 12 saves, including two tips over the crossbar.
Laura Farquhar and Madi O’Donnell scored one goal apiece to lift Killingly to a 2-2 tie against St. Bernard.
Paige Allard scored two goals, while Natalie Becotte and Zia Leard netted one goal apiece to lead Griswold past Wheeler, 4-0.
Tori Iozzi scored four goals to power Ellis Tech/Putnam past Wolcott Tech, 6-1. Lily Goyette collected one goal and two assists, while Jenna Simas added a goal for the Golden Eagles, who remained unbeaten at 12-0-1.
Girls volleyball
Griswold swept Bacon Academy, Law, and Fitch to improve to 11-6. The Wolverines topped Fitch, 25-17, 25-19, and 25-16, behind Gretta Dombkowski (8 kills, 5 digs, 3 aces), Kierra Neilson (11 kills, 2 blocks, 9 digs) and Ilah Marsh (4 kills, 1 block, 2 digs, 1 assist).
Griswold also needed just three sets to top Law, 25-18, 25-11, and 25-17. Abby Matheson powered the Wolverines with 15 kills and 29 digs. Dombkowski added eight kills and 13 digs, Neilson collected seven kills, four blocks and 13 digs, while Olivia Gasparino chipped in five kills for Griswold.
Griswold’s perfect week included a 20-25, 25-13, 25-19, and 25-21 victory over Bacon Academy. Ruby Logan (34 digs, 2 kills, 1 ace), Summer McLean (16 assists, 11 digs, 3 aces), Bella Bruno (18 assists, 8 digs, 1 ace), and Dombkowski (9 kills, 3 aces, 4 digs) paced the Wolverines.
Norwich Free Academy outlasted Woodstock Academy in five sets, 25-21, 25-16, 14-25, 22-25, and 15-11. The Wildcats (11-6) were led by Evelina Klyukin (27 digs), Savannah Guernsey (5 kills, 14 assists), and Ginger Weston (20 digs).
Norwich Tech swept Vinal Tech, 25-15, 26-24, and 26-24. The Warriors (6-9, 6-4 CTC East) were led by Abby Ulrich (5 kills, 5 aces), Victoria Tirado (7 kills), and Rose Johnny (10 aces).
Killingly defeated Lyman Memorial, 25-27, 25-16, 25-17, and 25-16 to qualify for the CIAC state tournament for the first time since 2017. Shanaya Brown (12 kills), Chloe Yip (26 digs, 5 aces), Shyah Baker (17 assists), Emma Miller (5 blocks, 4 kills), Emma Rainville (3 digs, 7 blocks, 5 kills), and Addison Monville (37 assists, 3 kills) powered Killingly (8-9).
Sydney Pye had 18 service points, including four aces, and dished out 14 assists, while Aubrie Howard added nine service points and four kills as Plainfield swept Norwich Tech, 25-13, 25-20, and 25-14. Pye also had 17 service points, including six aces, while Maddie Nordstrom added eight kills but the Panthers (7-12) fell to Windham in four sets.
More: Girls volleyball: Norwich-area Players to Watch in 2023
Field hockey
Killingly defeated Woodstock Academy and Norwich Free Academy. Lila Beaudreault scored the game-winning goal on a stroke in the fourth quarter and goalkeeper Jill Beach made 10 saves as Killingly edged the Centaurs, 3-2. Ella Moyer and Lilah Dunn also had goals for Killingly (5-8-1).
Earlier the week, Killingly topped NFA, 3-1. Moyer scored her first varsity goal, Beaudreault, and Kendra St. Marie had goals and Beach made five saves.
Girls swimming
Natalie Bezanson won both 200 IM and the 500 Freestyle events, while Catie Wigfile won the 200 freestyle but Norwich Free Academy fell to Fitch, 99-68.
Natalie Bezanson also won the 200 IM and 100 Butterfly in an 85-84 loss against Ledyard. Sawyer Levine won the 500 freestyle and the Wildcats 200 Medley Relay Team of Levine, Stephanie Herr,
Bezanson, and Sophia Ayer also finished first for the Wildcats.
Boys cross country
Ellis Tech finished first overall at the CTC Conference championship meet at Wickham Park in Manchester. The Golden Eagles were led by Brady Nottage (third), Tyler Parmentier (ninth), Travis Ryley (12th), and Aaron Gilfoy (15th), who earned All-Conference honors by finishing in the top 15.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Killingly boys soccer, girls volleyball qualify for CIAC state tourney
