Griffin pg 7 10-28-21
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Pomfret field hockey finished the week 1-1 in two league games. Oct. 20 the team hosted Suffield Academy for a close 2-1 victory, and Oct. 23 they traveled to Williston Northampton for a close 3-2 loss.
Against Suffield, the Griffins came from behind on goals by Emma McLean ’22 and Tara Valas ’23 to earn the victory. Valas and Maya Shocket ’23 assisted on the McLean goal and Cate Gallagher ’22 assisted the game-winner to Valas. Goalie Keira O’Brien ’25 earned her fifth win of the season.
Williston is a perennial powerhouse in the Griffins’ district and that is the case again this year. Their 6-4 record is not indicative of their skill and Pomfret played one of their better games before falling 3-2. Down 1-0 at the end of the first quarter, a Grace Long ’23 goal off a Philo Schorling ’24 pass tied the game at 1. Three extended time corners for Williston found the ball trickle into the goal for a 2-1 halftime lead. Not ready to give up, Schorling scored in the fourth quarter to tie the game and make for an exciting final 10 minutes. Williston put tons of pressure on the Pomfret defense with 11 shots and 5 corners, scoring at 7:56 in what would be the game-winner. Freshman goalie O’Brien finished the game with 12 saves in her best game to date. Other defensive standouts against the wildcats were back Ari Centeno ’23 and midfielder Maya Shocket ’23.
Pomfret is now 5-7 overall and 5-5 in WNEPSFHA and met Portsmouth Abbey Oct. 27.
In previous games, the team went 0-2 for the week. The team faced two opponents the previous week and came out on the losing end in both. Oct. 13, in a non-league matchup against Cushing Academy junior Grace Long scored with two minutes left in the game to tie it at 1 and send the game into overtime. OT in field hockey is a 10 minute 7 v 7, sudden victory opportunity, and Cushing got the better of Pomfret early on for the walk-off win. Oct. 15, the team faced Kent School; the 3-0 win for Kent is not indicative of the evenly matched teams on the afternoon. Two miscues in the first quarter left a player wide open for the early lead. The third goal was scored late in the contest in the league game.
By Louisa Gebelein Jones
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Putnam pg 7 10-28-21
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caption, clockwise: Molly Moffitt, Astou Ndeye and Aniya Perry. Courtesy photos.
The program is in just its fifth year, but the goals are lofty. After two national tournament Final Four appearances in the first three years (last season’s tournament wasn’t held due to Covid), the Putnam Science Academy girls’ basketball team is poised to take the next step.
“We talk about winning a national championship, for sure,” said Devin Hill, head coach of the Prep Black team. “I talk about that when I first meet them and recruit them. It’s definitely out there. We talk about it during practice, about doing the little things that championship teams do. We talk about what it looks like. Not that we’ve won it before, but you know what it feels like when you at least have a chance and you know you can compete. We definitely talk about it. We don’t shy away from it.”
The Mustangs open their new season Friday night with a home game and a roster that is as deep as any in the first four seasons. There are eight or nine players who should end up playing Div. I college basketball, though not all next year; only six of the 13 on the roster are members of the Class of 2022. And they should be fun to watch with all that depth and talent.
“I’ve never really been in a place where everyone wants the same thing,” said Molly Moffitt, one of those Class of 2022’s. “In high school some girls were playing just to play, or it was their second sport, or something like that. Everyone here really wants to get better and has a goal of playing college basketball. I think that then fuels our desire to get better and work. We’re working for a title.
“So many people here do so many different things so well and seeing us come together as one team has been really fun to watch. When we’re playing with each other in a live game, it’s going to be really exciting.”
And then, with so many players eligible to come back next season and beyond, that chemistry will already be established in many ways and the program can continue to grow into a national power.
Hill wants his team to play fast and shoot a lot of 3s. At the start of the season, he figures he will go 12 deep, which is a little more than he typically would. So maybe it’ll be 10 or 11, maybe seven or eight by season’s end.
“But who knows, maybe things click in a way or we’re playing a certain style or a system where everyone understands each other and we can stay deep,” he said.
The backcourt features Ines Goryanova, who is only 15 but has a chance to be the team’s leading scorer, and more often than not, has been its best player; Janeya Grant, a great shooter who once scored 50 points in a high school game; Jada Mills, a good athlete who can score at all three levels; Maisie Harrhy, who has played for the Wales senior women’s national team since she was 15 years old; Anna Kitch, one of the group’s vocal leaders and best teammates; Alba Farell Torres, a hard-working, pass-first point guard; Genevive Wedemeyer, the team’s best defender and physical presence; and Astou Ndeye, a wildly gifted player who five years from now, should be the best player from this team. Minja Sudzum, a lefty point guard, is hopeful of rejoining the Mustangs in January after an injury forced her out for most of last year and the first half of this year.
In the frontcourt are: Paris Kirk, a steady and professional forward who always does things the right way and has committed to play next year at Robert Morris University; Aniya Perry, a high-motor player who fills the stat sheet through the flow of the game; Moffitt, an extremely versatile wing who can rebound and push the ball up the floor for her own shot or create it for other; and Fatim Sarr Ndow, a really good athlete, an excellent defender, and a great teammate.
By Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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Bank pg 8 10-28-21
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OXFORD, Mass. — bankHometown is starting its 18th year of its annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors fund-raising drive to help local food pantries.
The program, which ends Nov. 30, invites bank customers, employees, and members of the community to donate money toward food pantries throughout the month of November. All donations (up to $2,500 per customer) will be matched dollar for dollar by bankHometown and the total raised will be divided among participating food pantries across Massachusetts and Connecticut in the communities the bank serves.
Checks should be made payable to “bankHometown Neighbors” and can be dropped off at any bankHometown branch or mailed to: Mary C. Mulrenin, Executive Secretary; bankHometown, 31 Sutton Ave., Oxford, MA 01450.
In 2020, through contributions and matching donations, the campaign raised $32,200 and resulted in $2,300 contributions to 14 participating food pantries. Over the years, the program has contributed more than $225,000 to help fight food insecurity.
The bank encourages donations of any amount. The bank will offer those who donate the opportunity to win a $25 gift card at each of its locations.
Robert J. Morton, president and CEO of bankHometown, said: “Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a great example of how communities come together to help others in need. “bankHometown is proud to lead this annual giving tradition and thankful to our valued customers and employees who selflessly give each year.”
The food pantries to be helped: Connecticut: Community Kitchens of Northeastern CT – Killingly; Daily Bread – Putnam; Friends of Assisi – Killingly; Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG).
Massachusetts: Athol Salvation Army Food Pantry; Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. Food Pantry; CARE Food Pantry – Clinton; Food Share - Southbridge, Charlton & Sturbridge; Friendly House Pantry, Worcester; Friends of the Millbury Seniors; Ginny’s Helping Hand, Inc. – Leominster; Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf; Sutton Senior Center’s Michael A. Chizy Food Pantry; St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry – Webster.
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Police pg 8 10-28-21
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
Oct. 19
Elexis T Jutras, 27, Everett Street, Southbridge; sixth-degree larceny, first-degree forgery, criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny.
Nathan L. Couture, 24, Church Street, Putnam; sixth-degree larceny, first-degree forgery, criminal attempt to commit sixth-degree larceny, conspiracy to commit larceny, criminal impersonation, interfering with police
Nathan L. Couture, 24, Church Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct.
Elizabeth Mancini, 34, High view Road, Dayville; operating under suspension, operating without insurance, headlamps.
Oct. 22
Seth Neborsky, 22, Asylum Street, Hartford; third-degree burglary, illegal use of credit card, third-degree criminal impersonation.
Joseph Maldonado, 37, Perry Street, Putnam; disorderly conduct, violation of protective order.
Dustin Lowell, 35, School Street, Putnam; fifth-degree larceny.
Joseph Maldonado, 37, Perry Street, Putnam; violation of protect order, second-degree strangulation, first-degree unlawful restraint, second-degree threatening, disorderly conduct.
Oct. 23
Devan Calderwood, 27, Hawkins Road, Putnam; failure to display front license plate, misuse of registration, operating with a suspended license, insufficient insurance and operating an unregistered motor vehicle.
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