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Girls' roundup
Pomfret girls
undefeated
in volleyball
The Pomfret School varsity girls' volleyball has racked up a 17-0 regular season as they head to the playoffs. They got there last week with a victory over Westover.
Coach Kauffman said, "Most of our success this season was derived from the cohesion of the team. With the girls truly operating as a unit this year, it was easy to find success on the court. We were lucky to add two very talented post graduate players to a team of girls rich with ability and potential. As the season has progressed, our style of play has progressed as well. The players have learned the game at a higher level, which has allowed them to effectively incorporate offensive plays and operate intuitively with great success. Coach Alvarez is a coach who knows a tremendous amount about the game. The girls have been intent on learning this season, making it a pleasure to be a part of the program.”
Varsity Soccer
Pomfret 2 Walker 0
Nov. 13: On Senior Day, the girls’ varsity soccer team found its way to a 2-0 win over Ethel Walker. In a scoreless first half, Pomfret outshot the opponents 21-0, but could not find the back of the net. Credit goes to the Walker goalkeeper who made some lights out saves, but Pomfret was also not as sharp and efficient as they needed to be with their chances. We came out in the second half a bit more hungry to find the goal and worked hard to move the ball. The better effort paid off 10 minutes into the second half when Alison Horst fought her way down the endline and served a ball across the box to Caroline Kozlowski who tapped it in for her first of two on the day. Just two minutes later, Caroline volleyed home another goal off a cross from Jamie Samociuk that Liv Dalton-Hoffman kept alive at the far post. It looked like the flood gates might open, but the Walker keeper continued to make some big saves to limit the damage, ending the game with 20 saves. Pomfret outshot Walker 36-1 but didn’t come up with another for the remainder of the game.
Pomfret recognized seniors, Caroline Picerne and captain Jamie Samociuk, for their tremendous contributions to the program over the last four years. It was great seeing Caroline back on the field for the first time all year due to injury. She proved she’s still got game! Jamie Samociuk and Alida Bernhart were named WWNEPSSA All-Stars. Pomfret finished the regular season 11-4-2 and will await their NEPSWSA tournament fate.
Pomfret 1 Westminister 3
Nov. 10: Pomfret traveled to take on a strong and speedy Westminster team and battled hard for the first 40 minutes going into halftime scoreless. Westy put a lot of pressure on Pomfret within the first 15 minutes, but the Griffins finally adjusted to the speed of play and started to create some dangerous chances late in the first half off the work of Andi Nicholson and Caroline Kozlowski up top. Andi beat two defenders and attacked the near post, but was denied when her shot hit the post and out of bounds. Pomfret came out in the second half and controlled possession for the first 8 minutes earning two quick corners that they didn’t convert. Pomfret was playing with confidence and started moving the ball well, but then had an unfortunate deflection off a service in midfield that put Westy’s dynamic forward in behind the Pomfret defense and 1v1 with Mackenzie Dunphy. Mackenzie was able to redirect the ball, but unfortunately it ricocheted off the post and then off of her to find it’s way over the goal line. Down a goal, Pomfret responded and got the ball into Andi Nicholson who beat a couple of defenders and blasted a shot that looked like it was headed in but hit the underside of the crossbar only for a Westy defender to beat Pomfret to the ball and clear it off the line. This was the turning point in the game, as we struggled to finish our chances and Westy gained confidence and momentum. In seven short minutes Pomfret gave up three goals. The team did not hang their heads however, but worked harder to get into the box and got a goal from Caroline after Andi beat her player on the flank and served a ball that bounced around the box before Caroline hit it home to close the deficit to two. Caroline almost had another shortly after, but the Westy keeper made a diving fingertip save to deflect the ball. Again, Pomfret was unable to capitalize on the loose ball in the box. Andi continued to battle and beat defenders all game long and got in with 10 minutes remaining, serving a perfect ball on the six, but Pomfret’s shot was saved.
Despite the lopsided score, Pomfret had some great moments and created several dangerous chances, but were simply not as efficient as Westy was this afternoon. Stellar performances from Jamie Samociuk both in the back and at midfield, and from Alison Horst & Izzy Regine on the flanks, as well as Andi & Caroline up front.
Cross Country
New Englands
In practice J. Tules came in first, while her teammates trailed behind on a technical course. Pomfret came in fourth out of four teams.
At the championships the team traveled to Governor’s to compete in the championship race. We were prepared for the Governor’s course - a sprawl of fields and occasional rolling hills through the woods - but we weren’t prepared to suffer losses due to injuries and sickness; only four of us were able to finish the race. This was a blow to a team that had worked hard to condition for Saturday’s championship all fall.
Though we were unable to place as a team, Tules succeeded in earning the individual place of 5th in her final race as captain. Once again, Tules proved not only her love for the sport, but her mental and physical toughness in the face of a championship race. Behind Tules, Lieb vied with a runner from KO and succeeded in beating her opponent across the finish line. Lofquist and Buell also put in fine finishes in the last race of the season.