7 hours Ago
WILBRAHAM — After falling to Agawam earlier this season ,, Minnechaug girls lacrosse wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. Fueled by a monster evening from Ella Sarno, the Falcons avenged their early-season loss, soaring to an 11-6 win over the Brownies on Monday. “We came in here, re-energized, ready to go, and we lost to them earlier this year at Agawam, 8-4,” Minnechaug coach Luke Jenne said.
“It was nice to come out with the win today and kind of avenge that loss, if you will.” The win also provided much needed momentum for the Falcons as the MIAA’s first power rankings for girls lacrosse is set to be released Tuesday. Sarno led the way with five goals, including a perfect 3-for-3 performance on free position shots, while Sophia Kozub added a goal and two assists.
Bella Spaulding paced Agawam (5-4) with two goals of her own, but the Brownies struggled to match Minnechaug’s second-half surge. “I really wanted to win this game like last time,” Spaulding said. “So, I feel like that was just what motivated me.
And I unfortunately hit the post a few times, but I was just trying to keep going and getting goals.” Agawam struck first less than two minutes into the game when Olivia Govoni finished off a pass from Gabby Consentini to give the Brownies an early edge. However, Minnechaug (4-6) quickly responded.
Kozub knotted the game at 1-1 with a free position shot, and Aubrey Stachowicz— who was key in the Falcons’ last Western Mass. victory over Westfield —followed with a strong individual effort, racing downfield and burying the tying goal. As the first quarter wore on, Minnechaug seized the lead for good when Sarno scored her first free position shot of the evening , giving the Falcons a 3-2 advantage after one.
Peyton Lee set the tone early in the second quarter, converting two-straight free position goals to extend Minnechaug’s lead to 5-2. Agawam responded with a spark of its own — Brooke Dwyer fired a deep shot to stop the Falcons’ run, and Finn Mahoney capitalized moments later to bring the Brownies within a goal. Sarno delivered a clutch goal on her second-made free position shot with 44 seconds left in the half.
Though Spaulding scored in the final seconds to keep it close , Minnechaug entered halftime up 6-5. But when play resumed, Minnechaug wasted no time widening the gap. The Falcons turned a close game into a rout after the break, outpacing Agawam five goals to one.
Sarno completed her free position hat trick early in the third quarter , and Lily Sersenko tacked on another score to give Minnechaug breathing room. Sarno credited her approach to staying locked in and aiming with precision on those shots. “I just have the mindset of not looking at the goalie and trying to look at the corners of the goal,” Sarno said.
“I really just want to get in there for my team.” Jenne praised Sarno’s all-around growth after the game, noting how her hard work and evolving skill set have helped elevate the team’s offense when it matters most. “As a senior captain, she’s really taken it upon herself to get her game better in multiple levels, and not just be a one specific styled shooter,” Jenne said.
“So now having her take those free possessions, driving to the cage, getting her to believe in herself has been great. Confidence is a big thing for her, so that’s awesome. We’re happy that she got on the board five times.
” But Sarno wasn’t done — she struck again minutes later, this time off a feed from Lee for her fourth goal, pushing the Falcons’ lead to 9-5. Agawam managed one more goal before the quarter ended, as Spaulding found the net again , but the Brownies still trailed 9-6 heading into the final frame. 3Q: Minnechaug continued to build on its halftime lead, carrying a 9-6 advantage into the final quarter.
Bella Spaulding netted her second goal 6sec before the buzzer, trimming the deficit back to three. pic.twitter.
com/xOVt0effJ8 Minnechaug scored twice in the fourth quarter with Sarno finishing off a brilliant night with her fifth goal—and the Falcons’ last—at the 10:36 mark. The Falcons defense held the Brownies scoreless in the final quarter, closing out a much-needed Valley Wheel victory. Both teams will play at home for their next matchups, with Agawam hosting South Windsor (Connecticut) on Thursday and Minnechaug set to take on Longmeadow (3-7) on Wednesday.
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