GRANBY — Nora Young and the Granby girls soccer team’s offense gave Lee no chance in the Western Massachusetts Division 4 Tournament quarterfinal.
Young opened the scoring in the first half after receiving a pass from Summer Molin and streaking down the middle of the field. The pair added five more points en route to a 6-0 victory, Tuesday.
Young finished with a hat trick and an assist, while Molin had three assists.
Top-seeded Granby (11-5-3) will play either No. 4 Ware (15-2-1) or No. 5 Hampden Charter (15-2-2) in the semifinals.
A win there and the Rams will earn a shot at a third straight sectional championship, and first in Division 4.
“We’re going to practice hard tomorrow and see what happens when it comes to game time,” Young said.
Granby’s plan of attack was evident as the Rams sent their scorers to the front of the net, and volleyed the ball into traffic.
Young put the Rams up 2-0 by doing just this. Kaeleigh Croteau shot the ball from the right corner and Young’s foot was able to push it past Lee goalkeeper Brianna Hawley.
“We’re great at reading what’s in front of us, whether it’s going down the middle and taking the shot ourselves or looking out for a teammate,” assistant coach Rachel Mick said. (Head coach Bob Weaver was unavailable after leaving during the game.) “The girls have no problem laying the ball off and finding people that are open.”
Molin notched her second assist shortly before the end of the first half. With time winding down, Molin volleyed the ball from the left corner of Lee’s zone to the front of the net and on Brianna Sosa’s feet. Sosa stopped and controlled the ball before making a move around a defender and kicking the ball just to the left of Hawley’s outstretched right leg.
At the beginning of the second half the wind grew stronger but so did Granby’s offense. Using the corners again to their advantage, the Rams made it 4-0 off a Trystin Burger score. Young assisted on the play.
“Our goal was to work as a team and come out with a win,” Young said. “I though we all worked really hard and moved the ball well, we set up some great balls and worked hard in the middle.”
Young made it 5-0 when Molin shot a ball across the front of the net that allowed her to elevate and redirect it off her head for a score, setting the bar for the most acrobatic play of the game.
“She just has a nose for finding the back of the net,” Mick said. “She can shoot with her left or her right foot no matter where she is on the field. I tell her all the time if she puts it in the corner of the net nobody is stopping it.”
Gabrielle Walz added the sixth goal late in the game.
Granby goalkeeper Julia Gauvin made four saves in the shutout.