The Western Massachusetts Division 4 girls soccer championship between top-seeded Granby and No. 3 Lenox will be the third straight sectional final between the two programs.
The Rams defeated the Millionaires, 5-1, in 2017 and in penalty kicks in 2018.
“I’d prefer it not go into penalty kicks (this year),” Granby’s Nora Young said.
The two sides did not face off during the regular season, but both programs know each other well.
“(Lenox is) really well organized,” Granby coach Bob Weaver said. “They always have a great core group of girls. They’re well coached and prepared for the teams that they face. I have a lot of respect for them and what they do. It’s going to be a great game. They play great defense and attack from multiple areas.”
The Millionaires defeated sixth-seeded Smith Academy in the quarterfinals, 2-0, and No. 2 Gateway Regional, 1-0, in the semifinals.
Lenox (10-8-1) goalkeeper Sophie Patella, who has been the Millionaires’ starting keeper since the eighth grade, has been a standout player for the team this season.
“Sophie is a great goalie. It starts there,” Weaver said. “I expect it to be close. I don’t expect anyone to run away with it.”
The Rams have multiple people in its starting eleven that can score goals. Nora Young has been on varsity since eighth grade and plays at the top of the team’s formation. She uses her strength and ball control inside the penalty box to create scoring opportunities. Midfielder Kaeleigh Croteau uses her speed and looping shots from distance to stretch out an opposing team’s defense.
(Kaeleigh and Nora) both have rockets for shots,” Weaver said. “(Young) is a lefty and (Croteau) is a righty. … They have great field awareness and know their limitations. Kaeleigh had last year off with concussion issues and has come back eager this year and is determined to be on the field for the final.”
Young and midfielder Julia Frappier have played a part in the Rams’ last four sectional championship victories.
The duo are excited for the opportunity to make it five in a row.
“It’s so exciting,” Young said. “I feel like there aren’t a lot of people that can say that. That is something we have been talking about for a long time, and I know the other girls want to carry on the winning.”
Through four sectional title-winning seasons, the Rams have hit rough patches due to injuries or had off games, but the program has seemed to always find a way to bounce back.
Weaver attributes the team’s ability to stay focused to veteran leadership and total devotion to from players to achieving their goals.
“They want to be in the Western Mass. final,” Weaver said. “That is their goal to start, get to Western Mass. and everything after that is gravy. Since I’ve been here there has always been a core group of upperclassmen leadership. Some eighth graders and ninth graders benefit from being around them. That is what does it for this group.
Granby went into halftime against Ware on Wednesday with the score tied, 0-0. Goals from Young and Croteau sent the Rams (14-4-2) into the final.
The game served as a reminder for players how difficult it is getting wins deep in the postseason.
“The girls witnessed (against Ware) what it takes to do well in a playoff,” Weaver said. “As the girls were coming off they were spent, physically, mentally and emotionally. They left it on the field. The (younger) girls witnessing that, what it really takes to get there, was beneficial. I hope they are learning from it, because everyone has witnessed that.”
Gage Nutter can be reached at gnutter@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @GageNutterDHG.