H.S. Roundup: Granby girls soccer battles Frontier to 1-1 draw in rematch (VIDEO)

SOUTH DEERFIELD — After missing over 15 minutes earlier in the game due to what appeared to be a knee injury, Granby’s Marcela Tapia came through on a night when the Rams’ offense was uncharacteristically quiet at Frontier Regional on Thursday.

Down 1-0, Tapia received a pass from Margo Healy just outside the top of the penalty box. With plenty of space to maneuver, the sophomore took a few dribbles and took a hard kick with her left foot.

Her shot ricocheted off the top bar and down behind the goal line to tie the game at one apiece.

“She’s a tremendous player. She’s starting to hit the ball really well,” Granby head coach Bob Weaver said.

The score remained the same through the final whistle, giving each team another tie to add to the record. Tapia’s goal saved Granby from its first loss of the season.

“It was a really good game,” Weaver said. “They had some great opportunities and we did. We knew after the first game that it was going to be a different animal. They are really good at home. We are two evenly matched teams. Both teams extended everything they had.”

It was a night of highs and lows for Tapia. Long before she was jumping around celebrating with her teams, she was on the ground holding her knee just a few minutes into the game. As she was helped off the field, it looked like the Rams would have to continue without one of their top scorers.

But after sitting on the bench for several minutes, the sophomore began jogging up and down the sideline. Eventually she returned to the game with 15 minutes left in the first half. She took most of Granby’s corner kicks. A few almost went in the goal from a header as well as a redirect kick.

Tapia was not the only Granby player to come through in the clutch. Goalkeeper Meredith Bartosz found herself in a big moment after a handball in the box handed Frontier a penalty kick with over 10 minutes left in the game.

Frontier’s Adelaide Ehle took the kick and shot right at eye level to Bartosz. The senior goalie knocked the ball down and quickly swiped it away before Ehle could kick the rebound.

It was her fifth save of the game.

After dropping the first matchup against Granby 3-1, the Redhawks put together a stronger performance on the defensive end this time around. Goalkeeper Jazzy Hayes made eight saves on the night while the backline kept the ball out of the box.

“In our first matchup we had a few unfortunate moments,” Frontier head coach Lauren Sullivan said. “The score didn’t reflect how we played them. Tonight they came out hard as a team determined to make the outcome go their way and they did an excellent job.”

The Redhawks struck in the first half on a goal from Maggie Nichols. Looking to just get the ball into the box, the sophomore kicked a high looping shot toward the net. What the shot lacked in speed was made up for with perfect placement. The arch of the shot snuck under the cross bar and above Bartosz’s reach to give Frontier the 1-0 lead.

“That was huge,” Sullivan said. “She saw her moment and she turned around and hit it. It was a beautiful shot.”

Freshman Danica Kopcza almost extended the Redhawks lead early in the second half. After forcing a turnover, she broke past the Granby defense and had an open look at the goal. She also hit the cross bar.

Unlike Tapia’s goal, the referees did not see the ball cross the line, allowing Bartosz to corral the ball and prevent any further damage.

“We are very evenly matched, we could play 10 times and it would be 5-5,” Weaver said. “You probably saw the two of the better goalies in Western Mass. face off against each other.

Granby heads into another tough matchup when it hosts South Hadley on Saturday morning. The Tigers are currently ninth in the MIAA power rankings for Division 4. The Redhawks head to Southwick on Monday for their second matchup this season.

Girls soccer

Hampshire 4, Southwick 1 — After falling behind in the first half, the Raiders exploded for four unanswered goals against Southwick. Hampshire had four different players find the back of the net after halftime.

Shayne Moynahan and Addie Miklasiewicz each scored their sixth goals of the season. Claire Pickard found the back of the net for the first time and Brooke Labrie added a goal as well.

Sammy Moreau and Morgan Lawler tallied one assist each.

Karaghan Rogalski and Emilia Berrena each made three saves.

South Hadley 5, Agawam 0 — The Tigers put together a strong offensive outing for their fourth win of the season. Regan Masse scored twice to lead the team.

Hannah Haeseart found the back of the net, plus added two assists. Jenna Sabourin and Cadee Killian each scored as well.

Kelcey Zraunig assisted on two goals and Violet Carillon picked up an assist.

Olivia Athas and Cara Dean combined for four saves.

Boys soccer

Belchertown 8, Granby 0 — Yohan Yoon pocketed four points in the Orioles’ huge win against the Rams.

Yoon scored twice and added two helpers. Christian Fraga and Jake Demento contributed two goals for Belchertown while Henry Mueller had two assists.

Andrew Lambert earned the shutout with two saves.

PVCICS 0, Drury 0 — The Dragons clawed out a tie against the Blue Devils in North Adams.

PVCICS goalie Simon Doherty-Girard garnered the shutout with two saves.

Gateway 2, Mount Everett 1 — The Gators grinded out the home victory with strikes from Calahan Carter and Cam Maciver.

Gateway goalie Zack Hess made four saves.

Field hockey

Smith Academy 1, West Springfield 1 — The Falcons found a way to earn a tie with the Terriers on the road.

Bella Gavron picked up Smith’s goal while goalie Chloe Avery totaled 10 saves.

Belchertown 3, Amherst 0 — The Orioles outlasted the Hurricanes for their second straight win.

Kian Roy tallied two goals while Madeline Williams managed two assists. Gianna Zenon also scored for Belchertown.

Amherst goalie Kayla Kim was peppered, finishing with 21 saves. Lila Roy needed just three saves to earn the shutout for the O’s.

Girls volleyball

Ludlow 3, Belchertown 0 — The Orioles were blanked for the third straight match in the loss to the Lions.

Cassidy MacLean hammered 11 kills for Belchertown.

Golf

Easthampton 154, Monson 190 — The Eagles shot their lowest team score of the season in the victory at Wyckoff Country Club.

Jacob Murrett (36), Tanner Kmetz (37), Amelia Gruber (38) and Evan Kalin (43) were Easthampton’s scorers. 

Hampshire 152, West Springfield 158 — The Raiders got revenge on the Terriers at Blandford Country Club.

Brayden Fennessy shot even par 35 to lead Hampshire as the medalist, while Cole Boissonneault (38), Wes Adamski (38) and Kameron Locke/Declan Butler/Nico Johnson (41) rounded out its scorers.

Late Wednesday Results

Boys soccer

Westfield 4, Holyoke 1 — The Bombers overwhelmed the Purple Knights, racing out to a 3-0 lead at halftime.

Senly Lovesone Noel scored for Holyoke.

Hampshire 0, Wahconah 0 — Neither team broke through in the draw.

Isaiah Isa and Max Johnson each compiled four saves for the Raiders.

Girls volleyball

Amherst 3, Minnechaug 0 — The Hurricanes cruised to their ninth win of the season.

Set scores were 25-18, 25-21 and 25-20.