The Varsity Girls ended the week with a hard-fought resounding W over cross-town rival Memorial. It took everything and everyone for that Spartan victory, starting with the pace-setting first goal on the board from junior Hana Riley on a sharp pass from sophomore Elizabeth Conner. Stratford kept the 1-0 lead for most of the quarter thanks to stunning goalie work by sophomore Emmie Hanvey. 1-1 after one.

In the second, the hustle didn’t let up – soph Molly Kate Minyard controlled the swim-offs and juniors Sarah Beth Roady and Avery Garcia were relentless on defense. The second score for the Spartans came from co-captain action when Lily Askounis found Emma Jackson in the clear, and Jackson fired one in from way outside. Senior Lindsay Wong and sophomore LC Nall did their jobs late in the second by stirring up the waters and making the Mustangs work for every pass. 2-2 after two.

Roady continued to force turnovers and make opportunities; the score went to 3-2 when she found Askounis inside for a nice power in. The fourth quarter dawned with a quick Memorial goal tying the game at 3s. But there was no denying the Spartans their first win over Memorial in at least four years. Conner forced a turnover and then passed to Garcia for a nice inside shot, 4-3. Jackson flipped the tables twice finding Askounis in perfect position to muscle in one, 5-3...and then another, 6-3. With less than a minute remaining, Conner made a pretty pass to Askounis to lock the game and earn her a hat-trick-plus-one. Emmie Hanvey showed strength and maturity in the cage with more than 20 game-saving blocks in the 7-4 win over Memorial. As the only two girls' Water Polo Teams in our District,  Stratford and Memorial are tied for 1st place. 

vs. St. Agnes

In their matchup against St. Agnes, the Varsity Girls didn’t get on the scoreboard until the third period. Elizabeth Conner found Lily Askounis for the first; then Conner showed great patience as she dueled one-on-one with the Tigers’ goalie...and won the point. Toward the end of the third, Emma Jackson stole the ball and passed to Molly Kate Minyard, who hit big inside, 3-5. Conner found Jackson for a nice strength shot and the last point of the game for Stratford, and the closest the score would get: 4-6. Sophomore goalie Emmie Hanvey had another “belt-worthy” game with more than 10 saves, including many monster blocks. Shining moment among many: the natatorium-shaking 5-meter penalty shot save midway through the fourth.

The Spartans travel to Strake Jesuit on Wednesday for another match-up against St. Agnes, and Friday is Senior Night at WW Emmons Natatorium against Klein Collins.