In the first of two 17-1 wins in a row on their home turf in West Hartford last week, the Conard girls lacrosse team defeated Avon.

Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance

By Brooklynn Knowles. Photos by Cole Schweiger

The Conard girls lacrosse team kept its win streak alive Thursday night with a dominant 17-1 victory over Avon, controlling the game from start to finish.

Starting the game in their favor, the first draw control was won by junior captain, CC Cersosimo. This possession set the tone for not only the entire game, but particularly the first quarter. Conard won every draw control of those first 12 minutes, giving Avon almost no time with the ball to get a shot off. 

Senior captain, Aubrey Montresser (9) Conard vs. Avon girls lacrosse. April 23, 2026. Photo credit: Cole Schweiger

Avon managed to get on the board midway through the first quarter when Lily Anderson capitalized on a free-position opportunity, scoring on Conard goalie Maya Nanayakkara. But that would be Avon’s only goal of the night. Conard added one more before the end of the quarter to make it 5-1.

The second quarter started with Avon finally winning a draw control, but Conard’s defense stayed strong and didn’t allow any real chances. After Avon called a timeout with just under seven minutes left in the half, Conard came out with some newfound energy. 

Junior Paige Sweeney (5), taking the ball up the field. Conard vs. Avon girls lacrosse. April 23, 2026. Photo credit: Cole Schweiger

One of the biggest moments of the game came after a save by Nanayakkara, when defender Paige Sweeney took the ball all the way up the field, goal to goal. That transition led to a great connection between Cersosimo and Ashley Gorman, who finished with a behind-the-back goal. The two found each other again shortly after, this time with Cersosimo finding the back of the net.

With 10 seconds left in the half, Conard perfectly executed their play and went into halftime ahead 11-1, and with a 10-point lead, the game went into running time.

Even with the game well in hand, Conard didn’t slow down. Freshman Emilie O’Sullivan scored early in the third quarter, and the team continued to control possession. Sweeney played a big role throughout, consistently bringing the ball up the field and making it hard for Avon’s offense to keep possession. By the end of the third, Conard had extended the lead to 15-1.

Conard vs. Avon girls lacrosse. April 23, 2026. Photo credit: Cole Schweiger

Cersosimo opened the final quarter with another draw control win, just another example of Conard’s dominance throughout the game.

The last 12 minutes were filled with a lot of back and forth. Conard held their own, and thanks to freshman goalie Avery Freiday, Avon remained scoreless. The Red Wolves scored just twice more this quarter, another one from O’Sullivan, and one from Kiara Foley, her first of the game.

At the buzzer, Conard won the game 17-1 and moved on to play Tolland on Saturday – when they again won 17-1.

Along with the big win, there was also a major milestone for the team. Specifically, one of their very talented midfielders’ achievements. Junior Jacqueline Capone got her 100th career draw control during this game against Avon. Capone’s presence in the draw circle has been a huge part of Conard’s success, consistently giving the Red Wolves control of the game from the start.

Junior Jacqueline Capone (18) shooting in the 8. May. 23, 2026. Photo credit: Cole SchweigerConard vs. Avon girls lacrosse. April 23, 2026. Photo credit: Cole Schweiger

Conard will travel across town to Northwest Catholic on Tuesday, before hosting Simsbury in a much-anticipated matchup on May 5.

Conard vs. Avon girls lacrosse. April 23, 2026. Photo credit: Cole Schweiger

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