West Hartford’s Hall High School hosted Enfield on Friday night in girls lacrosse, and senior Talia Sortman reached a milestone in the resounding victory.

By Paul Palmer

Hall senior captain Talia Sortman entered Friday’s game with Enfield with 94 career goals. Forty seconds into the second period she had 100 – the third lacrosse player in West Hartford’s public schools to reach the mark in a 24-hour span.

Conard’s Nicole Gorman and Luke Shaffer both did it on Thursday. No. 100 was something that the Titans forward had thought about coming into the season, but knew it was not guaranteed. “I knew I had to push through because I knew it was doable,” she said after the 18-2 victory.

“I’ve only been coaching her for two years, “ said Hall head coach Kristen Mullady. “She is a strong lead, who leads by example and is very unselfish.”

The Titans came in at 5-3 on the season and were playing the first of back-to-back games as they meet Canton on Saturday. They were not challenged very much by the Eagles, dominating the faceoff spot, possession, and shots on goal throughout the game. Just over halfway through the opening quarter, Hall was up 5-0 and about to go on a big run.

Lucy Gwiazdoski cut in on the Enfield net from the left side to score at 4:55. Nine seconds later it was Hall taking the faceoff and converting for a 7-0 lead, and 15 seconds after that it was Gwiazdoski again getting the goal that came after the Titans won the faceoff, made two passes downfield  to set up the eighth score.

Forty-two seconds after Gwiazdoski’s first goal, Sortman  carried the ball down the center of the field and from 20 yards out found teammate Claire O’Donnell all alone in front of Enfield goalie Keira Supernaut and she made no mistake.

Sortman would pick up another of her goals on a second effort one minute after O’Donnell scored. Her first shot was stopped by Supernaut, but Hall grabbed the rebound, reset the offense, and  Sortman made it 10-0. With :34 to go in the opening quarter, and playing with a one-person advantage, Gwiazdoski scored on the 8-meter  and it looked like that would be all the scoring. But Sortman would tally game goal No. 5 – career goal 99 – with just :01 left to make it an even baker’s dozen for the hosts.

Between periods Mullady began drawing up plans to start subbing in players, but not before the special moment for Sortman. She didn’t have to wait long as the senior carried the ball to a spot right in front of the cage and let a bounce shot go that became her 100th.

The goal set off a celebration on the field as the players on the bench ran out to celebrate with her, and those on the field hugged it out. The Titans gathered in front of their bench and presented Sortman with a pair of posters honoring her achievement. “It is such an amazing feeling, but I could not have done it without my teammates who are always behind me,”  said a smiling Sortman who scored the six goals on just 10 shots.

Playing under a running clock,  Hall was able to bring in many substitutes to give them valuable game experience. Goalie Talia Leshem and the defense did not face too many threats on goal, but with 6:30 to go Kelsey Higgins converted on an 8-meter to spoil the shutout.

The Titans would get one more before half and it was a thing of beauty. Anya Leshem carried the ball across the slot and as she got near the far post, let a shot go over her shoulder that beat Supernaut and made it 15-1. “Regardless of the score, getting people in the game can only make them better,” said Mullady of the opportunity to spread the minutes around.

Each team added a goal in the third, and later in the fourth Leshem made a big save in goal and the Titans went the distance with the with the ball to score goal number 17.

With :30 to go in the game, Aliza Schleif saw her 8-meter shot hit Supernaut in the foot, and bit roll into the net before the goalie could cover and that would be the game’s final score.

“We have come a long way from last year,” said Mullady. “They are going out of their comfort zone when we ask them to.”

The effort is not lost on Sortman either as she tries to lead her team to the post season. “ I am so proud of us coming back from a rebuilding year. We have great chemistry.”

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