Branford Field Hockey's Remarkable Run Ends with 2-1 Final Loss to Wilton
The Branford field hockey squad’s remarkable campaign came to a close in the championship contest of the Class M State Tournament at Wethersfield on Nov. 19 as the Hornets dropped a 2-1 decision to Wilton.
The Warriors scored the game’s first goal 6:07 into the opening half when Valentina Tudisco put home the rebound of a shot by Clare Detrick-Yee for a 1-0 advantage. Yet despite controlling most of the play in the opening frame, 4th-seeded Wilton couldn’t prevent the Hornets’ from displaying its trademark hustle and heart, which ultimately resulted in Branford’s first corner play with 12:40 left in the half. Although that corner did not yield a goal, the Hornets’ maintained possession in Wilton’s zone to earn a second corner on which junior Bryanna Willaby scored off a rebound of senior Erica McLean’s shot to knot the game 1-1 with 11:35 remaining in the half.
That score held up at halftime and the second half then saw earn Wilton three straight corners around the midway mark, only to be denied by Hornets’ senior captain keeper Jenna Limone (13 saves) and her defense. Branford gained momentum shortly thereafter and had four consecutive corners as the clock ticked under 10 minutes, but Wilton kept the ball from the cage, regained possession, and then controlled the ball for most of the home stretch. The Warriors were eventually awarded a free hit in the final minutes that Detrick-Yee put home with 2:28 to go.
Branford, which was seeded 7th, saw its campaign conclude with a record of 14-5-2-1.
“I told our girls that they have everything to be proud of,” said Hornets’ coach Cathy McGuirk. “It’s the ultimate for any team to get to a state final, and though we’re disappointed that we didn’t win, these girls played their hearts out and I couldn’t be any prouder of them. Jenna Limone had another fantastic game and we played as a team where none of our kids ever gave up.”