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10/24/2015 12:00 AMFootball
North Haven ran its record to a perfect 6-0 by posting a 49-14 blowout of Fairfield Prep at Vanacore Field on Oct. 23. With the help of some stellar blocking, Mike Montano put together a show-stopping performance by totaling 273 all-purpose yards. The senior captain ran for four touchdowns, reeled in a TD reception, and tossed touchdown. Montano crossed the goal line four times in the first half to give North Haven a 28-0 lead at the break against the Class LL Jesuits (3-3).
Montano first scored on a 25-yard rush on the last play of the opening quarter for a 7-0 lead. After North Haven turned aside Prep on 4th-and-2, Montano converted three TDs in the final 4:45 of the second quarter. Those scores were a 5-yard run by Montano, Montano’s 70-yard touchdown reception from junior Jack Steinman, and Montano’s 60-yard TD scoring scamper.
Montano took one in from 73 yards out 16 seconds into the second half to make it 35-0. Thirty ticks into the final frame, Montano found senior tight end Jeremy Imperati for a 23-yard TD connection. The Jesuits scored on two long touchdowns runs in the fourth quarter, but Tom Dodge returned the kickoff 86 yards to the house after the second one. Senior Sabrina Fronte made it 7-for-7 on extra points and the final was in the books at 49-14.
Montano ran 12 times for 203 yards. Suraci (13 carries, 86 yards), fellow seniors Nick Ponzio (6 for 66) and Paul Brockamer (5 for 42), plus sophomore Brendan Ziaks (4 for 37) helped the Indians finish the game with 434 ground yards to complement their 124 via the air.
“We felt it was going to be a battle in the trenches and we won it. We went inside with Suraci and then outside with Montano just enough to keep them at bay,” Head Coach Anthony Sagnella said. “I said to Mike that he had an ‘S’ on his chest [a reference to Superman] and he didn’t know what that meant. When I explained it to him he said, ‘No, everyone is blocking,’ and that was the story of the night. Mike is a great player, but he had a lot of people working hard in front of him. One of Mike’s great qualities is that he’s a patient runner who can create downhill while waiting for blocks, but also has the ability to quickly accelerate with breakaway speed.”
Sagnella added he was concerned with how his defense would hold up against the big, physical Jesuits, but his concerns were certainly alleviated with a dominating performance in which his club “didn’t budge an inch.” Senior Dodge snagged a pair of picks and also had two pass deflections, senior captain David Mikos forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Max Sullivan, and Mikos also recorded 10 tackles. North Haven’s other top tacklers were senior Shane O’Connor (9), senior Patrick Casey (8), and senior Rob Ralston (7).
North Haven’s next contest is against Hillhouse (5-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 at Ken Strong Stadium at West Haven High School.
Girls’ Cross Country
North Haven posted a ninth-place finish at the SCC Championship at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Elise Symon had the best showing for the Indians by taking 16th place with a time of 20:45, while Erica Salvo was 29th at 21:12. Additionally, Connie Tao finished 40th in 21:51, Clare Connell was 78th (23:38), Reaghan Bathrick came in 80th place (23:48), Olivia Hoyt was 81st (23:49), and Hillary Hoyt finished 99th (24:35). Symon collected All-SCC First Team honors after making the Second Team last fall.
“The girls had an outstanding meet at the SCC Cross Country Championship,” said Coach Carl Jackson. “The team was led by Elise Symon...Close behind were senior captains Erica Salvo and Connie Tao, in addition freshman Clare Connell, senior tri-captain Reaghan Bathrick, and juniors Olivia and Hillary Hoyt. The team finished ninth overall, continuing a very successful season.”
Boys’ Cross Country
On the heels of claiming the Oronoque Division title, the Indians ran at the SCC Championship and finished 13th. Jordan Tong led North Haven by taking 45th place behind a mark of 17:55. He was followed by Ryan Brennan in 68th (18:30), Forrest King in 73rd (18:45), Gabriel Durante in 80th (19:05), Ben Papsun in 84th (19:13), Josh Bryson in 85th (19:16), and Sebastian Pepe in 86th (19:16).”
“The boys had a very good meet. The boys have continued their successful ways since the divisional [victory],” Coach Carl Jackson said. “Led by a revitalized Jordan Tong and Ryan Brennan, the team finished 13th at the SCC Cross Country Championship. Also scoring for the team were junior Forrest King, sophomore Gabe Durante, senior captain Ben Papsun, junior Joshua Bryson, and freshman Sebastian Pepe.”
Boys’ Soccer
North Haven played three road games last week and won the last won with 4-2 victory at Career-Hillhouse for a record of 4-10. The Indians had previously taken a 2-0 defeat at Lyman Hall and a 3-0 loss to Fairfield Prep.
Against Prep, the Jesuits scored three time in the first half. Even though his team found itself in a three-goal hole, Coach Federico Fiondella felt the Indians played much better in the latter half.
“This was a definitely a tale of two halves. During the first half, we started the game very reserved and let Fairfield Prep dominate possession and overall play…We allowed them to easily win 50-50 balls and to comfortably move the ball from player to player with little opposition,” he said. “I asked the team to come out during the second half and challenge Prep for every ball, utilizing any double-team opportunities. We made a few team adjustments that I also felt helped us be more aggressive and to take control of the game. We dominated possession during the second half and created many more scoring opportunities for ourselves. I also credit our goalkeeper, Trevor MacDonnell, for making some key saves and keeping us in the game.”
North Haven unanimously elected all four of its senior captains—Thomas Bogen, Trevor MacDonnell, Ian Dunning, and JJ Jensen—as its Players of the Game.
“The captains have really been stepping it up this season and I agree with this decision wholeheartedly,” said Fiondella. “I commend them for their leadership and never-quit attitude in every match. They continue to play with passion.”
Central midfielder Matt Iovanne was Player of the Game for scoring two goals and handing out an assist when the Indians doubled up Career-Hillhouse to move to 4-3 in divisional play. Iovanne assisted Sean Flannery’s goal 10 minutes in and then netted one himself a minute later on Ian Dunning’s helper. Then just three minutes after that, Iovanne scored another off a Dunning assist that was followed Dunning’s score for a 4-0 command. Riley Powell made five saves.
“Career is a team that is not to be taken lightly and I made that very clear before the game. The North Haven players listened to our strategy and went out there and executed it perfectly,” said Fiondella, whose team swept the Panthers this season. “It did get a bit tense during the second half, especially when Career scored a second goal, but the boys stayed composed and calm and held Career off. I applaud both teams for playing 80 minutes of soccer and working diligently until the end.”
Girls’ Swimming and Diving
The Indians are 6-4 after splitting two recent meets. North Haven prevailed at Shelton 94-76 and took a 98-85 home loss against Lauralton Hall.
For the Shelton win, best times were recorded by Laura Borrelli in the 100 freestyle (57.24), Hannah Tanguay in the 100 butterfly (1:10.62), plus the 400 freestyle relay of Jasmine Nguy, Tracy Nguy, Lauren Spencer, and Borrelli (3:53.99).
Then on Oct. 22, it was Senior Night when North Haven faced Lauralton Hall. Coach Martha Phelan honored her senior class that consists of captains Tracy Nguy, Tanguay, Rachel Buonasora, and Rebecca Sola; as well as April Chen, Haley Cochrane, Brookie Dietter, and Amanda Vastarelli. Recording best times were Spencer (2:20.97) and Callyn Preibe in the 200 individual medley (2:26.15), Spencer in the 100 backstroke (1:04.70), Buonasora (6:21.27) and Avery Hill in the 500 free (6:40.26), and Molly Duffy in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.82).