This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
10/25/2015 12:00 AMFootball
The Hornets’ football squad recorded its second-consecutive victory in Wallingford by prevailing at division foe Lyman Hall 28-6. Branford, which won in Sheehan for its first win of the season the week before, improved to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in SCC Division II West.
Griiffin Lynch threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Luke DiStasio just 2:54 into the game and the Hornets held a 7-0 lead. Then with 3:39 to play in the opening frame, Zach DeGoursey plunged in from a yard out and Branford led 14-0. The Trojans (1-5, 0-2) scored their lone TD on a short run in the second quarter and it was 14-6 at intermission. Then with 3:33 left in the third, Spencer Berty blocked a punt that Noah DeGoursey returned seven yards for a score to extend the damage to 21-6. The Hornets then salted the game away with 5:01 remaining when Lynch tossed a 4-yard strike to Bird. Teddy Gionteris made it 4-for-4 on extra points and the deal was done at 28-6 Branford.
Zach DeGoursey rushed 23 times for 110 yards and Noah DeGoursey had 13 carries for 58. John Limone’s squad received an interception each from James Dering, Zach DeGoursey, and Zach Ellison, plus Jake Roberts had a sack. Top tacklers were Berty (10), Noah Lordan (9 with 2 for a loss), Dering (8 with 2 for a loss), Noah DeGoursey (8), Zach DeGoursey (8), Jackson Seward (7), and Neil Clyne (6).
Volleyball
Branford won two Oronoque matches to finish divisional play at 7-1 and share the title with East Haven. The Hornets now have six Oronoque championships in program history. Branford swept Career and Cross 3-0 to claim its piece of the crown.
At Career, Eva Esposito’s club won 25-12, 25-14, 25-9. Marissa Minore had six aces and seven kills, Erin O’Brien passed around 21 assists, and Abby Atkinson recorded nine kills with three digs and five aces.
Hosting Cross two days later, the Hornets took the match 25-12, 25-8, 25-17. Adrienne DiGioia hit home a career-high total of 10 aces to go with a dig and seven assists. Haley Maercklein had four kills and Madison Daniels added two kills.
Branford closed the week by taking a 3-2 defeat at Sacred Heart Academy, 25-18, 23-25, 24-26, 27-25, 15-12. Atkinson posted a career-high of 23 kills to complement her five blocks and 18 digs; DiGioia had 12 kills, three aces, and 20 dugs; Madison D’Onofrio threw down nine kills; Maerckelin had five kills with three blocks and four aces; O’Brien had 28 assists; and Gillian Basilicato notched four digs. The Hornets are 13-6 as they get ready to compete in SCCs and states.
Field Hockey
After taking a 2-0 home loss to Lauralton Hall on Senior Night, the Hornets bounced back to earn a huge 3-2 victory at Hand and stand at 8-3-1-1.
Branford recognized nine players and one manager on Senior Night. The team’s senior athletes are captains Kenya Claude, Emma Dwyer, Matlida Kreider, and Annie Rapini; along with Sam Coleman, Shannon Finn (who sang The Star-Spangled Banner prior to the game), Shannon Healy, Maddie McGann, and Shradha Shresthra. The Hornets’ senior manager is Shelby Oliveri. As in past years, they were presented with a bouquet of flowers and a few words were said about each of them. The day before, they received some gifts and goodies from their teammates in an another annual Hornets’ tradition.
Coach Cathy McGuirk said her team played a strong game, but Lauralton Hall scored two goals in the final 17:42 to come away with the win. Branford goalie Keira Integlia made 13 saves, including one on a penalty stroke in the latter half.
Then facing Hand, Kiersten Bjork scored the game's first goal just 6:20 in on an assist from Carol Frye. After the Tigers tied it, the Hornets retook the lead with seven minutes until halftime when LanLe Crotty assisted Jackie DaRos for the score. Hand made it 2-2 with a second-half goal, but then Branford took command for good as Bjork netted the go-ahead tally on a nice return pass from Frye off a corner play with 4:26 remaining. Integlia made a key kick save late to preserve the victory.
"This was a well-played team effort where everyone had to be ready at any time," Coach Cathy McGuirk said. "Hand has quick hard passes and Branford certainly met the challenge."
Girls’ Swimming and Diving
The Hornets finished their regular season at 7-4 after winning their final two dual-meets. Branford posted a 106-79 win at Lyman Hall and then won at home against Hand, 96-90.
In the Hand meet, Paige MacNeil and Erika Maercklein each won a pair of individual events for Scott Butler’s squad. MacNeil took first in the 200 freestyle (2:04.65) and 100 butterfly (1:00.99) while Maercklein was tops in the 50 freestyle (25.37) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.01). Gabija Karosas finished first in the 200 individual medley at 2:22.60 to aid the victory. The Hornets also swept the relays as the 200 medley of Karosas, Maercklein, MacNeil, and Caitline Daley swam a 1:57; the 200 free relay of MacNeil, Isabel Albinger, Daley, and Maercklein finished in 1:46.24; and the 400 freestyle relay featuring Sally Nardella, Isabelle Gillis, Albinger, and Karosas notched a mark of 4:00.68.
Girls’ Cross Country
One week after winning the Oronoque Division title for a 10th-straight year, the Hornets took sixth place at the SCC Championship at Hammonasset Beach State Park. Cyrene Nicholas led Branford by racing to sixth place with a time of 20:21, while Courtney Cosgrove took 10th (20:23) with Anneliese Troidle in 20th (20:54). Sophie Angelo came in 35th place at 21:38, Mansi Chapatwala was 58th (22:48), Maddy Vitale finished in 63rd place (23:00), and Kendall Simmons was 79th in 23:45. Nicholas’s performance resulted in her making the All-SCC First Team, marking the fourth-straight year she’s been All-Conference. Cosgrove also made the First Team after being Second Team last fall and Troidle’s Second Team selection is the second of her career.
“The girls ran well against a field with a great deal of parity,” Coach Kevin Connell said. “Courtney had the finest race of her career.”
Boys’ Cross Country
Branford ran at the SCC Championship and placed 12th, finishing one spot better than North Haven, which edged out the Hornets for the Oronoque title the previous week. Andrew Byrne was the Hornets’ fastest competitor by running 17:59 to take 53rd place. He was followed by Spencer Mariotti in 69th (18:38), Matt Daley in 70th (18:40), Robbie Lionetti in 71st (18:42), Marshall Borrus in 82nd (19:08), Harry Troidle in 89th (19:28), and Ryan McCarthy in 104th (20:01).
“We got a lot from the guys we had this year. The freshmen [Daley and Lionetti] came through like I hoped,” said Coach Kevin Connell. “There’s much to build on for next year.”