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09/15/2016 12:00 AMThe Guilford girls’ soccer team welcomes back a plethora of varsity experience from a club that made its latest postseason push in 2015. As a result, the 2016 campaign looks to be another one in which the Indians can make a run toward SCC and state title contention.
Head Coach Scott McMahon’s squad finished 12-1-3 for the regular season last fall. Although the Indians lost to Mercy in the opening round of the SCC Tournament, they wound up making their way to the Class L State Tournament quarterfinals before taking a 3-0 defeat to eventual finalist Suffield.
Thus far this season, Guilford has gotten out to a 1-1-1 start after playing to a scoreless tie with Hand on Sept. 10 and then taking a 2-1 loss in Shelton three days later before rebounding with a 2-0 triumph over West Haven on Sept. 16. Most importantly, Coach McMahon said that he’s seen an unrelentingly steadfast dedication toward reaching championship prominence from top to bottom in his program thus far this fall.
“This is a special group with high expectations of themselves. There is varsity experience at every position and a humble and hard-working attitude throughout the program,” said McMahon. “Our freshmen have come in this year and pushed the JVs, who have then pushed the varsity throughout the preseason. As always, it will be a season full of obstacles, but the whole program is pushing towards a common goal of being successful.”
Headlining a loaded senior class for the Indians are the team’s three captains, Andrea Basilicato, Kayley McLaughlin, and Izzy Nerney. The trio has not only seen big-time team success as members of a 2013 squad that took the SCC and Class L titles, but they’ve also earned some individual recognition as Basilicato and McLaughlin were both All-Hammonasset last year with Basilicato collecting All-State honors. Nerney is another of the team’s savvy veterans.
“The senior class was freshmen when Guilford last won the Class L state title. They were already getting noticed in the program and have had three great seasons since,” said Coach McMahon. “Andrea and Kayley are dominant leaders at forward and central midfield. Izzy Nerney is a three-year varsity player and central defensive midfielder/field general. All three are leaders of the girls’ basketball team, as well. They represent an incredibly strong and cohesive senior class that is hungry to challenge for division, SCC, and state titles.”
Also in the senior ranks are some returning major contributors in defenders Chrystina Bonelli, Camryn McGuire, and Molly Kosh; midfielder Taylor Weischet, and forward Paige White. Guilford’s immense senior leadership is further bolstered by defenders Abby Yerkes and Mabel Bartlett, midfielders Sadie Slade and Olivia Mirek, plus Lindsey Hiltz in goal.
Looking at the team’s underclass athletes, Guilford features juniors Taylor Shutak, Chloe Shaw, Jacqui Guerra, and Deirdre Hackett—all four whom Coach McMahon said “represent truly versatile, experienced, and athletic components to the lineup.” Junior Faren Roth and sophomore Meghan Landon will be battling it out for positioning on the goalkeeping depth chart, while the Indians also deploy much budding talent at the JV and freshmen levels.
“Sophomore Tatum Meder is ready to be noticed after leading both the JV and freshmen teams last season,” said McMahon. “Important depth is being developed among the freshmen and JV squads, including Maddie Gambardella, Caroline Basil, Maeve Grattan, Jacquie Violette, Devyn Luden, Molly Linell, and Jodi Smith, among many other strong players. The JV success will be critical to our overall success.”
In a season-opening 0-0 home tie with Hand on Sept. 10, Guilford outshot the Tigers 15-9 as Roth posted a shutout. Hand came out of halftime and put together a strong 20 minutes in which the Tigers created multiple corner kicks and shots. The Tigers were winning 50-50 balls and getting the ball wide for good crosses. Fortunately for Guilford, most of Hand’s shots missed their mark. While it looked like Guilford had lost all momentum, the Indians turned it around when their central-midfield trio of McLaughlin, Nerney, and Hackett started controlling the ball and distributing to their teammates. As the momentum continued to shift, Guilford finished the game by applying pressure, but without the reward of a goal in the scoreless stalemate.
“It was a good opening performance by the team against our greatest rival. It provided the opportunity to play at high intensity and see what we could do as a team,” said McMahon. “The overall control of possession and the many offensive chances we had have been focuses of our preseason. Hand had a strong start to the second half, which caused our defense to have to recollect itself. Eventually, we regained momentum to have a strong finish. Only some bad luck and great goalkeeping saves prevented us from getting the goals needed to win.”
The Indians then took a 2-1 loss to Shelton on Sept. 13. Guilford came out by controlling play with midfield passing and passes up front. Basilicato received a direct kick from Taylor Shutak, controlled the ball with a few dribbles, and shot a long ball over the Shelton keeper for a 1-0 lead. The Indians continued applying offensive pressure, but couldn’t net a second goal. As the second half commenced, Guilford continued to create chances before Shelton got a corner kick that was well hit and deflected into the goal by an Indians’ defender. With the score tied 1-1, Guilford continued to push the ball forward, however, Shelton was able to get a counterattack that ended up with a Gaels’ midfielder beating two defenders before scoring the game-winner with five minutes left.
“Andrea Basilicato getting her first goal of the season was important and the defense continued to play tough and cohesively,” said Coach McMahon. “It was the second game to start this season where Guilford controlled much of the play, created many chances, but was still unable to get the goals necessary to win. We played with a consistent drive and quality of play that should be rewarded soon with some wins. Three starters were forced out of the game due to rolled ankles and bruises, yet Caroline Basil, Jacquie Violette, and Tatum Meder all provided excellent minutes that will only help later on.”
The 2016-’17 high school sports year is one of great change in the SCC with new-look divisions and so the Indians now play in a retooled SCC Hammonasset Division with Mercy, Branford, West Haven, and Foran. Additionally, Guilford will entertain several other top-caliber clubs in the conference. The Indians will look to use their difficult slate as a barometer to see how they measure up against possible postseason foes.
“Guilford has accumulated the best record in the SCC over the past five years and thus has the toughest schedule this season. Cheshire, Shelton, Lauralton Hall, Mercy, and traditional rival Hand represent 10 games in the schedule against some of the states top teams. Winning the division against Mercy, Branford, West Haven, and Foran will be a major goal, as will playing up to championship levels in the SCC and state tournaments,” said McMahon. “As the top-rated team over the past seasons, we’ve played important games against Cheshire, Mercy, Lauralton Hall, Shelton, and Branford. Having all on the schedule presents us with possibly the toughest schedule in the state.”
• Scott McMahon returns this fall for his 12th season at the helm for the Guilford girls’ soccer squad.
• Fred Franzoni is back for his ninth campaign as an assistant coach for the Indians, who also welcome aboard new assistant Rick Geremia.
• Since 2013, the Indians have won two SCC Tournament crowns, defeating Branford and Cheshire in the 2013 and 2014 finals, respectively. The Indians also claimed the Class L state title in 2013 by beating Branford for a second time in the postseason. Guilford has reached the Class L quarterfinals in each of the past two campaigns.