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09/25/2016 12:00 AMField Hockey
The Branford field hockey team stayed undefeated by posting a 2-0 shutout at Sheehan on Sept. 23.
Molly Zaffino scored the Hornets’ first goal on an assist from Kiersten Bjork with 1:38 to play in the first half. Just 3:38 into the second half, Branford made it 2-0 when Sabrina Torcellini scored a goal on a corner play. On the score, Bjork passed the ball to LanLe Crotty, who took a hard shot that went off the pads of the Sheehan goalie. Torcellini was there for the rebound and blasted it past the keeper for the insurance goal.
Sheehan packed its own circle with all 11 field players in an effort to play a defensive game and had no shots on goal or corners in the contest. Branford took 12 shots on goal and Keira Integlia picked up the shutout in net. With the victory, Branford improved to 4-0 on the season. The Hornets had previously defeated fellow SCC Tier 1 teams Cheshire, Lauralton Hall, and Hand.
Boys’ Soccer
It was a busy week for the Hornets, who played three games on the road and won one of them for a record of 3-3 this year. Branford lost at Amity 2-1 on Sept. 20, took a 2-0 defeat at Shelton on Sept. 21, and then closed the week by earning a 2-1 victory at Law in a Housatonic Division game on Sept. 23.
For the first time this year, Head Coach Paul Hunter felt that his team didn’t play that well when Branford lost to Amity. The Hornets trailed 2-0 before Marvin Hernandez scored from Trey Duval to make it 2-1 in the 62nd minute. Branford came close to tying the game, but couldn’t net the equalizer.
Versus Shelton, Branford allowed one goal in each half in dropping a 2-0 contest.
However, the Hornets buckled down and finished the week on a positive note by edging Law 2-1. Marzio Mastroianni opened the scoring in the 15th minute by scoring on a breakaway when he slotted the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net from a beautiful Ben DeMaio through ball. Law tied the game in the 20th minute on a miscommunication between two Hornets’ defenders that resulted in a chipped shot that caught goalie Praneeth Ganedi off his line. Not to be deterred, the Hornets kept working hard and John Tratnyek scored corner from DeMaio in the 60th minute for what held up as the game-winning goal. As the game came to its closing moments, Ganedi came up with a huge play by punch clearing a long diagonal free kick while the final whistle blew.
Girls’ Soccer
Branford dropped three home games at Veteran’s Park last week and is now 1-5 this season. The Hornets lost 4-1 to Hamden on Sept. 20, took a 7-1 loss to Hammonasset Division opponent Guilford the next day, and then dropped a 3-2 decision versus another divisional opponent in West Haven on Sept. 23.
In the West Haven game, Morgan Ashby scored one of Branford’s goals and also assisted on the other by Rose Lockery, a freshman who netted her first varsity score.
Boys’ Cross Country
Branford hosted Hamden for a meet at the Supply Pond and took a 20-40 defeat to drop to 3-1 this year. Andrew Byrne paced himself to a third-place finish with a time of 18:23, while Spencer Mariotti was fifth (19:10) and Matt Daley came in ninth (19:29). Also for the Hornets, Ryan McCarthy finished 11th in 19:41, Harry Troidle was 12th at 19:47, Robbie Lionetti came in 14th place with a time of 20:12, and Andrew DeBenedictis took 15th in 20:28.
“Matt Daley had a strong effort at home. He’s been working hard and it’s beginning to pay off,” Head Coach Kevin Connell said. “I thought the boys’ pack running is getting better. We’re not going to have someone way out in front, so the boys have put together a strong group, and they are having some fun during these meets. Great competition among them week after week.”
On Sept. 24, Branford competed at the Ocean State Invitational in East Greenwich, Rhode Island and scored 531 points to place 19th out of 35 teams. Hitting the course for the Hornets were Byrne (55th, 17:59), Mariotti (86th, 18:35), McCarthy (132nd, 19:09), Troidle (135th, 19:11), Daley (143rd, 19:15), DeBenedictis (179th, 19:50), and John Perrotti (200th, 20:22).
Girls’ Cross Country
The Hornets are now 2-2 following last week’s 17-46 home loss to Hamden at the Supply Pond. Courtney Cosgrove led the Branford pack by placing fourth with a mark of 22:25. Sophie Spencer finished ninth at 25:11, Emily Borst was 10th in 26:12, Omaima Nasry took 14th place behind a time of 28:23, and Molly Klarman finished 15th at 28:38.
“Sophie Spencer came through with a great run at home. The girls don’t have any depth, so we need everyone to run their best,” said Head Coach Kevin Connell. “The girls are coming along and we will see some improvement from them over the next couple of weeks. Training has gone well, but we need to keep them all healthy.”
Last weekend, the Hornets ran at the Ocean State Invitational in Rhode Island and were led by Cosgrove in 49th (21:05), Borst in 149th (23:30), and Spencer in 161st (23:44).
Football
The Hornets took their first loss of the year by dropping a 45-14 contest to SCC Tier 1 team Shelton at Guilford High School on Sept. 24.
Shelton (3-0) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and made it 21-0 in the second. Branford got on the board on Jackson Seward’s 2-yard touchdown run midway through the frame, but the Gales came back with two TDs and a field goal for a 38-7 halftime advantage. Jael Greene scored the Hornets’ second touchdown on a 2-yard rush in the third quarter. James Dering kicked both extra points.
Greene ran 13 times for 50 yards for Branford, while Noah Lordan gained 36 yards on three carries. Spencer Berty caught a 34-yard pass from Griffin Lynch.
On defense, Zach Cash recovered a fumble and Berty had a sack with 12 tackles that included three for a loss. Lordan and Neil Clyne both added 10 tackles for Head Coach John Limone’s squad, which is now 2-1.
The Hornets’ next game will take place on their new home turf at Branford High School when they host non-conference squad East Lyme (0-3) at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 30.