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12/22/2016 11:00 PMThe 2016 fall season in Branford saw the Hornets’ field hockey team grind out a couple of thrilling victories on their way to standing atop one of the state’s most elite leagues. Elsewhere, the boys’ cross country squad won its division title, while the volleyball and boys’ soccer squads earned postseason berths.
Field Hockey
The Branford field hockey program added to its lengthy list of achievements in 2016, when the Hornets captured their first SCC Tournament title in program history. Branford won the championship by defeating Cheshire 2-1 at Lyman Hall High School on Nov. 3.
Branford netted a record of 14-2 during a regular season that featured wins versus Lauralton Hall, Cheshire, Hand, and Guilford. Then in the SCC Tournament, the Hornets defeated Hamden 6-1, followed by a 2-1 semifinal triumph over Lauralton that was decided by a 4-1 margin in penalty strokes. That victory sent Branford to the championship game, where the Hornets edged Cheshire 2-1 after senior Kiersten Bjork scored the go-ahead goal midway through the second half. Branford continued its postseason success in the Class M State Tournament by defeating both Pomperaug and East Lyme by a 4-0 final to move on to the semifinal round. In the semis, the Hornets dropped a 1-0 contest to New Canaan to finish the year at 19-3 overall.
Branford Head Coach Cathy McGuirk was named the SCC Coach of the Year. The Hornets’ senior captains were goalie Keira Integlia and defender Alanna Grimm. Integlia and junior Autumn McHenry were All-SCC First Team honorees, while Bjork, fellow senior Carol Frye, and junior Sabrina Torcellini made the Second Team.
Boys’ Cross Country
Branford took back the SCC Oronoque championship by sweeping a home tri-meet against divisional foes North Haven and Cross at the Supply Pond on Oct. 13. Head Coach Kevin Connell’s team defeated North Haven 24-34 and Cross 20-36 to finish the regular season at 6-3 overall.
After placing second in that meet, Andrew Byrne finished in 52nd place at the SCC Championship and then took 21st place at the Class MM State Championship. Matt Daley, Spencer Mariotti, Ryan McCarthy, Andrew DeBenedictis, Harry Troidle, and Robbie Lionetti all competed at those two postseason competitions for the Hornets. Byrne, Mariotti, and John Perrotti were the team’s captains for the season.
Girls’ Cross Country
Branford had a smaller team this year and saw its streak of 10 straight Oronoque Division titles come to a close as the Hornets posted an overall record of 2-7 on the season.
Senior captain Courtney Cosgrove had the Hornets’ best showing at the SCC and state meets. Cosgrove finished in 44th place at the SCC Championship, after which she came in 34th place at the Class MM State Championship. Sophie Spencer, Emily Borst, and Molly Klarman also ran at both postseason meets for Head Coach Kevin Connell’s squad. Omaima Nasry competed at the SCC meet.
Volleyball
Branford finished at 12-6 for the regular season, after which the Hornets competed in both postseason tournaments.
Head Coach Eva Esposito’s club defeated Lauralton Hall 3-1 in the first round of the SCC Tournament and earned a 3-1 win over Hand in the quarterfinals to reach the semis, where Branford took a 3-0 defeat to Amity. Then in states, the Hornets sept Middletown 3-0 before dropping a 3-2 decision against Hand in the quarters. Branford completed the year with an overall mark of 17-8.
Senior captain Adrienne DiGioia was an All-SCC First Team selection for the Hornets, while junior middle hitter Haley Maercklein made the Second Team. Branford’s other senior captain was defensive specialist Jenn Hwang.
Boys’ Soccer
The Hornets fought hard to qualify for the Class L State Tournament this fall and clinched their bid by earning a 1-1 tie versus Cheshire in their regular season finale. Branford trailed 1-0 when Ethan Boileau scored to tie the game. Head Coach Paul Hunter’s club went on to take a 2-1 loss at Torrington in the first round of the Class L bracket for a final record of 6-10-1. One of the season highlights for Branford came when sophomore Marzio Mastroianni netted a hat trick in a 5-2 victory versus Lyman Hall on Oct. 7.
Boileau and Ian Cabahug were All-Housatonic Division honorees for Branford with Boileau additionally making the All-SCC Team.
Girls’ Soccer
Branford finished with a record of 3-12-1 this season, earning a 2-0 win against North Haven, a 3-0 victory versus East Haven, a 2-2 tie with East Haven, a 2-0 home victory over Foran.
Suzanne Proto made the All-Hammonasset Division Team for Head Coach Jen Kohut’s club.
Girls’ Swimming and Diving
On the heels of a regular season in which it recorded five victories, Branford saw some success in its postseason meets this fall. After finishing in ninth place at the SCC Championship, the Hornets turned in a solid showing at the Class M State Championship by taking sixth place.
Junior Gabija Karosas earned All-State honors in the 100 backstroke by taking second place with a time of 1:01.34 at the Class M meet. She also swam with freshman Gabrielle Gillis, senior Isabel Albinger, and junior Sally Nardella on a 400 freestyle relay that posted a fifth-place finish. Albinger additionally finished fifth for the 50 freestyle at states. The Hornets’ head coach was Scott Butler.
Football
Branford finished the season with an overall mark of 4-6, plus a record of 2-4 in SCC Tier 3 contests. The Hornets beat Lyman Hall 27-12, earned a 15-14 victory at Guilford, shut out East Lyme 14-0, and then held on for a 28-27 win over Amity.
In the Guilford win, Branford trailed the Indians late in the fourth quarter, when Griffin Lynch threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Thomas on 4th-and-10 to make it a one-point game. The Hornets went for a 2-point conversion and Lynch find Noah Lordan for the go-ahead score and a one-point victory. Branford was in the opposite situation against Amity, which went for a game-winning 2-point conversion that Hornets’ senior captain James Dering thwarted to preserve a one-point Branford win.
Lynch, Lordan, Dering, and Spencer Berty were the Hornets’ senior captains this year. Lordan collected All-SCC Division II honors as a linebacker with Dering and Berty making the team as defensive backs.