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04/16/2017 12:00 AMGirls’ Lacrosse
The Thunderbirds’ girls’ lacrosse team picked up a couple of recent victories to improve to 4-0 in the 2017 season.
On April 10, North Branford took on Haddam-Killingworth and beat the Cougars 15-8. It was a balanced scoring attack for North Branford as seven different players found the back of the net and 11 of the 15 goals were assisted. Emmy Norton and Adriana Ingarra scored three goals apiece, while Tara Lauro, Stephanie Seymour, Sydney Hogan, and Emilie Wilkinson each scored twice. Jessie Kilburn also chipped in with a goal. Hogan recorded a team-high four assists, plus Ingarra and Lauro finished with two each. Kilburn, Seymour, and Norton all had one assist. In goal, Elissa Nuzzo recorded nine saves to earn the victory.
On April 13, North Branford posted a 16-0 victory over Morgan. It was a strong defensive game for North Branford, which held the Huskies to just four shots that were all stopped by Nuzzo for the shutout. Norton once again led the way with three goals, while Seymour, Kilburn, Ingarra, Hogan, and Mackenzie MacGowan all scored twice. Wilkinson, Lauro, and Melanie Norton had a goal apiece for North Branford and Hogan dished out five assists.
Boys’ Lacrosse
North Branford lost a close one to Morgan on April 13 to drop to 1-4 for the season. Morgan defeated North Branford 13-12, holding off the Thunderbirds’ late attempt to tie it up.
Brian McKee scored four times and added two assists for the T-Birds in the loss. Connor Odell scored three goals, Peter Taylor and Dillon Blake both scored twice, and Sean McKee added a goal. Peter Taylor shined in the face-off circle as he went 11-of-19 on draws. Noah Taylor and Xavier Cognata combined to make nine saves for North Branford.
Softball
The Thunderbirds improved to 4-0 with a 7-0 victory over East Hampton on April 11.
Julia Haeckel pitched a four-hit shutout and struck out 11 to improve to 3-0 on the mound this season. Olivia Hemstock led the way offensively with two hits, two runs, and three RBI. Haeckel helped herself out by knocking in two runners, plus Angelina Ramada also drove home one.
Baseball
North Branford dropped to 2-4 for the season after taking three defeats in four recent matchups.
On April 9, North Branford doubled up Westbrook, 20-10, on the road. Jake Baker threw four scoreless innings to start game for the T-Birds, whose bats were on fire. Colin Baxter led the attack with two hits and three RBI.
The Thunderbirds later took 5-2 loss to Old Lyme on April 10, a 7-6 loss to Coginchaug on April 12, and a 6-3 defeat to Cromwell on April 14. In the loss to Coginchaug, North Branford held a lead heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, but gave up three runs, and took the one-run loss.
Girls’ Tennis
The Thunderbirds won two recent matches last week to improve to 2-2.
On April 10, North Branford earned its first victory of the season, 6-1, over Portland. Wins in the singles matches came courtesy of Sydney Constantinidi at No. 2 (6-3, 6-3); Zelda Galdenzi at No. 3 by the score of 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-3; and Nichole Yeager at No. 4 (6-0, 6-0). In doubles action, the top pairing of Alyssa Diaz and Sofia Cavalier won 6-1, 6-4; the second team of Brianna Dautaj and Morgan Odice won 6-3, 6-3; and the third pairing of Ashley Testa and Janessa Pompano won 6-0, 6-0.
On April 12, the T-Birds defeated Morgan 4-3. The second doubles team of Jordan Caplan and Briana Dautaj won 7-6, 6-4; while singles players earning victories were Constantinidi (6-0, 6-0); Galdenzi (2-6, 6-3, 6-2); and Yeager (6-0, 6-0).
North Branford finished the week with a 5-2 loss at Coginchaug on April 13.
Boys’ Tennis
The T-Birds had a match in Coginchaug on April 13. North Branford dropped a 6-1 decision against the Blue Devils.