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09/08/2017 03:05 PMField Hockey
The Thunderbirds’ field hockey team won three Shoreline Conference contest last week to finish the regular season with undefeated record of 10-0 in conference play this year. North Branford owns an overall mark of 14-0-1 with one game remaining in the regular season.
North Branford started last week with a 7-0 victory against Morgan on Oct. 16. It was the team’s annual Play for a Cure Game that was dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Amy Raucci opened the scoring in the first half at the 26:25 mark on an assist from teammate Melanie Norton. Raucci added two more goals for North Branford in the second half, while Angelina Ramada, Emmy Norton, Danielle Ramada, and Ali Barrett also got in on the act by netting one goal apiece. Jordan Regan recorded a shutout in goal in the decisive victory.
On Oct. 18, North Branford squeaked out a 3-2 win over Old Saybrook. Three different players found the back of the net as Ava Galdenzi, Emmy Norton, and Angelina Ramada were the goal scorers for the Thunderbirds, who saw Regan make four saves in the victory.
The T-Birds wrapped up the week with a 4-2 win over Valley Regional on Oct. 20. Raucci and Ava Galdenzi both scored goals in the first half to give North Branford a 2-1 edge heading into the second half. Emmy Norton and Ali Barrett each netted a goal in the second half, and North Branford went on to get the victory.
Boys’ Soccer
North Branford finished the regular season with a record of 7-7-2, winning its last three games, while qualifying for the Class S State Tournament.
On Oct. 17, the Thunderbirds defeated Hale-Ray 5-1. Zach Smola recorded a hat trick, and Sean Esposito scored twice in the victory for North Branford.
The Thunderbirds followed that up with a 1-0 victory over Westbrook on Oct. 1. Jake Haeckel scored the game-winning goal as North Branford clinched its spot in states.
To finish the week, North Branford topped Amistad by a 5-0 final. Smola scored two goals, while Esposito, Haeckel, and Paul Zumbo all scored one apiece for the T-Birds.
Girls’ Soccer
North Branford played to a 0-0 tie with Valley Regional in its lone game of the week on Oct. 21. North Branford’s record stands at 12-1-1 with two games to go in the regular season.
Football
On Oct. 20, North Branford hosted Valley Regional-Old Lyme and lost 23-0 in a Pequot League Sassacus Division contest. The T-Birds are now 4-2 overall and 3-2 in the division.
North Branford ran for 162 yards as a team with Nick Mancini leading the way by gaining 57 yards on the ground. Defensively, Mancini posted a team-best 11 tackles and recorded a sack. Tyler Dinapoli also had a sack, and Alex Clinton recorded two interceptions for the T-Birds.
North Branford plays at divisional opponent Haddam-Killingworth (3-3, 2-2) at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27.
Volleyball
North Branford took 3-0 defeats against Haddam-Killingworth, Old Lyme, and Coginchaug last week. The Thunderbirds’ record now stands at 4-14 with two matches remaining this year.
Boys’ Cross Country
On Oct. 20, North Branford participated in the Shoreline Conference Championship at Old Lyme High School. Head Coach Barry Doohan called it a difficult course and one the T-Birds have run twice in the last two weeks. The team finished in 11th place at the meet.
Seniors Michael Madoule and Jared Jamieson finished in 42nd and 51st place, respectively, by running times of 20:46 and 21:12 for the Thunderbirds. North Branford’s other runners were Roberto Didiano (64th, 22:18), Joe DeLucia (72nd, 23:31), Joshua Brigido (74th, 24:05), Patrick Miconi (77th, 25:40), and Jason Ash (79th, 25:47).
Girls’ Cross Country
The T-Birds competed at last week’s Shoreline Conference Championship and finished in 10th place as a squad.
Sophomore Mackenzie Glenn led the way for North Branford by finishing in 34th place with a time of 24:37. Onna Gott finished 44th at 25:37, while fellow freshman Riley Kendall came in 53rd place behind a mark of 26:25. Seniors Bianca Castelan (64th, 31:10) and Sarah Sullivan (66th, 33:21) rounded out the race for the T-Birds.
Head Coach Barry Doohan said that North Branford’s boys’ and girls’ cross country teams are poised to run in the Class SS State Championship this week. Doohan said it’s been a positive season for the Thunderbirds as the teams continues to move forward following the passing of legendary coach Floyd Parness. Doohan feels that as his athletes continue dedicating themselves to the lessons they learned from Parness and receiving positive vibes from the community, the future is bright for the North Branford cross country program.