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11/05/2017 12:00 AMThe North Branford field hockey team recorded one of its biggest wins in program history, while remaining undefeated on the season, when the Thunderbirds recorded a 2-1 overtime victory versus Valley Regional in the Shoreline Conference Tournament final at the Indian River Complex in Clinton on Nov. 2. This marks the second time that North Branford has won the tournament since it began in 2014, and the T-Birds now own a record of 17-0-1 for the year.
Head Coach Babby Nuhn’s club needed OT to defeat Valley Regional in the Shoreline final. Junior captain Amy Raucci sent one into the back of the cage with 4:26 to play in the sudden-victory session to give North Branford the come-from-behind win.
“Valley is a phenomenal team. They scored first on us, and that was the first time we were scored on first this season, so we had to rally,” Coach Nuhn said. “We believed in ourselves and battled to win.”
Valley earned a penalty corner in overtime, but Zelda Galdenzi stole the ball, and sent a pass up field to Ali Barrett, who then connected with Raucci. Raucci went one-on-one against Warriors’ goalie Mia Cost and put the shot past her for the championship-clinching goal. Galdenzi, a senior captain, discussed how the winning play materialized.
“We had a defensive corer, and I knew the other goal they got was from one of those, so it was very nerve-wracking. I knew I had to get it out of the circle, so I ran as fast as I could, and I just went for the ball. As I dribbled up the field, I passed it up, and Amy got down the field and scored a great goal,” Galdenzi said. “At first, I couldn’t tell if it went in or not. Amy hit the ball so hard she fell. Once I realized it went in, it was such an adrenaline rush. We all ran together and hugged. It was crazy.”
Junior goalie Jordan Regan said she felt a sense of relief that was followed by a major wave of exhilaration when Raucci netted the game-winning goal.
“It started on my end. We had a corner, and Zelda came out of nowhere and took the ball off of Valley’s stick and took it down field,” said Regan, who posted a shutout when the T-Birds defeated Old Saybrook 3-0 in the semifinals. “Amy took a crazy shot, and everyone went crazy. We all went running down there.”
After Valley took a 1-0 lead early in the first half, Raucci scored on a corner to even the score with no time remaining. Both squads played solid defense in the second half to set up the thrilling overtime finish. Coach Nuhn said that she feels especially proud of this year’s team, because of how well her athletes have worked together throughout the season.
“You always want a team that is selfless and dedicated. Everyone on this team is equal and working together to bring their skills up,” said Nuhn, whose club also defeated Valley twice during the regular season. “We’re very team oriented. We always have different people stepping up, which has been very important. Nothing is ever taken for granted. This team knows what it means to work together and be successful together. No one person is making this work. It’s all 42 of us together.”
On Oct. 31, North Branford punched its ticket to the conference final by blanking Old Saybrook 3-0 in the semis. It was a scoreless game until Ava Galdenzi scored on an assist by Barrett off a corner with 1:19 to go in the opening half. With one second remaining in the frame, Angelina Ramada scored a goal to give the T-Birds a 2-0 lead going into the break. Ava Galdenzi netted her second of the game midway through the second half to put a bow on the victory for North Branford, which saw Regan make four saves.
“Jordan made four awesome saves. The girl has been fantastic in net. Sometimes, all the credit goes to the other players, but this goalie has done a great job for us,” Coach Nuhn said. “Us getting those two goals at the end of the half gave us an edge and took the wind out of their sails.”
North Branford is the top seed in the Class S State Tournament and will host the winner of No. 16 seed Northwest Catholic and No. 17 Old Saybrook in a first-round matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 7 at 3:30 p.m. Should the Thunderbirds win, they will host the winner of No. 8 Westbrook and No. 9 Westbrook on Thursday, Nov. 9 in the quarterfinals. The semis are slated for Tuesday, Nov. 14 or Wednesday, Nov. 15; and the final will be played on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Wethersfield High School.
Regan knows that every opponent will be bringing its A-game in states to try and knock North Branford from the ranks of the unbeaten, but the goalie said that the Thunderbirds are prepared for the challenge.
“I think obviously having an undefeated season, teams are going to be gunning for us, looking to be the team that beats the team that hasn’t lost,” she said. “I think we’ll be ready.”
From the Sidelines
North Branford field hockey Head Coach Babby Nuhn is assisted by Evaun Boatman, Lori Connelly, and Kathy Galdenzi. The team managers are freshmen Mia DeLoughery and Erica Piercey.
The T-Birds’ captains are seniors Zelda Galdenzi, Emmy Norton, and Danielle Ramada, plus junior Amy Raucci.
The other athletes on the team are juniors Angelina Ramada, Mary-Kate Torgerson, Adriana Perez, Isabella Palma, Joanna Phabmixay, Julia Pietrogallo, Kaylee Velez, Hannah Augur, Emily Neubig, Sarah Cook, Cayleen Defaranos, and Jordan Regan; sophomores Ava Galdenzi, Bianca D’Onofrio, Emily Olsen, Ali Barrett, Avonlea LeBeau, Alyssa Waligroski, Izabella Mott, Jaime Matthews, Madison Rosiak, and Melanie Norton; and freshmen Alyssa Nero, Emma Serenson, Kelli Jacobson, Briana D’Onofrio, Ella Taylor, Alyssa Kendrick, Sophia Anastasio, Sophia Votto, Karina Jassil, Amanda Nuzzo, Jada Miconi, Ariana Fiondella, Zoe Hughes, and Gabrielle Gibilisco.