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01/01/2018 11:00 PMBoys’ Ice Hockey
The Branford boys’ ice hockey squad recently earned a tie against Staples and then posted a lopsided win over North Haven to improve to 2-0-1 on the year.
On Dec. 20, Branford skated to a 3-3 tie versus Staples in a non-conference game at Northford Ice Pavilion. Staples took a 2-0 lead in the first period and the game stayed that way until Branford netted all three of its goals in the third, while Staples also scored a goal in the period. Spencer Engstrom scored from Jake Rivera and Zach Jones, Jack Manware had a goal on assists by Theo Kirby and Liam Deane, and Blake Kustra scored from Manware and Deane to account for the Hornets’ goals.
Three days later, Branford hosted North Haven for a SWC/SCC Division II matchup and prevailed 7-2 against the Indians. Branford led 2-0 after two periods and held a 4-2 lead midway through the third, before scoring the last three goals of the game. Max Bunton, Spencer Engstrom, and Kustra all scored two goals for the Hornets, and Jack Manware had their other goal. Max Manware handed out three assists, Rob Lionetti had two assists, and Kirby added an assist in the victory.
Bunton scored an unassisted goal 5:53 into the first period, and then Engstrom netted a goal 4:37 into the second for a 2-0 Branford advantage. Just 53 seconds into the final frame, Engstrom scored from Max Manware to make it 3-0. North Haven scored a goal to cut it to 3-1, but just 41 seconds later, Kustra scored on Max Manware’s assist to extend the lead to 4-1. The Indians came back with a goal to make it 4-2 with 11 minutes remaining, but it was all Branford after that, as Bunton scored unassisted with 8:09 to play, Jack Manware scored from Max Manware and Lionetti about a minute later, and Kustra scored from Kirby and Lionetti in the final minute to put a bow on the 7-2 win.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
The Branford-East Haven-North Branford (Bfd-EH-NB) girls’ ice hockey team split four recent matchups to stand at 3-2 for the season.
On Dec. 18, the Wings claimed a 1-0 road win over Hall-Conard at Veteran’s Memorial Rink in West Hartford. East Haven freshman Julianna Constantinople scored the only goal for the game for the Wings, who saw fellow East Haven students Julia SanGiovanni and Isabella Segui combine for the shutout in net. SanGiovanni and North Branford student Emmy Norton are the team’s captains this year.
Two days later, Bfd-EH-NB faced off against fellow SCC South Division opponent West Haven-Sacred Heart Academy at Bennett Rink in West Haven and took a 4-3 defeat in overtime. Emmy Norton scored two goals for the Wings, while Constantinople had the other goal. Head Coach Jack Norton said that SanGiovanni turned in another incredible performance in net.
Then on Dec. 23, the Wings were on the road again when they played Amity-North Haven-Cheshire for a divisional duel at The Rinks at Shelton. Bfd-EH-NB took a 4-2 defeat against the Blades with Norton scoring both goals for the Hornets.
Four days after that, the Wings hosted division opponent Lauralton Hall at DiLungo Rink in East Haven and came away with a 9-4 victory. Constantinople had four goals, while Norton contributed a goal with two assists in the win. Branford senior Maria DeFabio scored her first high school goal, as did SanGiovanni, who normally plays goalie.
Girls’ Basketball
The Hornets recently had a four-contest stretch in which they went 3-1 for an overall record of 4-2 this winter.
On Dec. 20, Branford hosted North Branford for a non-conference clash and posted a 52-42 victory versus the Thunderbirds. The Hornets led by five before outscoring North Branford 19-12 in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Emma Pierson hit seven field goals and went 10-of-11 from the free-throw line to score 25 points. Sophia Araneo made all 10 of her free-throw attempts and scored 14 points, while Karly King added 10 points for Branford.
The following night, the Hornets had a home game against Wilbur Cross and prevailed 36-33. Branford trailed 28-24, before outscoring the Governors 12-5 in the fourth quarter. Araneo scored 19 points, Pierson had nine points, and King scored six points in the win.
After a few days off, Branford was back on the court on Dec. 27, when the team took a 48-42 loss at Law. Araneo had a big game for Branford by scoring 23 points.
The next afternoon, Head Coach Justin Henry’s club faced Foran at Law High School and prevailed 47-29 versus the Lions. Araneo had 18 points, King scored 12, and Pierson had 10 points for Branford.
Boys’ Basketball
The Branford boys’ basketball team tipped off a new era on Dec. 20, when the Hornets played their first game with Head Coach Chris Burhnam, who takes over for Jake Palluzzi following a 29-year tenure. The Hornets took a 61-37 loss at Lyman Hall in the game. Sophomore Kevin Baxter scored eight points, and senior Mike White had six points for the Hornets.
Two nights later, Branford had a contest in Cheshire and lost by the score of 37-26. Then on Dec. 27, the Hornets faced host North Haven in the semifinals of the Fred Kelly Holiday Tournament and dropped a 47-45 decision. The next night, Branford earned a 56-50 win versus Platt in the consolation game to move to 1-3 on the year.
Wrestling
Branford picked up a 48-16 home victory over Fairfield Prep on Dec. 19. With the win, the Hornets improved to 2-0 in their first season with new Head Coach Jesse Hurlburt.
Boys’ Swimming and Diving
The Branford-Guilford’ boys’ swimming and diving team welcomes a new head coach to the fold in Jen Amasino, who has been a coach with the Soundview YMCA Stingrays for several years and is also the head coach of the girls’ swim team at Guilford High School. Amasino’s team hosted a pair of meets at the Walsh Intermediate School, taking a 98-72 defeat to Xavier on Dec. 19 and dropping a 99-69 decision versus Amity two days later.
In the Xavier meet, sophomore Aidan Henry won the 200 individual medley (2:04.97) and the 500 freestyle (4:57.80) for the Hornets. Freshman Emanuel Acevedo took first place in the diving competition by posting a score of 99.70 points.
Against Amity, Henry won the 200 freestyle (1:48.63), David Zhang took first in the 100 backstroke (1:06.87), Andrew Orce won the 100 breaststroke (1:18.57), and the Hornets’ 400 freestyle relay of Henry, Daniel Kamen, Zhang, and Orce took first place in 3:55.13.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
The Hornets kicked off their season by participating in a SCC Developmental Meet at Floyd Little Athletic Center on Dec. 19.
Several athletes qualified for the Class M State Championship on behalf of Head Coach Rich Biondi’s squad. The Hornets who qualified were Carlos McCaay in the 55 (7.10), CJ Miller in the 600 (1:34.07), Marzio Mastroianni in the 1,000 (2:46.99), and Justin Dombrowski for the pole vault (10-0), along with the 4x200 relay of Miller, Brandon Perez, McCaay, and Kadir Sahin, which ran a time of 1:43.54.
Coach Biondi also noted the strong performances of Perez in the long jump (17-8), along with Andrew Wirtz and Sean Jansen in the pole vault, as both athletes cleared 9 feet.
“I was very pleased with the effort of the kids. The first month of the season has been a pleasure. The athletes have worked hard. There is a great deal of energy at practice,” Coach Biondi said. “I believe that the captains—CJ Miller, Kadir Sahin, and Sean Torres—have not only led by example, but their enthusiasm is contagious. CJ Miller was awesome [in the SCC Developmental]. He displayed a competitive spirit and toughness. As a result, he qualified for states in two events. I have had the pleasure of coaching CJ since he was in 6th grade. I have enjoyed every second of his development as a young man and as an athlete. I was also very excited that Justin Dombrowski qualified for states in the pole vault. He has worked for that goal, and he has just begun to understand how good he can be.”
Girls’ Indoor Track
On Dec. 18, Branford competed at an SCC Developmental Meet at New Haven’s Floyd Little Athletic Center, where sophomore Diana Karosas finished in first place in the high jump by clearing 5 feet.
In the pole vault, senior Bridget Wirtz and Karosas both cleared 8 feet-6 inches, finishing second and fifth, respectively, in the event for Head Coach Kevin Connell’s squad.