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01/06/2018 11:00 PMBoys’ Ice Hockey
The Branford boys’ ice hockey team improved to 4-0-1 on the year by winning a pair of matchups in last week’s action. The Hornets skated to victories Lyman Hall/Haddam-Killingworth/Coginchaug (LH/H-K/C) and Milford to stay undefeated on the young season.
Branford began last week by rallying for a 6-5 overtime home win over SCC/SWC Division III opponent LH/H-K/C at Northford Ice Pavilion on Jan. 3. The Hornets trailed 5-3 with 1:15 remaining in the game, but got goals from sophomores Spencer Engstrom and Blake Kustra to tie it, and then won it when junior Max Bunton scored in OT. The game was tied 2-2 through two periods. Sophomore Jack Manware scored from junior Rob Lionetti in the first period, and Kustra scored on Engstrom’s assist in the second. After the Trojans netted a goal 13 seconds into the third, Bunton scored from Engstrom 36 seconds later to tie it at 3-3. LH/H-K/C scored the next two goals and led 5-3 entering the final minutes, but Engstrom scored from Manware and Bunton with 1:15 to play, followed by Kustra’s goal from Bunton that knotted it with 17 seconds to go. Just 1:11 into overtime, Bunton scored from Engstrom and Kustra to give the Hornets the 6-5 win.
Then on Jan. 6, the Hornets notched a 6-2 win over Milford in a SCC/SWC Division II matchup at Milford Ice Pavilion. Lionetti scored an unassisted goal for Branford, after which Jack Manware scored from Bunton and Engstrom for a 2-0 lead after the first period. The Hornets netted three goals in the second period on unassisted goals by Kustra and Jack Manware, along with Bunton’s goal from Lionetti. In the third, Engstrom scored a goal on assists from Lionetti and Connor Erickson to put a bow on Branford’s 6-2 victory.
Girls’ Ice Hockey
The Branford-East Haven-North Branford (Bfd-EH-NB) girls’ ice hockey squad was on the ice for two home recent contests and won both of them to stand with a record of 5-2. The Wings defeated Guilford and Hand-Coginchaug-Old Lyme (H-C-OL) in its last two games.
On Jan. 3, Bfd-EH-NB hosted Guilford for a SCC South Division game at DiLungo Rink in East Haven and recorded a 6-3 victory. East Haven resident Julianna Constantinople had a huge night by netting five goals, while North Branford’s Emmy Norton also found the back of the net for the Wings.
Three nights after that, the Wings were back home to face another divisional opponent and in H-C-OL and won by a 2-1 score. North Branford student Emilie Wilkinson scored the Wings’ first goal in the second period, and then Constantinople broke a 1-1 tie by netting the game-winner in the third on an assist by Norton. East Haven’s Julia SanGiovanni made 31 saves to pick up the win in net for the Wings.
Girls’ Basketball
The Hornets dropped a pair of recent contests on the road to move to 4-4 for the season. Branford lost games at North Haven and East Haven last week.
On Jan. 3, Head Coach Justin Henry’s squad took a 44-40 defeat in North Haven to split the season series with the Indians, who Branford had defeated 48-36 at home in its season opener.
Two nights later, the Hornets were in East Haven to face to rival Yellowjackets and lost a 67-39 decision. Senior Emma Pierson scored 16 points, and sophomore Sophia Araneo had 11 points for the Hornets.
Boys’ Basketball
Branford dropped a pair of contests on its home floor last week to move to 1-5 on the season. The Hornets took defeats against Hand and East Haven in last week’s action.
Branford opened up last week by hosting Hand and lost 54-39 against the Tigers on Jan. 2. The Hornets trailed 9-8 after the first quarter, before Hand outscored Branford 13-5 in the second quarter and 17-11 in the third on its way to the victory. Zane Kmietek hit four three-pointers and scored 13 points, while fellow senior Ethan Boileau had 11 points and seven rebounds for Branford. Senior Mike White added seven points, and senior Damien Maniscalco grabbed three steals.
Four nights later, the Hornets had a home game versus East Haven and took a 43-41 loss to the Yellowjackets, who hit two late free throws to come away with the win. Once again, Boileau scored 11 points, while sophomore Kevin Baxter also had 11 points for Branford. Kmietek scored nine points, and Maniscalco added six points.
Wrestling
The Hornets squared off against SCC opponent Guilford last week and then traveled to Rhode Island to compete in a tournament.
Branford faced Guilford for a road showdown against its conference foe on Jan. 3 and lost by a 49-24 score. Senior Zach Cash won via pin at the 47-second mark in the 160-pound weight class for Branford. Sophomore Cody McHenry prevailed by pin in 1:47 in the 170 class, sophomore Minsok Lee pinned his opponent in 1:03 at 195, and senior Kyle Zalewski won his 220-pound bout by pin at the 1:13 mark.
Then on Jan. 6, Branford headed to Westerly, Rhode Island to compete in the Chad Antoch Memorial Tournament and finished in seventh place out of 15 teams. Zalewski placed third in the 220-pound weight class, while freshman Justin Osler took third in the 182-pound division. Head Coach Jessie Hurlburt said the Hornets wrestled well and gave a complete team effort to earn their seventh-place finish.
Boys’ Swimming and Diving
The Branford-Guilford boys’ swimming and diving team took a defeat versus Shelton in a recent contest. The Hornets lost to Shelton 97-67 at the Shelton Community Center Pool on Dec. 29.