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04/22/2018 12:00 AMThe Branford girls’ lacrosse team recently had a historic week that saw the Hornets achieve two major milestones. On April 17, Jackie Ceccolini earned her 100th victory as Branford’s head coach when her team posted a 16-8 victory at Guilford. Four days later, senior Autumn McHenry recorded her 300th point with the Hornets when she assisted on the game-winning goal in a 6-5 comeback win over Barlow at home. In between these two wins, Branford notched an 18-3 victory at Sheehan on April 19. The Hornets, who are the defending Class M state champions, are 9-0 on the year and have won 13 straight games dating back to last season.
Sophie Spencer had six goals with two assists, while fellow senior captain midfielder Autumn McHenry scored a goal and dished out seven assists when the Hornets defeated Guilford to give Coach Ceccolini her 100th win. Branford jumped out to a 12-4 halftime command on its way to the one-sided decision. Senior captain Sabrina Torcellini netted five goals for Branford, which also qualified for states with this victory. Senior forwards LanLe Crotty, Erin O’Brien, and Haley Maercklein added one goal apiece, while sophomore forward Brianna Shaw also scored a goal for the Hornets.
Coach Ceccolini was pleased to get her 100th win, but she’s even happier with how well her squad is playing, along with the overall state of lacrosse in Branford. The sport has come a long way during the past decade, and Ceccolini knows she never would have reached the century mark without a dedicated effort from everyone who’s involved with the sport in town.
“I’m obviously very happy and even excited, but it’s not just me. It’s been the efforts of all the players and parents and coaches that have helped along the way. It’s a collective, community group that’s been a part of it and along for the ride,” said Ceccolini, a program alum who’s in her 10th year as head coach. “It’s fitting that it happened with this group because they were one of the first groups that was part of our youth program since the very beginning of its existence. Now, they are seeing success translate to the high-school game because of all the hard work they put in through the years.”
Two after this victory, Branford faced another SCC opponent with a game at Sheehan and defeated the Titans 18-3. McHenry had four goals with two assists; Spencer, Crotty, and O’Brien netted three goals apiece; while Maercklein, sophomore defender Karly King, and sophomore forward Isabel Mannle both added a goal. Senior Daly Hynes played the first half in goal, and sophomore Brooke O’Leary was in net for the second half, with each keeper making one save.
Then on April 21, the Hornets hosted Barlow in a non-conference contest and prevailed 6-5 to make it nine wins in nine games on the year. Branford trailed 4-1 at halftime, but stormed back to tie the game at 5-5, and then took the lead with 8:23 to play when Torcellini scored on an assist McHenry, who recorded career point No. 300 with the helper. She has 185 goals and 115 assists in her high-school career.
"It was awesome. Obviously, in the fashion that it was done, I couldn't have done it with Sabrina getting that goal, so it was a great team effort, and we all had a great game working together. It's not just an individual effort, so it was great," said McHenry, who will play lacrosse and study nursing at Division I Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. "[The victory] really showed the character of our team and really finding our identity and playing much more together as a team than we had been playing previously. So we all rose to the occasion, and we were able to pull out a tough win."
Overall for the game, McHenry finished with one goal and three assists in the one-goal victory over the previously undefeated Falcons. Torcellini had two goals with an assist, Spencer scored a pair of goals, and Shaw added a goal for the Hornets, who saw Hynes make six saves in net.
Branford features a 10-athlete senior class that has a wealth of experience playing in big games. They gained plenty of experience competing in states last year as Branford swept through the Class M State Tournament and clinched its first state title with a 15-8 win against Pomperaug, which the Hornets recently defeated 13-8 in a rematch of that championship clash.
Coach Ceccolini said that Branford is not only focused on keeping the state title plaque in its clutches this spring, but also has its sights set on faring better in the SCC Tournament. The Hornets have lost to Cheshire in the SCC semis each of the past two seasons, and so they’re looking to get over that hump and bring home two banners in 2018.
“We’re looking to keep the streak going as long as we can. Our goal is to finish the season as state champions, and we would obviously love to get an SCC championship,” Ceccolini said. “We enjoyed the feeling off walking off the field as state champions, and we want to have that feeling again this year. We haven’t been happy with where we’ve placed in the SCC Tournament the past few years, and so that’s another goal we’re working toward this year.”
Branford’s senior class additionally consists of defenders Emma Pierson and Caroline Erickson, and attacker Hailey Manware. The Hornets’ juniors are defenders Grace Paleski and Jess Amarante, along with midfielders Carly Shea and Kacey Gilman. Branford’s sophomore corps features defenders Abby Robinson and Katie Elmasry, plus attacker Gabby Gillis. The Hornets also have two freshmen on their varsity roster in attacker Nicola Colossale and defender Jocelyn Smestad.
From the Sidelines
Branford girls’ lacrosse Head Coach Jackie Ceccolini’s coaching staff features her brother Billy Alessi, her father Joe Alessi, along with JV Head Coach Melissa Carney, Katie O’Brien, and Christina Smith.
Thus far this year, the Hornets have defeated Haddam-Killingworth (15-3), Law (16-5), Lauralton Hall (16-2), Old Lyme (16-5), East Lyme (15-3), Pomperaug (13-8), Guilford (16-8), Sheehan (18-3), and Barlow (6-5).
For the rest of this season, Branford has home games against Cheshire, Stamford, and Staples on the schedule. The Hornets will also be on the road to face Mercy, Old Saybrook, Hand, and Amity.