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Hand Girls’ Lacrosse Takes 11-8 Defeat to Branford in State Championship

Hand girls’ lacrosse Head Coach Kevin Siedlecki had nothing but positive things to say about his squad after the Tigers faced Branford in the championship game of the Class M State Tournament. Branford defended its state title by coming away an 11-8 victory versus Hand at Law High School on June 9, but Coach Siedlecki walked off the field feeling a deep appreciation for what the Tigers achieved this year, in addition to what his senior class has accomplished the past four seasons.

Hand’s seniors led the program to a combined record of 73-12 during their tenure, including four straight SCC Tournament titles and two appearances in the Class M final. While those numbers are impressive, Coach Siedlecki felt just as proud about the example that his seniors have set for the Tigers’ underclass athletes, something that was exemplified during the final seconds of their loss against Branford.

“This is the best group we’ve ever had. If I make an all-time team at Hand, I think four or five of them are on the field out there for this one class,” said Siedlecki, whose team went 19-3 this year. “You see Dory Howard sprinting after the ball with three seconds left in the game when we’re down three goals. What more can you ask of your girls? They did everything they could to come away with this win.”

Senior Glenna Kate-Gies scored two goals and had four assists for Hand in the state final. Riley Kokoruda netted two goals, while fellow seniors Taylor Scully, Dory Howard, and Emma Sullivan scored one goal apiece, as did sophomore Chloe Silva. Sophomore Janet Howard added an assist for the Tigers, who saw senior goalie Mackenzie Larson make five saves in net. Scully, Kokoruda, and Emma Valdez were Hand’s senior captains this season.

The top-seeded Tigers scored the first two goals of the game, before No. 2 seed Branford netted six goals in a row to take a lead that it wouldn’t relinquish in the Class M title game. Hand clawed back to make it 8-7 early in the second half, but Branford senior Sophie Spencer scored one of her five goals with 18:45 remaining to give the Hornets some insurance. Spencer went on to notch two more scores and solidify the Class M repeat for Branford, which also finished at 19-3 this sesaon.

“Branford played a phenomenal game. Their goalie was lights out and they were better than us today,” said Siedlecki. “But we dug deep and gave it everything we could for 50 minutes. You can’t ask any more than that.”

Hand got on the board first when Kokoruda scored a goal 2:26 into the contest. Sullivan then scored from Gies just 19 seconds later to make it 2-0. Branford responded by winning a series of face-offs that kept the ball in its hands, and the Hornets made the most of those opportunities by scoring six straight goals to take a 6-2 lead with 15:21 left in the opening half.

Still, the Tigers refused to go down without a fight and answered by notching three goals in a row to cut it to 6-5. Gies scored the first one, Scully followed with another, and then Silva’s score brought Hand within a goal with 4:45 to play in the frame. Branford came back with a pair of goals, before Kokoruda found the back of the net again to make it 8-6 at intermission.

Gies scored early in the second half to cut the gap to 8-7, and the game stayed that way for the next four minutes, until Spencer scored to give Branford a two-goal edge with 18:45 to go. With 16 minutes left, the Tigers were whistled for their fourth yellow card of the afternoon, forcing them to play shorthanded for the rest of the game. The Hornets controlled play from that point on, getting a goal from Spencer with 6:13 left, after which she scored again for an 11-7 advantage with 3:29 remaining.

“It’s really hard to play a man down in women’s lacrosse,” Siedlecki said. “They gave everything they could, but when the other team has an extra player, there’s only so much you can do.”

Howard scored the final goal of the game on an assist by Gies to make it 11-8 with 1:31 to play. Faced with a three-goal deficit, the Tigers continued to plug away. It meant a lot to Coach Siedlecki to see his athletes give every ounce of energy they had until the final horn sounded. He said that’s what his seniors have been doing for the last four years.

“These seniors have built a culture here, built an expectation. And that expectation is Dory Howard running after the ball with three seconds left in the game. That’s how these girls know how to play. That’s how these seniors have taught the younger girls how to play,” he said. “I wanted this championship for them so much, because they have given so much to me and to the sport. And they’re all going to go on and play college lacrosse and they’re going to be great. I can’t wait to see them succeed at that level.”

In reflecting on a remarkable four-year ride, Coach Siedlecki said the talent among the Tigers’ seniors was matched by the effort they gave every day to try and maximize their potential on the field. Siedlecki wants each and every member of his senior class to walk out of Daniel Hand High School with her head held high.

“They’ve left it on the field game after game and it’s been a very emotional season. They’ve been through a lot and they stuck together through it. They are of course very talented, but that talent comes from the work they put in. It doesn’t just happen,” said Siedlecki. “They have worked so hard since they were 10 years old. It’s not just something that’s happened this season. It’s not something that I have done. It’s something that they believe. That’s what makes them who they are. It is who they are. They are just hard workers who have dedicated themselves to a sport and become very, very good at it. And we just didn’t get this last one.”

Earlier in the week, the Tigers advanced to the Class M final by defeating No. 13 seed Guilford 16-8 in the semifinal round at West Haven High School on June 5. Scully led the offense with six goals and three assists, while Kokoruda, Howard, and Silva each added three goals. Sullivan had a goal with an assist, and Howard also contributed an assist for Hand, which outshot Guilford 27-18 and received five saves in net from Larson.

From the Sidelines

The Hand girls’ lacrosse team’s roster consists of senior tri-captains Riley Kokoruda, Taylor Scully, and Emma Valdez; fellow seniors Grace Craven, Emma Sullivan, Hilary Houghton, Claire Giles, Dory Howard, Abby Barry, Glenna-Kate Gies, and Mackenzie Larson; juniors Sophia Dickman, Caroline White, and Lena Conway; and sophomores Regan Larson, Lucy Cutler, Margot Doraz, Chloe Silva, Janet Howard, Sophia Sweitzer, Margaret Kallinich, Lauren Valluzzi, Tessie Sheehan, Kate Levis, and Magdahlia Lesnik.

The Tigers’ previous state final appearances came in 2015, when they lost to New Canaan 13-7 in the Class M final. Hand also took a 15-5 defeat versus Darien in 2011 Class M final.

Hand finished at 14-2 for the regular season, defeating North Haven (16-1), Weston (20-7), Amity (15-4), Simsbury (16-3), Mercy (15-9), Shelton (18-5), East Lyme (17-6), Glastonbury (18-8), Hall (16-2), Lauralton Hall (17-5), Guilford (19-7), Conard (15-14 in OT), Branford (13-12), and Cheshire (12-11). Hand’s lone losses came against Wilton (12-1) and Greenwich (15-12).

The Tigers captured their fourth straight SCC Tournament title by defeating Guilford 17-7 in the semifinals and Cheshire 12-10 in the final.

Earlier in the Class M State Tournament, Hand defeated No. 16 seed St. Joseph by a 19-9 score in the first round and earned a 13-5 win versus No. 8 Barlow in the quarterfinals.