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04/07/2019 12:00 AMOne year after winning its second straight Class M state title, the Branford girls’ lacrosse team kicked off the 2019 season by claiming victory in two of its first three games of the campaign last week. The Hornets posted a 16-8 home win versus Waterford, routed Haddam-Killingworth by an 18-8 final in another home game, and then took a 10-9 road loss versus Pomperaug to begin the year with a record of 2-1. Jackie Ceccolini returns for another season as Branford’s head coach to lead a team that graduated 10 seniors from last year’s championship run.
Branford started its season by earning a 16-8 victory against non-conference opponent Waterford in a home game on March 30. Junior Brianna Shaw scored seven goals and had an assist for Branford in its win versus the Lancers. Junior Karly King scored three goals, sophomore Nicola Colossale had two goals with an assist, and junior Isabel Mannle had a goal and two assists. Freshman Isla Lionetti had a goal and an assist, juniors Camdyn Dunn and Gabrielle Gillis both scored a goal, and freshman Julia McHenry added an assist. Junior goalie Brooke O’Leary made six saves in net for the Hornets.
Two days later, Branford hosted Haddam-Killingworth and notched an 18-8 victory against the Cougars. Shaw had another big game by netting six goals for the Hornets in the win. Lionetti scored four goals, Mannle had three goals and two assists, and King scored a pair of goals. Dunn, senior Abby Robinson, and senior Carly Shea each added one goal, plus McHenry contributed an assist. O’Leary had five saves to get the win in goal.
Branford closed out its week by traveling to Southbury to take on Pomperaug in a non-conference contest on April 6. The Hornets took their first loss of the season by dropping a 10-9 decision against the Panthers in rematch of last year’s Class M semifinals. King scored four goals, Shaw had three goals, and Mannle added a pair of goals in the defeat. O’Leary made seven saves in net for the Hornets.
Last season, Branford finished with an overall record of 19-3 after winning the Class M State Tournament for the second year in a row. Branford posted a mark of 14-2 for the regular season and then entered the SCC Tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Hornets earned a 21-6 home victory versus No. 6 seed North Haven in the quarterfinals, before losing a 10-7 contest at 2nd-seeded Cheshire in the semis. Branford was the No. 2 seed in the Class M State Tournament. The Hornets defended their title by notching a 19-5 home win over No. 15 seed Fitch in the first round, defeating 10th-seeded Masuk 16-5 in a quarterfinal contest at home, rallying for a 12-11 overtime victory versus 3rd-seeded Pomperaug in the semifinal round, and then claiming an 11-8 win against No. 1 seed Hand in the championship game at Law High School on June 9.