This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/15/2019 12:00 AMDespite graduating about half of its starters from a year ago, the North Branford girls’ soccer team is maintaining high expectations entering the 2019 season. Head Coach Pat Kozloski’s club features a new group of senior leaders who are looking to help the T-Birds remain one of the top squads in the Shoreline Conference. North Branford’s senior captains are Gabby Sarmento, Lexi Rosado, and Britny Gildersleeve.
“I think they’ve done a nice job of finding their roles as leaders. Four years ago, we barely heard their voice, but now, they’re pulling kids aside and showing them what they need to be doing,” Coach Kozloski said. “They’re doing a nice job of being the liaison between me telling them what to do and telling the girls what to do in a more nurturing manner, which is great.”
Once again, defense will a huge strength for the T-Birds with Sarmento and Gildersleeve playing the center back position. Junior Zoe Miller is North Branford’s left back, while junior Mallory Preiss and sophomore Grace Marra are expected to patrol the right side.
“Gabby and Brit have done a great job of holding down the back line, understanding how to defend and really fixating on how we play. I think that’s huge that we have those two in the back. And then Zoe Miller was our left back last year, so we have some continuity back there,” Kozloski said. “Mallory was injured for our first game, but I thought Grace Marra did a nice job. We have kids that are able to be flexible and resilient, and that goes back to our leadership, especially in the back with Brit and Gabby helping [Grace] out by putting her in the right places.”
While the T-Birds seem to have things figured out defensively, Coach Kozloski said that the rest of the field is still a bit of a question mark. Kozloski has no problem changing things up on the fly if need be, and he believes that his players are versatile enough to perform accordingly.
“I think the back four is what we know. It’ll be game-by-game or situation-by-situation where we’ll play players in different spots and formations depending on the need,” he said. “A strong defense has been our style for seven years. North Branford players have always been hard-nosed, good defenders. We win the ball and go forward, and that’s not going to change today.”
Rosado will be relied upon as North Branford’s top offensive weapon this fall. The senior captain scored the game-tying goal for the T-Birds when they earned a 1-1 draw at East Haven to open the season on Sept. 13. Rosado took a pass from Miller and buried it home for the equalizer.
“Zoe threw the ball into Lexi, and she did what she’s good at and put the ball in the back of the net,” Kozloski said. “It definitely came at a nice time, because we didn’t have to chase it. To pull up 1-1 and now have to commit more players forward was helpful in terms of managing the game.”
After seeing Allie Augur play net for four-straight year, North Branford turned to freshman Ava Candelora against East Haven, and she turned in a fine performance. Kozloski thinks that he will be rotating goalies this season, but he liked what he saw from Candelora in the opener.
“She was thrown into the fire and played really well,” said Kozloski. “We need her to be Ava. It’s not about who she’s taking the job from, but we just need her to be Ava Candelora, make saves, and continue to grow as the season goes on.”
Although North Branford has been a perennial playoff team in recent years, Kozloski hasn’t discussed the T-Birds’ postseason prospects for 2019 with his athletes as of yet. Kozloski wants his team to focus on each individual game to make sure that North Branford never overlooks any opponent.
“I think we just have to take it one game at a time. We played a good Est Haven team, and we have a lot to build on,” Kozloski said. “There is a lot of good and a lot to improve, but I think we’re going to be able to do well in the Shoreline Conference. We’ll definitely be a team that’s a tough out.”
From the Sidelines
The 2019 North Branford girls’ soccer team roster consists of senior captains Gabby Sarmento, Lexi Rosado, and Britny Gildersleeve; along with fellow seniors Gianna Sullo and Madeline Criscuolo; juniors Julia Casella, Karina Jassil, Ashley Amendola, Zoe Miller, Mallory Preiss, Adrianna Cacopardo, Catherine Dow, Charlotte Villano, Alessia Valentino, Adrianna Lucibello, and Olivia Ferreira; sophomores Grace Marra, Alyssa Grimm, and Lexi Marcarelli; and freshmen Chelsey Capasso, Ava Candelora, and Bridget Betzner.
Head Coach Pat Kozloski is entering his seventh season at the helm for North Branford. Kozloski is assisted by Morgan Onofrio.
Last year, North Branford finished with an overall record of 10-4-5 and qualified for both the Shoreline Conference Tournament and the Class M State Tournament. The T-Birds took a 1-0 (4-2 in PKs) defeat against Old Lyme in the Shoreline semis. In states, North Branford earned a 1-0 win over Law in the first round and then lost a 2-1 contest to Morgan in the second round.