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09/15/2019 12:00 AMField Hockey
The Thunderbirds’ field hockey squad is off to a 2-0 start this fall after notching wins versus Old Saybrook and Watertown last week. On Sept. 12, North Branford visited Shoreline Conference foe Old Saybrook and left with a 5-0 victory. Following that win, the T-Birds went to Watertown on Sept. 14 and prevailed by a 7-0 score.
In the opener versus Old Saybrook, senior captain Ali Barrett recorded a hat trick by scoring three goals for North Branford. Barrett also had an assist in the victory. Senior Bianca D’Onofrio and junior Kelli Jacobson added goals for the T-Birds, who also received assists from senior captains Ava Galdenzi and Melanie Norton. Senior goalie Jaime Matthews earned her first varsity shutout by making five saves in the cage. Head Coach Babby Nuhn said that senior Avonlea LeBeau owned the backfield with her timing and tenacity against Old Saybrook.
In the win over Watertown, Galdenzi had a huge game by scoring two goals to go with three assists. Barrett had a goal and two assists, while Norton, Jacobson, D’Onofrio, and sophomore Olivia Toto netted one goal apiece. Toto’s goal marked her first score for the varsity squad. Matthews stopped five shots to secure another shutout for the T-Birds, who saw senior Alysa Waligroski step up on defense to prevent Watertown from entering the North Branford circle.
Football
North Branford went on the road took a 27-21 loss against the Sport & Medical Sciences Academy-University-Classical (SMSA-U-C) co-op squad in its season opener on Sept. 12.
The T-Birds got on the scoreboard first when junior quarterback Brandon Fratta connected with senior receiver Aiden Ferrucci for a 70-yard touchdown pass. Junior Tyler DiNapoli kicked the extra point to make it 7-0.
The game went into halftime knotted at 7-7 after SMSA-U-C scored a touchdown in the second quarter. In the third quarter, SMSA-U-C went ahead 13-7 before DiNapoli punched home a 3-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 13-13.
SMSA-U-C came back to scored two TDs in the fourth quarter on its way to the win. North Branford scored one touchdown in the final frame when Fratta found Ferrucci again for a 31-yard score. DiNapoli ran in the 2-point conversion.
For the game, Fratta was 13-of-26 passing for 226 yards with two touchdowns. Ferrucci caught six passes for 147 yards, while junior Trevor Holzer grabbed four receptions for 45 yards. DiNapoli carried the ball nine times for 33 yards.
Next up, the Thunderbirds will play their home opener against Haddam-Killingworth on Saturday, Sept. 21. The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Colafati Field.
Volleyball
The T-Birds started the 2019 season by hosting Coginchaug on Sept. 12. North Branford took a 3-0 loss to the Blue Devils.
Boys’ Soccer
North Branford opened up the 2019 campaign with a home game versus Old Lyme last week. The T-Birds lost to Old Lyme by the final score of 10-0 on Sept. 12.