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09/22/2019 12:00 AMFootball
The North Branford football squad got in the win column by notching a 19-6 victory over Pequot Conference foe Haddam-Killingworth at Colafati Field on Sept. 21. The win improved the Thunderbirds’ record to 1-1 this season.
Senior Nate Raymond set the tone on the defensive side of the ball for the T-Birds by snagging a pair of interceptions, including one in the end zone. Senior Cameron Afanador had an interception and a fumble recovery, while junior Efstathios Gianniotis recovered a fumble for North Branford, which forced five turnovers in the game.
The two teams played a scoreless first half, but the T-Birds’ offense came alive in the second half. Junior quarterback Brandon Fratta connected with Raymond for a 24-yard touchdown at the 8:14 mark of the third quarter to put North Branford up 6-0. In the fourth quarter, Afanador scored on an 18-yard run to push North Branford’s lead to 12-0.
The Cougars scored a TD to make it 12-6 with 5:35 to go in the game, but North Branford responded when Fratta hit Raymond for a 74-yard touchdown pass that sealed the victory. Junior Tyler DiNapoli connected on the extra point to give North Branford a 19-6 advantage.
For the game, Fratta was 8-of-16 passing for 176 yards and two TDs. DiNapoli rushed for 83 yards, and Raymond caught four passes for 119 yards.
Next up for North Branford is a road contest against Cromwell-Portland at Pierson Park in Cromwell on Friday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.
Field Hockey
The T-Birds improved to 4-0 this year by posting a pair of shutout victories last week. North Branford defeated Morgan by a 4-0 score on the road on Sept. 18 and then posted a 9-0 shutout over Waterford at home on Sept. 20.
Against Morgan, four different players scored goals for North Branford. Sophomore Olivia Toto scored the first goal on an assist from senior Bianca D’Onofrio, then junior captain Kelli Jacobson found the back of the cage on an assist by senior captain Ava Galdenzi. Senior captain Ali Barrett scored on an assist from fellow senior captain Melanie Norton, after which Galdenzi netted the fourth goal on D’Onofrio’s second assist of the game.
Senior Jaime Matthews had three saves in net for North Branford. Senior midfielder Avonlea LeBeau controlled the tempo for the game, while fellow senior Alyssa Waligroski denied several offensive plays that Morgan tried to put together. Head Coach Babby Nuhn added that junior Amanda Nuzzo provided a nice spark for the T-Birds in the victory.
In the Waterford game, Matthews made two saves, and junior Sofia Votto had one save to help North Branford notch its fourth-straight shutout of the season. North Branford peppered Waterford with 24 shots on goal in the game. Galdenzi scored four goals, while Toto, Norton, Barrett, and junior Gabby Gibilisco added one goal apiece. Sophomore Mia Oliverio also scored a goal, marking the first goal of her varsity career. D’Onofrio contributed a pair of assists for the Thunderbirds. Coach Nuhn said that senior Izzy Mott played a great game on defense.
Volleyball
North Branford earned its first victory of the season by claiming a 3-1 win versus Old Lyme on Sept. 18. The victory was sandwiched around a 3-1 loss at Cromwell on Sept. 16 and a 3-0 defeat in East Hampton on Sept. 20. The T-Birds are now 1-3 this season.
Girls’ Soccer
The Thunderbirds lost a pair of road games in Shoreline Conference play last week to move to 0-2-1 for the year.
On Sept. 16, North Branford lost to Haddam-Killingworth by a 5-1 score. Junior Olivia Ferreira scored the T-Birds’ goal in the game.
Then on May 20, North Branford dropped a 2-1 decision in Old Lyme.
Boys’ Soccer
North Branford took a 5-2 defeat against Haddam-Killingworth on Sept. 17 and is now 0-2 this season.
Junior captain Andrew Sellitto scored both of North Branford’s goals in the second half versus H-K. Sellitto’s first goal came after he dribbled his way through the H-K defense. His second goal came on a penalty kick after junior Jeremy Bunnell drew a foul inside the 18-yard box.