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10/27/2019 12:00 AMField Hockey
The Thunderbirds’ field hockey team remains undefeated in 2019 after earning a tie with Westbrook and victory over Haddam-Killingworth last week. North Branford has locked up the top seed in next week’s Shoreline Conference Tournament and is still in the No. 1 spot in the Class S state rankings with its overall record of 14-0-1.
On Oct. 23, North Branford played a road game in Westbrook and allowed its first two goals of the season in a 2-2 draw. The T-Birds took a 2-0 lead into halftime following a pair of goals from sophomore Olivia Toto, but Westbrook scored two goals early in the second half, and the game ultimately finished in a stalemate following the 7-v-7 overtime period.
Senior goalie Jaime Matthews made 13 saves for North Branford. Head Coach Babby Nuhn added that senior captain Melanie Norton played a strong game in the midfield.
Three days later, the T-Birds hosted Haddam-Killingworth on Senior Night and claimed a 6-2 victory. Prior to the game, North Branford honored the members of its senior class: Ava Galdenzi, Bianca D’Onofrio, Emily Olsen, Ali Barrett, Avonlea LeBeau, Alyssa Waligroski, Izabella Mott, Matthews, and Norton.
Galdenzi netted four goals in the victory, and Barrett had four assists. Olsen returned from a foot injury and saw time at multiple positions to help North Branford prevail.
Boys’ Cross Country
The Thunderbirds sent a pair of runners to the Class SS State Championship at Wickham Park in Manchester on Oct. 26.
Junior Roberto Didiano finished in 36th place with a time of 18:49 for North Branford. Senior Joseph DeLucia finished with a time of 19:53 to come in 80th place.
Girls’ Cross Country
Junior Onna Gott represented North Branford at last weekend’s Class SS State Championship. Gott hit the finish line with a time of 22:39 and finished in 49th place out of 150 runners at the meet.
Girls’ Soccer
The Thunderbirds split a pair of recent games to move to 4-8-3 and stay in contention to make the State Tournament. North Branford can qualify for states with a win over Lyman Hall this week.
The T-Birds began last week’s action by taking a 2-0 home loss to Cromwell on Oct. 22.
North Branford rebounded by posting a 4-2 victory over Coginchaug on its home turf on Oct. 24. Early in the game, senior captain Lexi Rosado took a magnificent free kick from about 25 yards out. Fellow senior captain Britny Gildersleeve touched the ball back to Rosado, who sent a bending shot into the far post to put North Branford ahead. Rosado also converted a penalty kick for a goal, North Branford made it 3-0 on an own-goal by Coginchaug, and then junior Catie Dow assisted junior Alessia Valentino for North Branford’s fourth goal of the contest. Senior Gianna Sullo earned the victory in net for the Thunderbirds.
Boys’ Soccer
North Branford took two defeats last week and has a record of 0-14 with two games left in the regular season.
On Oct. 21 the T-Birds dropped a 7-0 contest in Cromwell. Two days later, North Branford lost to Hale-Ray by a 5-0 final on the road.
Volleyball
The Thunderbirds won one of their three matches last week to move to 5-14 with one contest to go in the regular season.
North Branford started its week by taking a 3-0 home loss to Haddam-Killingworth on Oct. 21. Two days later, the T-Birds lost to Hale-Ray by a 3-0 score at home. North Branford bounced back by netting a 3-2 victory at Morgan on Oct. 25.