Printer Friendly Version - Branford Boys’ Soccer Makes States; Field Hockey Goes 3-for-3 on the Week

Junior Ralf Ciarleglio and the Branford boys’ soccer squad clinched a spot in the Class L State Tournament by earning a 2-1 win versus Cross on Oct. 21. Ciarleglio scored a goal for the Hornets in the victory. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

The Branford boys’ soccer team qualified for the Class L State Tournament by notching a 2-1 home victory against Wilbur Cross on Oct. 21. The Hornets went on to take a loss versus Shelton and then earned a tie with Amity to move to 6-6-2 with one week left in the regular season.

Branford hosted Cross for an SCC Quinnipiac Division game and edged out the Governors by a 2-1 score to make states. The Hornets were trailing 1-0 until junior Ralf Ciarleglio netted the game-tying goal for Branford in the 55th minute. Just four minutes later, junior Din Durmic scored a goal to give the Hornets a 2-1 advantage.

On Oct. 23, Branford dropped a 2-1 decision at Shelton. Three days later, the Hornets hosted divisional opponent Amity and played the Spartans to a 2-2 draw. Branford finished with a record of 2-2-2 in the Quinnipiac Division this year.

Branford earned a tie and then took two defeats in last week’s action. With a record of 4-6-4, the Hornets need to get either a win or a tie in one of their last two regular-season games to guarantee themselves a berth in the Class L State Tournament.

On Oct. 21, the Hornets battled SCC Hammonasset Division opponent Lyman Hall to a 3-3 tie in Wallingford. Two days later, Branford hosted Sheehan for another divisional matchup and took a 4-1 loss to finish with a mark of 2-4-2 in the Hammonasset this fall. Then on Oct. 25, the Hornets were on the road to face crosstown rival East Haven and dropped a 2-1 decision to the Yellowjackets.

The Hornets prevailed in all three of their three games last week to improve to 10-4 entering the home stretch of the regular season. Branford claimed victories over Lyman Hall, Hand, and Mercy in recent action.

Branford started off its week by posting a 9-0 shutout against Lyman Hall in a home game on Oct. 22. Senior Madison Acquarulo scored two goals and also assisted on a pair of goals for the Hornets. Senior Brianna Shaw had three goals and an assist, while fellow senior Molly Zaffino scored two goals to go with an assist. Senior Gianna Benni had a goal with an assist, and senior Hailey Brunner added a goal in the victory. Senior goalie Gianna Messina made one save to get the shutout in net for Head Coach Pete Frye’s club. Coach Frye said that seniors Maggie Martin, Karly King, and Alexis Pepe played great games to help Branford come away with the win.

Two days later, Branford shut out Hand by the final score of 2-0 on the road. Sophomore Julia McHenry and Shaw scored the Hornets’ goals against the Tigers. Freshman Scout Engstrom had an assist in the win. Messina earned another shutout by making seven saves for the Hornets, who were bolstered by strong showings from King, Zaffino, junior Jocelyn Smestad, freshman Lauren Kendrick, and freshman Aryana Wilson.

Then on Oct. 26, the Hornets hosted Mercy and claimed a 2-1 overtime victory at Branford High School. Shaw scored both goals for Branford in the win, including the game-winning score with 15 seconds left in the OT period. Zaffino and Engstrom had the assists on Shaw’s goals with Engstrom assisting on the winner. Messina made five saves in the cage for the Hornets. Coach Frye said that King and Wilson put forth solid performances in the victorious effort.

The Hornets took a 35-7 defeat versus Barlow in a non-conference game at Branford High School on Oct. 25. Branford dropped to 2-4 on the season with the loss.

Barlow scored the first five touchdowns of the night to take a 35-0 lead over Branford. The Falcons scored one TD in the first quarter and two more in the second quarter for a 21-0 halftime advantage. Barlow added a touchdown in the third quarter and one more in the fourth to make it 35-0. The Hornets got on the board when Sean Kelly threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior Cameron Mills with 2:23 to play in the game. Senior Jake Bodner kicked the extra point for the 35-7 final.

Kelly completed 17 passes for 163 yards to go with 45 rushing yards on the night. Mills had nine receptions for 94 yards, while junior Mekhi Barnette grabbed four receptions for 52 yards.

Mills also had an interception on defense for Branford. Senior Spencer Landsbach and junior Peyton Tracy both made nine tackles in the game. The Hornets’ other top tacklers were Barnette (8), Mills (7), junior Andrew Robinson (7), senior Ian McDonald (7), junior Kamryn Holmes (6), junior Nick Chieffo (6), and junior Justin Osler (6).

Up next, Branford will travel to Milford to face Law in an SCC Tier 3 matchup at Jonathan Law High School on Friday, Nov. 1. Law comes into the game with an overall record of 2-4 and is 2-0 in SCC Tier 3 action. Branford has a record of 0-1 in SCC Tier 3. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Lawmen Stadium.

Branford lost three matches last week and has a record of 2-14 heading into the final week of the regular season.

Branford took a 3-1 defeat at Lyman Hall in an SCC Oronoque Division contest on Oct. 21. Two days later, the Hornets hosted Hamden and dropped a 3-0 decision. Then on Oct. 25, Branford took a 3-1 home loss to divisional opponent Mercy to finish at 1-7 in the Oronoque Division this year.

Branford took defeats against North Haven and Hand during the last week of its regular season. The Hornets will begin the postseason by competing at the SCC Championship this week.

Branford dropped a 92-83 decision to North Haven in a home meet at Walsh Intermediate School on Oct. 21. Then on Oct. 25, the Hornets took an 84-73 loss versus Hand in their regular-season finale at the Madison Racquet & Swim Club.

The SCC Championship gets underway with the Diving Championship at Sheehan High School at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 1. The Swimming Qualifying will take place at Cheshire Community Pool on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. The SCC Swimming Championship will be held at Southern Connecticut State University at 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4.

Branford competed in the Class MM State Championship that took place at Wickham Park in Manchester on Oct. 26. The Hornets finished in 10th place out of the 18 teams that were represented at the meet.

Sophomore Isla Lionetti turned in the top performance for Branford at states by taking 46th place with a time of 23:07. Freshman Hannah Jackson finished in 50th place behind a time of 23:18. Also competing for the Hornets were freshman Marina Smiarowski (67th, 24:27), junior Steph Toste (74th, 24:46), senior Abbey Pawlowicz (93rd, 26:09), and senior Juli Dillon (109th, 27:21).

The Hornets sent seven athletes to run at the Class M State Championship at Wickham Park last weekend. Branford came in 15th place among a field of 23 teams that competed in the meet.

Senior Nolan Scott crossed the finish line in a time of 18:28 to finish in 46th place for the Hornets. Sophomore Pat Zdunek took 54th place with a mark of 18:37. Branford’s other runners at states were sophomore Cheng Wu (83rd, 19:17), sophomore Wesley Raymond (95th, 19:33), sophomore Graham Reynolds (102nd, 19:41), senior Andrew Betzig (103rd, 19:41), and sophomore Ben Watson (109th, 19:59).

Junior Din Durmic netted the go-ahead goal when the Hornets edged out Cross by a 2-1 score to qualify for states last week. Also pictured is No. 15, junior Sebastian Verdesoto. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound

Senior Nolan Scott finished in 46th place when he ran for Branford at the Class MM State Championship at Wickham Park on Oct. 26. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Sound