Printer Friendly Version - Hand Football Goes to 8-0 by Routing Xavier; Mendonca Wins Backstroke for 4th-Straight Year at SCCs

Isaiah McNeilly ran for three 2-point conversions, kicked an extra point, and also converted a 22-yard field goal to help the Hand football team defeat Xavier by a 46-6 score on the road last week. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source

The Hand football team improved to 8-0 on the year by earning 46-6 road victory over Xavier in an SCC Tier 1 matchup on Nov. 8. The win marked the 32nd-consecutive victory for the Tigers, who moved to 3-0 in SCC Tier 1 action by beating the Falcons (4-4, 2-2). Head Coach Dave Mastroianni was with the team for the second week in a row, calling plays from the press box.

Senior running back Colin McCabe returned from an injury and gained 88 yards on 10 carries for the Tigers. McCabe scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown during the second quarter.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Hand took the lead on a 23-yard TD run by senior quarterback Phoenix Billings in the second. Isaiah McNeilly kicked the extra point to make it 7-0. Later in the second quarter, McNeilly booted a 22-yard field goal to give Hand a 10-0 lead at halftime.

In the third quarter, McCabe’s 4-yard touchdown run and a 2-point conversion rush by McNeilly increased the Tigers’ lead to 18-0. With 6:21 to play in the third, Billings threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Seth Sweitzer. McNeilly ran for two again to make it 26-0. Jesse Lutz’s 4-yard TD run gave Hand a 32-0 lead through three.

After Xavier scored a touchdown, Lukas Wagner returned an interception 48 yards for a score for Hand during the fourth quarter. Another 2-point run from McNeilly made it 40-6. Ethan O’Brien scored on a 12-yard touchdown run to finish off the 40-point victory.

Hand is hosting Shelton for an SCC Tier 1 showdown at the Surf Club on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m. The Gaels come into the game with an overall record of 5-2 and are 3-0 in the SCC Tier 1 standings, tied with the Tigers for first place.

Hand took a 2-1 defeat at Guilford in the semifinals of the SCC Tournament last week. With their overall record of 11-7, the Tigers will open play in the Class M State Tournament this week.

No. 4 seed Hand was on the road to play top-seeded Guilford in the SCC semis and lost a 2-1 decision to the Indians. Grace Hartmann scored the Tigers’ goal in the game.

Hand is the No. 7 seed for the Class M State Tournament and began the bracket with a first-round home game against Sacred Heart Academy on Nov. 12 (after press time). With a win, the Tigers would advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 14. The semifinals will be held on either Tuesday, Nov. 19 or Wednesday, Nov. 20. The Class M state final takes place at Wethersfield High School on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Hand took a loss to Law in the SCC quarterfinals last week and now gets ready for states this week.

On Nov. 5, No. 5 seed Hand was on the road to face No. 4 Law and dropped a 3-0 (25-11, 25-12, 25-7) decision in the SCC Tournament quarterfinals. Allie Nelson had five kills with one block and one ace for the Tigers. Nelson was selected as an All-SCC Second Team player this season. Sara Wohlgemuth posted 14 digs for Hand, which moved to 15-6 overall with the loss.

Hand is the No. 12 seed in the Class L State Tournament and hosted No. 21 Pomperaug for a first-round match on Nov. 11 (after press time). If the Tigers win, they will play at No. 5 seed Guilford in the second round at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. The quarterfinals take place on Saturday, Nov. 16; the semifinals are on Wednesday, Nov. 20; and the championship match is at East Haven High School on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10 a.m.

The Tigers are competing in the Class L State Tournament this week. Hand (6-8-3) is the No. 23 seed in the draw and played at No. 10 Masuk in a first-round game on Nov. 12 (after press time). If Hand wins, it will take on the winner of No. 7 Berlin and No. 26 Barlow in the second round on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 2 p.m. The quarterfinals are on Saturday, Nov. 16; the semifinals take place on either Tuesday, Nov. 19 or Wednesday, Nov. 20; and the final is on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Senior Kayla Mendonca took first place in the 100 backstroke for the fourth-straight season when Hand competed at the SCC Championship last week. The Tigers finished in fourth place by scoring 792.50 points at the SCC meet, which was held at Southern Connecticut State University on Nov. 4. The Tigers are competing in the Class M State Championship this week.

Mendonca swam a time of 57.39 seconds to win the 100 backstroke for the fourth year in a row at SCCs. She also finished in second place for the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.81.

Hand’s 400 freestyle relay team of senior Ruby Redlich, senior Erin Reilly, junior Ava Keane, and Mendonca claimed second place by recording a time of 3:40.73. Sophomore Abby Chemacki finished second in the 500 freestyle with a 5:14.16.

The Tigers’ 200 medley relay of Mendonca, junior Ava Dougherty, Reilly, and Redlich placed fourth with a time of 1:53.63. The 200 freestyle relay of sophomore Catherine Arrandale, sophomore Kacie Wines, freshman Julia Urbowicz, and Keane came in eighth place at 1:46.79.

Reilly posted two top-10 finishes by taking sixth place in the 100 freestyle (55.33) and seventh in the 100 backstroke (1:00.38). Redlich finished seventh in both the 200 freestyle (2:00.61) and the 100 freestyle (55.66).

Also in the 200 freestyle, senior Kylie Scarpellino took 16th place (2:07.58) and senior Grace Vest finished 24th (2:11.93) for Hand. In the 200 individual medley, sophomore Abbi Chemacki placed 13th (2:16.85), junior Emma Ruffo finished 18th (2:22.13), Dougherty took 24th (2:23.75), and Wines finished in 26th (2:25.48).

For the 50 freestyle, Keane placed 11th (25.70), Urbowicz came in 18th place (26.38), and Arrandale finished 28th (26.95). In the 100 freestyle, Keane claimed ninth place (55.98) and Arrandale finished in 30th place (1:00.74). Junior Sophie Cadematori finished 30th in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:08.91.

In the 500 freestyle, junior Emma Ruffo finished ninth (5:28.50), Scarpellino was 21st (5:46.96), Vest took 23rd (5:48.75), and junior Alexa Betts finished in 32nd (6:00.43). In the 100 backstroke, Cadematori finished 17th (1:05.83) and Betts finished 30th (1:08.93). Dougherty placed seventh in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:11.85, and senior Ally Lesnick finished in 31st place at 1:19.66.

At the SCC Diving Championship, freshman Eva Alquist finished in 21st place with a score of 231.15 points at Sheehan High School on Nov. 1.

As the defending state champion, Hand is competing at the Class M State Championship that began with the Diving Championship at Bulkeley High School on Nov. 13 (after press time). The Swimming Qualifying will take place at East Hartford High School at 5:55 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16, and the Class M Swimming Championship is at Southern Connecticut State University on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. After the Class M meet, the State Open gets underway with the Diving Championship at Middletown High School on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 5:30 p.m. and finishes with the Swimming Championship at Yale University on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2 p.m.

Colin McCabe and the Tigers stand at 8-0 on the year following a 46-6 victory at Xavier in an SCC Tier 1 game on Nov. 8. File photo by Kelley Fryer/The Source