Printer Friendly Version - Rams Lose to North Branford in Shoreline Championship

Senior captain forward Taylor Stone and the No. 2 seed Old Saybrook field hockey team lost to top-seeded North Branford in the Shoreline Conference Championship at North Branford High School on Nov. 10. Stone earned the Shoreline Conference Player of the Year Award with 15 goals and seven assists on the season. Photo by Kelley Fryer/Harbor News

The Old Saybrook field hockey team went up against North Branford in the Shoreline Conference Championship on Nov. 10. The No. 2 seed Rams faced off against the top-seeded Thunderbirds at North Branford High School and took a 2-0 defeat. Head Coach Nancy Gatta’s squad had a stellar year with an overall record of 7-3-1 on the season.

The Rams were fresh off a 2-1 week heading into Shorelines. Old Saybrook and North Branford had just met up the week before, and the Rams lost a 3-0 contest on Nov. 5.

Earlier in the year, the Rams played a tight game against North Branford and scored three goals, but ultimately lost that contest to the Thunderbirds 4-3 on Oct. 14. Those three goals were the only times North Branford was scored on during the 2020 season.

With numerous school closings due to coronavirus concerns, Morgan, Westbrook, and Valley Regional were unable to compete in the Shoreline Conference Tournament. Old Saybrook was originally scheduled to face No. 4 seed Valley Regional in the semifinals, which would have taken place on Nov. 11. With the Warriors out of the tourney, the Shoreline Conference made the decision to shrink the bracket, have the championship on Nov. 10, and pit the top-2 seeds against each other. The Rams ultimately lost that contest.

Old Saybrook featured several top players in the Shoreline this season as evidenced by the All-Shoreline Conference selections that were released after the final. Senior captain forward Taylor Stone was named the Shoreline Conference Player of the Year for her outstanding effort. Stone ended the season with 15 goals and seven assists to her credit. Fellow senior captain forward Kayla Holt earned All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors behind eight goals and seven assists. Junior midfielder Libby Stuart also received All-Shoreline Conference First Team honors.

Junior forward Grace Adams was named to the All-Shoreline Conference Second Team and posted eight goals and one assist on the year, and junior MacKenna Cooke also took home and All-Shoreline Conference Second Team distinction.