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12/18/2019 11:00 PMGabbie Sarmento put her best foot forward to play excellent defense for the North Branford girls’ soccer team while leading the T-Birds as a senior captain this season. Gabbie didn’t even play the back line until her junior year, but she stepped up to become a quality defender and wound up loving the position.
“I usually was a left mid or a right mid, but since last year, once Jessie Kilburn left, I had to step up to be a center back. It was a rough transition, but I kind of got the hang of it and enjoyed it this season,” Gabbie says. “It was kind of like a gift without realizing it, because I didn’t like it at first, but the position grew on me.”
Gabbie was more of a defensive player when she patrolled the midfield, so she was able to learn the ropes on defense quicker than she expected. Gabbie’s performance yielded All-Shoreline Conference Honorable Mention for the senior.
“I made Honorable Mention, which was different, because I hadn’t gotten it in the past,” says Gabbie. “It was nice to be recognized, especially on a little team like North Branford. It was definitely an honor.”
Pat Kozloski, who was North Branford’s head coach this year, says that Gabbie’s play on defense proved critical for the Thunderbirds. Kozloski feels that Gabbie’s ability to take defenders off the ball and push it up the field is second to none.
“Gabbie was fierce in the back and has a nose for the ball. She was definitely important in keeping the game in check and allowing us to get wins as the season went on,” says Kozloski. “Gabbie is quick and fast, and that allows her to be a tough defender. I think her determination and her toughness were so important in the back this year.”
Gabbie had a lot of responsibility as the last line of defense before the T-Birds’ goalkeepers. However, she embraced the pressure of preventing the ball from getting to Gianna Sullo and Ava Candelora, who shared time in net for North Branford during the season.
“I didn’t want them to get too many shots,” says Gabbie. “As the center back, it’s my job, because I’m the furthest one back before the goalie.”
Although North Branford’s defensive corps changed throughout the year due to injuries, Gabbie meshed well with fellow defender Zoe Miller. When the two of them played their best down the stretch, the Thunderbirds were a tough team to beat. North Branford rebounded from a slow start to win five of its last seven regular-season games and qualify for the Class M State Tournament.
“Zoe has played defense throughout most of her soccer career and helped me in my transition to defense,” Gabbie says. “Once we got into our groove and got our positioning correct, it took form from there, and we won some games.”
Gabbie enjoyed holding the role of senior captain for North Branford. She has great relationships with all of her teammates, making her job as a leader that much easier.
“It was a lot to take on, and it was definitely a learning experience,” says Gabbie. “It was definitely an honor, and I wouldn’t want to lead any other team. I loved it.”
One of Gabbie’s fondest memories on the soccer field was when North Branford won the Shoreline Conference title in her sophomore season. Gabbie says that experience took her passion for the sport to a whole new level.
“We had such a well-put- together team. I did a lot to step up and grow with that team,” Gabbie says. “That’s when I started taking soccer a lot more seriously.”
As Gabbie’s high school soccer career comes to a close, she isn’t quite sure how her next chapter in the sport will read. However, one way or the other, Gabbie plans on playing soccer at some level in college next year.
“It’s up in the air. I’ve talked to a couple of coaches, but it comes down to if I want to go to those colleges and play NCAA soccer or if I want to just do club or intramural,” says Gabbie. “Either way, I do want to play in college. I just don’t know what level I want to play at.”