Branford Girls’ Lacrosse Storms Out to 3-0 Start; Biondi Back as Head Coach for Boys’ Track
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Branford girls’ lacrosse team began the quest to defend its Class M state title by recording three victories in the first week of the 2018 season. The Hornets posted a 15-3 home win against Haddam-Killingworth on March 31, defeated Jonathan Law 16-5 at home on April 5, and then prevailed 7-2 at Lauralton Hall on April 7. Last year, Head Coach Jackie Ceccolini’s team finished with a record of 17-5 and claimed its first state championship in program history by notching a 15-8 win over Pomperaug in the Class M final.
Sophie Spencer scored five goals, while fellow senior Sabrina Torcellini chipped in with three goals for Branford in its win versus H-K. Senior LanLe Crotty scored two goals, senior Autumn McHenry had a goal with two assists, plus senior Erin O’Brien, sophomore Brianna Shaw, sophomore Karly King, and junior Kacey Gilman added goals.
Against Law, Spencer scored four goals to go with three assists, McHenry had three goals with three assists, and Torcellini scored five goals. Crotty had two goals and an assist, and senior Haley Maercklein scored a goal and had an assist for Branford.
Facing Lauralton Hall, Spencer and Torcellini netted five goals apiece, while McHenry had three goals and three assists in another lopsided win. Crotty notched two goals, and Spencer added two assists for the Hornets, who saw senior goalie Daly Hynes earn her third win of the year in net.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Hornets stated their campaign by taking a 21-4 home loss to Fairfield Prep on April 4, after which Branford dropped a 13-5 decision at home against Old Lyme on April 7.
Head Coach Jim May’s club is coming off a season that saw Branford finish with a record of 11-6 to go with a berth in the Class M State Tournament.
Boys’ Golf
Branford opened up the 2018 season by earning a 176-200 win versus Foran at Grassy Hill Country Club in Orange on April 5.
Last year, Head Coach Jen Kohut’s team posted a record of 15-4-1 to qualify for the SCC Championship, where Branford finished in eighth place. The Hornets later came in 12th place at the Division II State Championship.
Softball
The Hornets started off their year by defeating Wilbur Cross, before taking a loss against North Haven last week.
On March 31, Branford hosted Cross and won a 19-12 contest in its season opener. Senior Jackie DaRos homered and had two RBI, while senior Julia Falcigno and junior Lexi Falcigno each had three RBI in the victory. Lexi Falcigno hit a triple, Julia Falcigno doubled, plus sophomore Abbie Spivey and junior Alycia Ferretti added doubles.
Then on April 5, the Hornets had a game in North Haven and took a 22-0 defeat.
Chuck Reale returns as head coach for the Hornets, who finished with a record of 4-16 in 2017.
Baseball
Branford hosted Wilbur Cross in its season opener and dropped a 3-2 decision against the Governors on March 31.
Cross plated three runs in the top of the fourth inning, before the Hornets scored a pair of runs in the bottom half, although but Branford was unable to get the tying run across. Zane Kmietek took the loss on the mound, and fellow senior Carson Mendoza pitched in relief for Branford. Seniors Damien Maniscalco and CJ Miller both had a double and scored a run in the loss.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
Rich Biondi is back as the head coach of the Branford boys’ outdoor track team this spring, and the Hornets welcomed him back to his old post by sweeping a tri-meet in East Haven on April 5. Branford defeated the host Yellowjackets 81-69 to go along with an 80-68 victory versus Hamden.
Junior Marzio Mastroianni took first place in both the 800 (2:09) and the 1,600 (4:45.3) to lead the Hornets to their season-opening sweep. Senior Harry Troidle placed first in the 3,200 with a time of 11:44 for Branford. Justin Dombrowski won the pole vault by clearing 9 feet-6 inches, while fellow junior Brandon Perez placed first in the high jump at 5-6. Branford’s 4x800 relay of Matt Daley, Troidle, sophomore Andrew Betzig, and senior Ryan McCarthy finished first with a mark of 9:35; and the 4x400 of Daley, junior Matt Alexander, sophomore Nolan Scott, and Mastroianni took first at 3:46.
Also for the Hornets, junior Carlos McCaay qualified for states in the 100-meter dash by running a time of 11.5 seconds, while Alexander made states in the long jump with a distance of 19-2.
Girls' Outdoor Track
The Hornets began their year by recording a 79-69 victory in East Haven on April 5.
Branford's first-place finishers at the meet included junior Liante Claude in the 400 (63.2), sophomore Maya Kyriakides in the 800 (3:16), and senior Emily Borst for the 1,600 (6:50). Also taking first place were sophomore Johnna Palmese in the shot put (23-4.5), senior Kathryn Pollard in the discus (63-9), senior Bridget Wirtz in the pole vault (9-6), and sophomore Rose Lockery in the triple jump (28-7). Additionally, the 4x400 relay of Pollard, junior MaryBeth Nwagboli, sophomore Molly Zaffino, and Claude finished first with a time of 4:40.
Girls’ Tennis
Branford came away with a split of two matches in its first week of the spring season. The Hornets dropped a 4-3 decision at Sheehan on March 31, before posting a 5-2 home win over Shelton on April 5.
In the Sheehan match, sophomore Gianna Benni won a 7-5, 6-4 decision at No. 4 singles. Branford’s No. 2 doubles team of Jessica King and fellow sophomore Amanda Gage prevailed 6-3, 6-1; and the No. 3 team of sophomores Elizabeth Bartlett and Sara Girardi won 6-4, 6-2.
Jim Cole is back for another season as head coach for Branford, which finished with a record of 5-11 last year.
Boys’ Tennis
The Hornets started off the 2018 season with a match against Xavier at the Rocky Hill Tennis Center on April and took a 6-1 defeat.
Last year, Head Coach Matt Fraenza’s team went 11-8 and qualified for the Class M State Championship for the third consecutive season.