This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
09/12/2022 03:25 PMFootball
The Branford football team hit the road to face Waterford for its first game of the 2022 season on Sept. 9. The Hornets claimed a 42-20 win against Waterford in the non-conference contest to start off the year with a mark of 1-0.
Junior Nathan Florio rushed for 253 yards and 4 touchdowns on 21 carries to lead Branford to its season-opening victory over Waterford. Sophomore Akiel Lomotey had 10 rushes for 92 yards, including a 53-yard TD late in the third that helped solidify the win.
Junior Cole Snider ran the ball 8 times for 37 yards for Head Coach John Limone’s squad. All totaled, Branford’s offense racked up 400 yards on the ground in the victory. Junior Joseph Robinson went 6-for-6 on his extra-point attempts.
Florio broke off a 71-yard touchdown run to help Branford take a 7-0 lead with 6:55 left in the first quarter. Florio later scored from 10 yards out with 1:22 to play to make it 14-0 after the opening period.
After Waterford got on the board, Florio scampered for a 62-yard touchdown rush to give the Hornets a 21-7 advantage with 4:32 remaining until halftime. Waterford scored with 20 seconds left in the half to cut the deficit to 21-13 at the break.
Snider scored on a 17-yard TD run with 4:22 to go in third quarter and, following Robinson’s extra point, Branford had a 28-13 lead. Two minutes later, Lomotey took home a 53-yard touchdown run to put the Hornets up 35-13 through three.
Waterford scored a touchdown with 10:14 left in the game, but Florio responded with a 51-yard TD run to break the game open with 7:32 to play. Robinson’s PAT put a bow on Branford’s 42-20 victory.
Branford enjoyed a stellar 2021 season that saw the Hornets post an overall record of 9-3 while qualifying for the Class M State Playoffs. Head Coach John Limone’s team claimed a 7-6 win versus Avon in the state quarterfinals before taking a 13-12 loss to Killingly in the semis.
Branford is hosting Guilford for a SCC Tier 3 matchup on Friday, Sept. 16. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. under the lights at Branford High School.
Girls’ Soccer
The Branford girls’ soccer team began its season on a triumphant note by recording a shutout over East Haven in its first game of the year last week. On Sept. 8, the Hornets faced the Yellowjackets on the road and won the matchup by the final score of 7-0 to start off the year at 1-0.
Senior Ava Ferrie and junior Tess Ferrie both scored 1 goal to go with 2 assists in Branford’s win over East Haven. Sophomore Bryce Infantino netted 2 goals for the Hornets in the victory. Senior Samantha Stroka, junior Lucy Moran, and junior Madeline Resendes contributed 1 goal apiece to help Branford get the win.
Branford is coming off of a solid season that saw the team finish with an overall record of 12-5-3. Head Coach Jen Kohut’s squad won its first games in the Class L State Tournament to advance to the quarterfinal round last year.
Boys’ Soccer
The Branford boys’ soccer squad hosted East Haven for its 2022 opener on Sept. 8. The Hornets notched a 3-1 victory over the Yellowjackets at Branford High School for an early record of 1-0.
Senior Ryder Kropiwnicki scored 2 goals to lead Branford to its win against East Haven. Ernad Spreco scored the other goal for the Hornets, while senior Anthony Klos contributed an assist in the victory. Junior Conor Spaulding made 3 saves in net for Branford.
Paul Hunter returns for another season as head coach of the Hornets. Branford posted an overall record of 4-10-2 for the 2021 campaign.
Girls’ Volleyball
The Branford girls’ volleyball team started up the fall season with a shutout victory at East Haven last week. The Hornets faced East Haven in its season opener on Sept. 8 and claimed a 3-0 victory over the Yellowjackets, prevailing with scores of 25-16, 25-20, and 25-11.
Senior Allie Bietz recorded 18 assists to go with 7 aces for Branford in its win against East Haven. Fellow senior Paige Kelly had 8 kills and 3 aces to help the Hornets prevail.
This year marks Mike Martone’s second season as head coach of the Branford volleyball squad. Branford finished with an overall record of 16-6, picking up one win apiece in both the SCC Tournament and the Class M State Tournament, during the 2021 campaign.
Field Hockey
The Branford field hockey team hit the road to face New Canaan for its first game of the 2022 campaign last weekend. The Hornets took a 3-0 defeat against the Rams in the matchup on Sept. 10.
Head Coach Pete Frye complimented junior Julia Bozzi for playing a standout game in goal in a 7-save performance. Frye also noted that seniors Gianna Bozzi, Aryana Wilson, Laurne McCarthy, junior Ellie Wieland, sophomore Eliza Burgess, and freshman Aliza Giordano also played great games for the Hornets.
Boys’ Cross Country
The Branford boys’ cross country team hosted a quad-meet at the Supply Pond to open up the fall season. The Hornets came away with one victory by posting a team score of 45 to earn wins versus Notre Dame-West Haven (58) and Amity (111) to go with a loss against Hand (23) on Sept. 8.
Senior Massimo Corrick claimed third place by running a time of 15:39 for the Hornets at the meet. Fellow senior Colin Donahoe finished in fourth place with a time of 15:46.
Junior Dom Zdunek came in sixth place (16:00) for Branford. Junior Sam Coppola took 11th place (16:48), and fellow junior Noah Hauswirth finished in 22nd place (17:31) at the meet.
Branford went 8-1 overall for the 2021 season. Head Coach Kevin Connell’s squad went on to take second place at the SCC Oronoque Division Championship last year.
Girls’ Cross Country
The Branford girls’ cross country squad competed against Amity, Hand, and Sacred Heart Academy in season-opening quad-meet last week. The Hornets finished with a team score of 92 and took losses versus Sacred Heart Academy (30), Amity (39), and Hand (82) at the Supply Pond.
Junior Tanner Marrandino led the pack for the Hornets by claiming eighth place with a time of 19:08 in the meet. Sophomore Peyton Gaudreau finished in 16th place after crossing the finish line in 20:19.
Sophomore Ella Stone took 25th place (21:58) for Branford at the quad-meet. Senior Marina Smiarowski finished in 34th place (23:33), and senior Lila Wasiolek (23:47) came in 36th place on behalf of the Hornets.
Kevin Connell returns for another campaign as Branford’s head coach. The Hornets finished with a record of 2-7 last season.