Football

The Haddam-Killingworth football team earned a big divisional victory at North Branford in last week’s matchup. On Oct. 21, the Cougars hit the road to square off against North Branford and edged out the Thunderbirds by the final score of 15-14, improving their overall record to 3-2 to go along with a mark of 2-2 in the Pequot Conference Sassacus Division.

Senior quarterback Alex Phipps threw a pair of touchdown passes to lead H-K to its win over North Branford. Clinging to a one-point lead in the final minute, the Cougars stopped the T-Birds on 4th down at H-K’s 10-yard line to solidify the victory.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Phipps threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to fellow senior Tate Callender to get H-K on the board in the second period. Junior Wyatt Solosky kicked the extra point to put the Cougars up 7-0. North Branford used a 17-yard TD run to cut the deficit the 7-6, and that’s the way the score stayed at halftime after the Cougars stopped the T-Birds on their subsequent 2-point attempt.

H-K and North Branford played scoreless ball through the third quarter. In the fourth, Phipps connected with Solosky for a 5-yard touchdown strike that increased the Cougars’ led to 13-6. Callender then ran in the 2-point conversion to make it 15-6 midway through the frame.

North Branford came back with a 27-yard touchdown pass and then rushed for the 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to 15-14. The T-Birds’ offense got the ball back for one last-gasp attempt, but the Cougars’ defense stopped North Branford in the red zone as H-K held on for the one-point win.

H-K is hosting Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton for a divisional duel on Friday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. The Blue Devils come into the contest with an overall record of 1-5 and a record of 1-2 in the Pequot Conference Sassacus Division.

Girls’ Swimming and Diving

The Haddam-Killingworth girls’ swimming and diving team boosted its record to 5-1 on the season after earning a road victory against Rocky Hill last week. On Oct. 17, the Cougars hit the road to face the Terriers took the contest by the final score of 99-77.

H-K won 10 of the 11 swimming events on its way to defeating Rocky Hill. Every swimmer who competed for the Cougars that day recorded at least one personal-best or season-best time.

Senior captain Erin Marica qualified for states in the 100 breaststroke by winning the event with a time of 1:21.57 in H-K’s victory versus Rocky Hill. Marica also improved her state-qualifying mark in the 500 freestyle after finishing the event with a triumphant time of 5:56.26.

Sophomore Liv Macaluso finished first in the 200 individual medley the 100 freestyle for H-K at the meet. Senior captain Jo Houska won the 200 freestyle, junior Layla Hayward earned top honors for the 50 freestyle, and junior Emma Sajus finished first in the 100 butterfly.

The Cougars also claimed first place in all three relays. H-K’s 200 medley relay of senior captain Kristen Thebeau, Marica, Sajus, and Hayward finished in first place; as did the 200 freestyle relay of Houska, Hayward, junior Peyton Tyler, and Macaluso; along with the 400 freestyle quartet of Houska, Hayward, Macaluso, and Marica.

The other athletes who scored points for H-K in last week’s victory were senior Aleysha Brawley, sophomore Olivia Campo, sophomore Sofia Campo, and sophomore VV Pypa.

H-K will be on the road to face Plainville in its regular-season finale on Friday, Oct. 28 at 4 p.m.

Field Hockey

The Haddam-Killingworth field hockey squad moved to 4-6-1-1 on the year after gaining a split of two recent games. The Cougars posted a shutout over Mercy and then took a defeat to North Branford in last week’s matchups.

On Oct. 17, H-K traveled to Middletown to play a non-conference game versus Mercy and blanked the Tigers by a 3-0 score. Two days later, the Cougars hosted North Branford and took a 2-0 loss in the contest.

H-K is hosting Canton for its last game of the regular season on Friday, Oct. 28 at 4:15 p.m.

Girls’ Soccer

The Haddam-Killingworth girls’ soccer squad earned a draw with East Hampton and took a loss to Old Saybrook in last week’s action. The Cougars now have an overall record of 6-5-2 this year.

H-K started off last week by battling East Hampton to a 1-1 tie in a road game on Oct. 18. Three days later, the Cougars hosted Old Saybrook and were edged out by a 1-0 final at H-K High School.

The Cougars will conclude the regular season by hosting Cromwell for a contest at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.

Boys’ Soccer

The Haddam-Killingworth boys’ soccer team played a pair of road games last week. The Cougars took a loss to Old Saybrook and then lost Portland to move to 6-6-1 on the season.

On Oct. 20, H-K took a 4-0 road loss against Old Saybrook. Two days later, the Cougars were back on the road to face Portland and took a 3-1 defeat to the Highlanders.

H-K will close out its regular season by playing home games against East Hampton and Platt this week.

Girls’ Volleyball

The Haddam-Killingworth girls’ volleyball team moved to 10-7 on the season after taking three defeats last week. The Cougars lost contests against Valley Regional, East Hampton, and Hale-Ray in recent action.

In its first match of the week, H-K took a 3-2 road loss to Valley Regional on Oct. 17. Two days later, the Cougars hit the road to face East Hampton and lost to the Bellringers by a 3-0 score. H-K finished off the week by taking a 3-0 defeat to Hale-Ray in a home match on Oct. 21.

The Cougars will conclude their regular season by playing a road matchup versus Hand on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 4:30 p.m.