For the second straight year, it came down to two fierce field hockey rivals for the league title, and yet again, Haddam-Killingworth proved why it is at the top of its conference’s class.

The Cougars defeated North Branford by a 3-2 margin on Oct. 17 at home to claim their second consecutive Shoreline Conference crown and 15

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in the program’s history. After HK jumped out to a 2-0 edge through the contest’s first half, the Thunderbirds stormed back with a quick score before junior Julia Babbitt sent home the eventual title-clinching goal with 20:48 to play on a reverse spin move following assists from senior co-captains Kiley Anderson and Allison Sheahan.

“We go over our goals before the season and this was one of them, so to achieve it feels great,” Babbitt said. “At that moment before the goal, I was thinking of doing anything to get near the net, and then I wasn’t in the best position for a straight-on shot, so I tried a reverse move. We came out strong this year, then hit a rough patch and weren’t scoring as much as we knew we could. But we have come out of our funk I think and are starting to peak.”

Junior Danielle Roman and freshman Brinley Anderson notched HK’s first duo of scores in the victory. The Cougars additionally outshot North Branford by a 12-10 decision, as sophomore netminder Meghan Cerino collected eight saves in the cage to help the Cougars’ carve in another piece of history.

“Knowing that you are at the top of your conference is incredible, and I couldn’t be more proud of my team and the way we played,” Kiley Anderson said. “We are such a close-knit group and all of us put our hearts into the sport. This is my second Shoreline title, but it feels just as great as the first one. I am so proud and excited for the rest of our season.”

HK (11-2; 9-1 Shoreline) wasted little time chipping away toward the title with Roman scoring on a finish at the left post following a feed from Sheahan at the 24:42 mark. The Cougars then continued their offensive aggressiveness 12 minutes later as Kiley Anderson found her sister, Brinley, on the same exact set-up as the team’s initial goal to give HK a two-goal cushion halfway to another title.

“We were pleased with how we came out in the first half being on fire; it was huge,” said Head Coach Patsy Kamercia, whose squad outshot the T-Birds, 9-2, for the opening half. “Those two goals really captured the momentum of the game in our favor, but we knew they could come out strong, because it’s always a battle with North Branford.”

Kamercia’s prediction would hold true thanks to a goal by senior Alyssa Doran from sophomore Sabrina LeMere 2:32 into the second half, and then after Babbitt made it a two-score game, junior Stephanie Hogan cut North Branford’s (10-4; 6-3) deficit to one on an unassisted tally with 15 minutes remaining.

“We really had to play good defense, because the momentum had changed and they were on the attack,” said Kamercia, whose club was then outshot, 8-3, after halftime. “We were lucky to hold them to two goals.”

The Cougars would then rally and show why they are the reigning crown holders, as they defended their zone the rest of the way to hold on in a back-and-forth matchup.

“I was disappointed we couldn’t match their intensity in the second, yet we went back on the attack and moved the ball well,” Kamercia said. “We have trouble in some games this year putting together two good halves, so working on that is the task at hand.”

Despite graduating 13 seniors from a group that won a state title last November, Kamercia is prideful of her current crop of eight final-year athletes that have made their moment count for themselves and the squad.

“This title says that all the kids stepped up and know what they have to do in this program, because we don’t rebuild here,” Kamercia said. “These seniors spent time behind a very talented senior class, but this was their first year with the opportunity and they all latched onto it and are doing it. I’m very proud of everyone.”

With one title defense wrapped up, HK now begins to look at a repeat bid for a Class S state championship. Yet before tournament time, the Cougars will get strong postseason preparation with opponents in Guilford, Conard, and Canton down the stretch.

“We have a little time now to get ourselves geared up for Guilford [Friday, Oct. 25, 7 p.m.] on its turf for its Senior Night,” Kamercia said. “Our mental toughness these last few games will show a lot, and they need to believe that they will be in every game.”