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10/23/2009 12:00 AMThe North Branford field hockey team traveled to Peters Complex in Clinton to take on the Morgan Huskies on Oct. 14. The Thunderbirds started and ended the first half with goals, scoring in the first and last minute of the half to carry a 2-0 lead into the second half that saw North Branford add one more goal despite stellar goalkeeping by Melissa Vincellette."Even though the score was 3-0, Melissa Vincellette did a great job and took some pretty amazing situations and saved our butts a lot out there," said Morgan Coach Kalli Schultz. "I give her a lot of credit."
"Even though the score was 3-0, Melissa Vincellette did a great job and took some pretty amazing situations and saved our butts a lot out there," said Morgan Coach Kalli Schultz. "I give her a lot of credit." The T-Birds started the contest in furious fashion as they worked their way into Morgan's zone. Just 1:03 into the game, Mary DeMatteo intercepted a Huskies' clear and slammed a shot past Vincellette, who had come out of the cage to make the clear.
The T-Birds started the contest in furious fashion as they worked their way into Morgan's zone. Just 1:03 into the game, Mary DeMatteo intercepted a Huskies' clear and slammed a shot past Vincellette, who had come out of the cage to make the clear.The T-Birds continued to put pressure on the Huskies' defensive line as they outshot Morgan 36-1. Kim Driscoll, Liz Luong, and Caroline Best anchored the defense with help from Stacey Lecza and Cassie Cochrane.
The T-Birds continued to put pressure on the Huskies' defensive line as they outshot Morgan 36-1. Kim Driscoll, Liz Luong, and Caroline Best anchored the defense with help from Stacey Lecza and Cassie Cochrane.Morgan tried to mount an attack as Emily Criscuolo and Sarah Thompson worked the ball down the sidelines with Criscuolo making good runs down the center of the field as well. Freshman Rachel Spotts also made the T-Birds' defense work to keep her out of their zone.
Morgan tried to mount an attack as Emily Criscuolo and Sarah Thompson worked the ball down the sidelines with Criscuolo making good runs down the center of the field as well. Freshman Rachel Spotts also made the T-Birds' defense work to keep her out of their zone."Cassie Cochrane has done a great job in the backfield in the last few games and been very consistent and Emily Criscuolo is a great ball-handler," said Schultz. "Rachel had some nice runs-she's a freshman stepping up in a big way."
"Cassie Cochrane has done a great job in the backfield in the last few games and been very consistent and Emily Criscuolo is a great ball-handler," said Schultz. "Rachel had some nice runs-she's a freshman stepping up in a big way."North Branford, however, was ready for the attack as Michelle Caprio, Kristen Sullivan, and Jackie Ferraro fended off everything.
North Branford, however, was ready for the attack as Michelle Caprio, Kristen Sullivan, and Jackie Ferraro fended off everything.North Branford continued to pressure with DeMatteo, Kaitlyn Stobierski, Megan Halligan, Kirsten Kilburn, and Rachel Robertson leading the offense. The T-Birds also worked nine corners in the first half alone. Vincellette continued her stellar play, charging many shots and kicking away others.
North Branford continued to pressure with DeMatteo, Kaitlyn Stobierski, Megan Halligan, Kirsten Kilburn, and Rachel Robertson leading the offense. The T-Birds also worked nine corners in the first half alone. Vincellette continued her stellar play, charging many shots and kicking away others.The play wasn't all North Branford, however, as Morgan showed signs of coming back. Danielle Childs made several attempts to push the ball up the field that
The play wasn't all North Branford, however, as Morgan showed signs of coming back. Danielle Childs made several attempts to push the ball up the field that In the closing minutes, North Branford earned a corner that saw Kilburn slap the ball in and DeMatteo take a shot that rolled past Vincellette and toward the goal line, but Luong flew in to clear it. Two minutes later, the T-Birds' pressure paid off as Ferraro fed the ball to Caprio, who buried the shot as the half expired.
resulted in the Huskies' only corner of the game. Thompson continued to pressure as well.
In the closing minutes, North Branford earned a corner that saw Kilburn slap the ball in and DeMatteo take a shot that rolled past Vincellette and toward the goal line, but Luong flew in to clear it. Two minutes later, the T-Birds' pressure paid off as Ferraro fed the ball to Caprio, who buried the shot as the half expired."We were looking to bring it up a little as we have a positive and supportive team, but we needed to play more as athletes and more aggressively," said North Branford Coach Babby Nuhn. "We knew Morgan would be tough and they played well, but our midfield has been the unsung heroes. Our strongest midfielder is Michelle Caprio and Kirsten Kilburn has been doing a lot. We were really clicking today."
"We were looking to bring it up a little as we have a positive and supportive team, but we needed to play more as athletes and more aggressively," said North Branford Coach Babby Nuhn. "We knew Morgan would be tough and they played well, but our midfield has been the unsung heroes. Our strongest midfielder is Michelle Caprio and Kirsten Kilburn has been doing a lot. We were really clicking today."The T-Birds carried their
The T-Birds carried their Haley Naccarato showed aggression for Morgan, bolting down the middle of the field with the ball. The Huskies' best chance of the game came with 6:10 to play when Best sent a pass to Crisculo, who forced North Branford goalkeeper Sara Robertson to make her only save of the game to maintain her shutout.
momentum into the second half with solid offensive play from DeMatteo, Stobierski, Halligan, Emily Maher, and Kilburn. North Branford also worked six corners in a six-minute stretch in the middle of the half. The Huskies worked tirelessly on defense, managing to clear the first five, but Caprio got a stick on the sixth. Vincellette made the initial save, but Caprio collected the rebound and this time, she found the back of the net to go up 3-0.
Haley Naccarato showed aggression for Morgan, bolting down the middle of the field with the ball. The Huskies' best chance of the game came with 6:10 to play when Best sent a pass to Crisculo, who forced North Branford goalkeeper Sara Robertson to make her only save of the game to maintain her shutout. Morgan fell to 3-7, needing 3.5 wins in its final six games to reach its goal of qualifying for the state tournament.
Morgan fell to 3-7, needing 3.5 wins in its final six games to reach its goal of qualifying for the state tournament."That is still the focus and the goal," said Schultz. "Can it be done? Absolutely. It's doable-it may not give us the highest ranking, but it will get us there."
"That is still the focus and the goal," said Schultz. "Can it be done? Absolutely. It's doable-it may not give us the highest ranking, but it will get us there."The T-Birds raised their record to 6-1-2.
The T-Birds raised their record to 6-1-2."We're starting to gel and playing more aggressively, but we have some strong opponents coming up," said Nuhn.
"We're starting to gel and playing more aggressively, but we have some strong opponents coming up," said Nuhn.On Friday Oct. 16, Morgan earned a close 3-2 win over Old Saybrook with freshman Sarah Thompson scoring two goals and freshman Rachel Spotts got her first goal of the season as well as an assist, with Stacey Lecza also assisting.
On Friday Oct. 16, Morgan earned a close 3-2 win over Old Saybrook with freshman Sarah Thompson scoring two goals and freshman Rachel Spotts got her first goal of the season as well as an assist, with Stacey Lecza also assisting. "We finally put together a great game and played very strong and consistent," said Schutz. "We scored the three goals in the first half and allowed Saybrook to score the first of their two goals in the first half. All kids today contributed to this win and it was a great win for us because we played so well. We are now 4-7 overall and still fighting for a spot in the tournament."
"We finally put together a great game and played very strong and consistent," said Schutz. "We scored the three goals in the first half and allowed Saybrook to score the first of their two goals in the first half. All kids today contributed to this win and it was a great win for us because we played so well. We are now 4-7 overall and still fighting for a spot in the tournament."