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12/29/2010 11:00 PMThere were numerous things to be pleased about if you followed Indians' athletics this fall, including division titles for the football and boys' soccer squads.
Football
North Haven notched a record of 10-1 to win its division for the third time in four seasons and earn the second playoff berth in program history.
After dropping a 12-0 decision to Hillhouse in their opener, the Indians ran the regular-season table, earning key victories against Hamden (13-2), Branford (27-12), Notre Dame West Haven (20-17), Trinity Catholic (39-28), Foran (48-20, which clinched the division), and then Amity (40-24) on Thanksgiving. North Haven's season ended with a 19-7 loss at Hand in the Class L quarterfinals.
Senior captain running back/defensive lineman Chris Matteis was pivotal to the Indians' success as he earned All-SCC and All-Area honors as well as being named his team's MVP and a Scholar-Athlete. Senior running back/free safety Bryan Maratea made All-SCC and received the Indians' Sportsmanship Award with fellow senior Brandon McLane, a wingback/cornerback, getting Most Improved.
Also making All-SCC for North Haven was junior two-way lineman Andrew Savenelli, who additionally earned All-State honors and made the Levi Jackson New Haven Gridiron Club team, plus senior running back/defensive lineman Trevor Keyes and junior tight end/linebacker Mark Zurlis, the latter who also made All-Area. Additionally making the Levi Jackson team were junior quarterback/cornerback/punter Joe Schwab, running back/cornerback Jalon White, and blocking back/linebacker Brandon Devlin.
Tight end/linebacker Eddie Glenn was the Indians' other senior captain.
Boys' Soccer
North Haven had a remarkable fall campaign in 2009, going 8-3-4 for the regular season with a mark of 5-0-3 in the SCC Oronoque to win that title for the third time. The Indians then dropped a 1-0 decision to Xavier in the SCC Tournament before earning a 5-0 win against Platt Tech in the Class L bracket. Federico Fiondella's team then lost to Wilton 1-0 to finish at 9-6-4.
Forward Keegan Hanlon and fellow senior captain Istvan Kanyo, a midfielder, each received First Team All-Oronoque honors, as did senior midfielder Marlon Rafael. Honorable Mention went to senior captains Steve Albert and Kevin Bucknall, who played midfielder and defender, respectively, along with senior forward Rich Mauri and junior goalie Chris Musco. All four captains were presented with the Outstanding Leadership Award and Kanyo, Rafael, Hanlon, Bucknall and Coach Fiondella were additionally selected to participate in the Senior Bowl with Kanyo also making All-State, All-New England and All-Area and Rafael also gaining All-Area honors. Kanyo was also the Indians' MVP for the second-straight year and received the GNHSOA Toni DeNegri Award for Connecticut's Outstanding Male Soccer Player of the Year with Fiondella being named the Oronoque Coach of the Year and Mauri getting Goal of the Year distinction for his score in a win against Branford that was assisted by Albert. Mauri was also North Haven's Hat Trick Hero as he scored three goals in a victory versus East Haven. Furthermore, Bucknall received North Haven's Joe Janush Outstanding Sportsman Award, senior sweeper Colby Jennings was named Most Improved, senior defender Charlie Hoyt earned the Jim and Brenda Howlett Scholar-Athlete Award, and sophomore midfielder Neeko Calderon was Rookie of the Year. The Indians' 2010 World Cup champions were Hanlon, Mauri, senior Kevin Anderson, and fellow midfielder John Johnson, a junior. The Alumni Award went to senior defender Karl Claver-Obinna and the Guido Fiondella Merit Award, which is named in honor of Coach Fiondella's late father, was presented to senior stopper Vin Jakiela. The Outstanding Service Award went to senior Luke Chzisuk, who was injured for the season, yet still helped the team in any way he could as manager, as well as fellow manager Julie DePaola, plus ball girls Hillary Hoyt and Olivia Hoyt, and ball boy Michael McManus.
Girls' Soccer
North Haven rebounded from an 0-5 start to post an overall regular-season record of 7-8-1 with a mark of 3-2-1 in the SCC Oronoque en route to berths in the SCC and Class L State Tournaments. Key regular-season wins for Larry DiBernardo's squad came against East Haven, Shelton, Hamden, and West Haven.
The Indians then lost in overtime to Hamden in SCC's, followed by a defeat to Wilton in states to finish at 8-10-1.
North Haven was led by the senior captain tandem of defender Jessica Broadbent and forward/defender Amanda Rizzo.
Central-midfielder Lisa Sanzari earned All-Oronoque honors for North Haven and was named the Indians' Most Valuable Player.
Volleyball
Mark Giordano's first campaign as head coach of the Indians was a huge success as his squad went 10-8 for the regular season to gain berths in both the SCC and Class L State Tournaments and then earned a home victory against Berlin in the latter bracket. Overall, North Haven went 11-10 overall and 5-3 in the SCC Oronoque.
Senior middle hitter Shirley Rodriguez earned All-Oronoque and MVP honors.
Kelsey Searles (outside hitter), Melissa Sardilli (setter), and Kayla Brown (outside hitter/back row), were the Indians' captains with Brown winning the Sportsmanship Award.
Girls' Swimming
2010 saw Colleen Delaney take over as North Haven's head coach and the program alum wanted her team to aim at posting a winning record, something the Indians achieved despite a six-meet losing streak. That's because Delaney's squad won its last six meets to go 7-6.
Delaney, whose team also improved upon last year's finishes at the Southern Connecticut Conference and Class L Championships by placing ninth at both, saw her squad guided by a group of senior captains: Alex Martin, Becky Miller, Kelly Konopka; and Sarah Pucci, whose stellar career culminated with her placing eighth in the 500 freestyle at the SCC meet.
Senior diver Amanda Saslow took first at the SCC Championship and ninth at the Class L meet. Saslow was named North Haven's MVP.
Boys' Cross-Country
North Haven graduated three of its top runners from 2009, yet still matched its win total from that season by going 7-4 last year with a mark of 3-1 in the SCC Oronoque to take second place.
Carl Jackson's Indians were bolstered by their trio of captains, who were seniors Steve LaLuna (Sportsmanship Award) and Nick Burns, plus junior Dave Salvo, who was MVP.
Girls' Cross-Country
North Haven went 4-7 overall and 3-1 in the SCC Oronoque as Carl Jackson's team saw numerous youngsters gained experience that will benefit the team in future years.
Freshman Dawn Hubbell was the Indians' top runner and earned MVP honors. Another solid competitor for the Indians was senior Belinda Hoang, the squad's lone captain and Sportsmanship Award recipient.
Field Hockey
The Indians finished with a record of 4-9-3 and missed the state tournament, but the Indians' season-long persistence paid off with a triumph against Amity on Senior Night. Senior captains were Sydney Burke and Victoria Liquori with the latter named MVP in addition to earning Second Team All-SCC, All-State, and Scholar-Athlete recognition.