Things weren’t going so well for the Branford girls’ soccer team the first time it faced Mercy this season. The Hornets took a six-goal loss that was part of a six-game losing streak and the team’s chances of reaching the postseason seemed a little sketchy.

Still, Jen Kohut’s squad was showing signs of turning things around toward the end of that skid as Branford dropped a few one-goal decisions to quality clubs. It wasn’t long before the Hornets started posting points in the standings by tying East Haven and then defeating fellow division rivals North Haven and Cross-Hillhouse-Career.

Those glimmers of hope set the stage for a rematch versus Mercy on Oct. 21 and Branford’s progress was evident as ever when it hosted the Tigers that night. The game was a total turnaround from the initial meeting that saw Carolyn Caminear’s second-half goal hold up as the difference in a 1-0 Hornets’ victory. Branford later tied Cheshire 2-2 to stand at 4-8-2 and needs at least a win and a tie in its last two games to make states.

Coach Kohut discussed why she felt this game yielded such a better outcome than the first time her team took on Mercy (8-5-1).

“I think it was just possession with the ball. We were moving the ball around the field a lot better with a little more purpose than we had been. I also changed up the formation, which seemed to help,” she said. “We just pinged the ball around the field. It was a pretty game to watch. The intensity was up and it was definitely our best game of the season. It’s great to beat Mercy.”

Caminear, a senior captain midfielder, netted the game’s lone score in the 61st minute on assists from sophomore Bridget Wirtz and junior defender Emma Milles. Off a restart, the ball was played into the box by Milles, after which Wirtz got a touch on it and then Caminear fired it home for a 1-0 advantage. The Tigers had chances to it late, but Branford’s defenders and senior goalie Foley Riggs were true to the task. Riggs, who’s shared time in net with sophomore Nina Grabowiecki throughout the season, made four saves, including a few at point-blank range, to preserve the nail-biting victory.

“Everybody was pretty fired up after it…The feeling in the room afterward was that everyone was elated,” said Coach Kohut. “It was a great win and the most physical game we played this year. After losing to them 7-1, to come back and win was such a great result…When we’re firing on all cylinders, we are a great team.”

The Hornets’ next contest was a home duel against Cheshire on Oct. 23 that also featured a different result than the first game between the teams. Branford had lost in Cheshire 2-1 in late September, but came away with a 2-2 tie this time to collect a crucial point in its playoff chase. The Hornets nearly took home two points, although they squandered a two-goal lead in the final minutes. Senior captain forward Issy Bysiewicz, who Kohut said “always makes something happen,” scored on a breakaway in the 31st minute and then repeated the feat in minute 58 for a 2-0 lead. However, the Rams (4-7-3) cut the deficit in half with just over 12 minutes to play and then scored the equalizer with four minutes remaining. Riggs stopped 10 shots for Branford, which settled for the draw.

“In the final 13, we were playing back on our heels and let them control play, where [against Mercy], we completely dominated time of possession. Last night, we kind of let them take it to us,” Kohut said. “It was a flat game...After we scored that second goal, Cheshire upped the intensity and played the ball over the top and sent enough players through that one person gets to it. Foley made great saves, but she can’t make every single one…We were disappointed. It was a huge letdown to give up two goals in the final 13 minutes. Yes, we still have a point going forward toward states, but [the week as a whole] was a mixture of emotions. We were really excited going into the [Cheshire] game and then, when we met in the classroom after, it was as if we lost the game. That was the feeling.”

On the plus side, Branford remains in contention to qualify for the Class L State Tournament and can do so by earning three points in its last two games. The Hornets host North Haven on Senior Night at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 and then play at Hand at 7 three nights later. Kohut’s team blanked North Haven 3-0 and lost to Hand 3-1 the first time around against those clubs.

“It’s extremely important to make the State Tournament,” said Kohut. “It was a goal at the beginning of the season…We still have a chance and so we’ll try to stay positive and go to Senior Night, which is always an emotional night, and hope that gives us the push we need.”

From the Sidelines

Branford’s senior class consists of captains Issy Bysiewicz (forward), Jessie O’Connor (defender), and Carolyn Caminear (midfielder); as well as Foley Riggs (goalie), Raissi Bysiewicz (defender), Caroline Beatty (defender), and Jenna Vitale (midfielder).

Jen Kohut is in her 18th campaign as Hornets’ head coach and is assisted by JV coach Katie Rebeschi, plus Billy Alessi.

Branford’s four victories this year came at home against Cross-Hillhouse-Career (3-0), in North Haven (3-0), at Cross-Hillhouse Career (3-2), and then at home last week versus Mercy (1-0).

In addition to its overall record of 4-8-2, the Hornets are 3-1-1 in the Oronoque Division this fall.