Printer Friendly Version - 2015 Hand Tigers Fall Year in Review

Alex Cinicolo made the All-SCC Hammonasset Division Team as Hand boys’ soccer upped its regular season unbeaten streak to 41-straight games and reached the semifinals of the Class L State Tournament.

The fall sports season at Hand saw the boys’ soccer squad continue an impressive run, field hockey make its way back to the SCC Tournament final, and football collect seven wins following a 5-6 finish to 2014.

Hand and Head Coach Stan Latkowsi finished the regular season at 15-0-1 to win their fourth-straight SCC Hammonasset Division title. The Tigers also kept their regular season undefeated streak intact and it’s now at 41-straight games dating back to Sept. 2013. After a first round SCC Tournament loss to Hamden on penalty kicks, 2nd-seeded Hand had edged New Fairfield by a 2-1 score in the second round of the Class L State Tournament on Nov. 12 and then took out fellow SCC school Lyman Hall with a 4-0 final in the quarters. In the semifinals against No. 14 Avon, the Tigers were edged 3-1 on PKs. Jake Brown, Alex Cinicolo, John Gulcicek, Curtis Henry, and John Loftus made the All-SCC Hammonasset Division Team.

With second-year Head Coach David Dikranian, the Tigers went 9-6-4 overall, taking a first round loss in the Class L State Tournament to Sacred Heart Academy on penalty kicks by a 4-3 margin. Hand also made the SCC Tournament for the first time since 2012, upsetting Amity on the road in the quarterfinals before a semifinal loss to Lauralton Hall. Amy Boswell, Kelly Derken, Riley Kokoruda, and Gillian Kraemer sealed spots on the All-SCC Hammonasset Division squad.

Head Coach Sue Leckey and No. 6 seed Hand hosted No. 11 Sacred Heart Academy in the first round of the Class M State Tournament on Nov. 10 and took a 1-0 loss in double overtime. The Tigers finished the season 14-5-1 after also reaching the SCC Tournament final for the fourth-straight season and falling 2-1 to Lauralton Hall.

Sam Pavano and Cameron Ruberti made First Team All-SCC, plus Emily Cody and Kirsten Duncan garnered Second Team distinction.

Steve Filippone’s Tigers finished 7-3 for the regular season following a 5-6 campaign in 2014. Nick Van Dell (at QB) and Luke Bernardo (on the defensive line) were selected to the All-SCC Division I Team. Van Dell also finished as the new program leader in career touchdown passes with 51, breaking the mark in his final game. Hand’s wins came against Amity (28-16), Cheshire (14-0), Cross (42-16), Branford (33-6), Hamden (34-7), Class LL State Playoff squad West Haven (35-21), and Guilford (42-7). The Tigers lost to Class L Playoff qualifier Notre Dame-West Haven (27-7), Xavier (13-7), and Class LL State Playoff No. 1 seed Shelton (17-13).

Steve Swift and Hand earned the SCC Hammonasset Division title by edging out Guilford 28-29 on Oct. 15. The Tigers then finished fifth out of 18 teams at the SCC Championship on Oct. 22 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison with 122 points and were then seventh (236 points) for the Class L State Championship. Colleen Caruth and Gabby Martin raced to Second Team All-SCC honors.

The Tigers and Head Coach Tim Geary finished as runner-up to Guilford in the SCC Hammonasset Division. For the SCC Championship, the Tigers placed eighth out of 19 schools by scoring 201 points on Oct. 22 at Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison. Hand finished ninth with 234 points at the Class L State Championship on Oct. 31 at Wickham Park. Colin Roth was First Team All-SCC and Sean Collins earned Second Team recognition.

Ally Johnson’s Tigers were 12-6 for the regular season, sharing the SCC Hammonasset Division crown with Foran and Guilford. In the SCC Tournament, Hand defeated Lauralton Hall and Guilford before a semifinal loss to Cheshire. In states, the 15th-seeded Tigers hosted SCC rival and No. 18 Mercy in the first round of the Class L State Tournament and Hand prevailed 3-2 (9-25, 25-17, 25-18, 18-25, 17-15). For the second round at No. 2 Fitch on Nov. 12, the Tigers were swept (25-20, 25-17, 25-12) to finish their year 15-8 overall. Krissy LaSance and Ryann Corniello made the All-SCC Hammonasset Division Team.

2015 SCC Coach of the Year Jen Lyman and Hand finished fourth with 642.5 points out of 16 teams at the SCC Championship. Allie Mascia, who was named the SCC Swimmer of the Year, won the 50 freestyle in 24.88 seconds at Southern Connecticut State University on Nov. 4. In the 50, Mascia edged out second-place finisher Kaitlyn Joy of Lauralton Hall, who went 24.96. In Class L for states, the Tigers placed seventh out of 19 squads at the Class L State Championship by scoring 254 points. Mascia made the All-SCC Team for both the 50 and 100 free events.