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12/27/2016 11:00 PMA field hockey team needs a unified effort from everyone at all ends of the turf in order to succeed and the 2016 Branford Hornets were a shining example of that this past fall. Branford was bolstered by contributions from versatile athletes in all four grades and the result was another excellent campaign that saw the Hornets break new postseason ground.
Head Coach Cathy McGuirk’s club had a great regular season that featured a 14-2 record and included victories against fellow perennial powerhouses like Lauralton Hall, Cheshire, Hand, and Guilford. The Hornets brought that momentum into the postseason, where they won their first two games in the SCC Tournament, including a semifinal thriller versus Lauralton that came down to penalty strokes, to advance to a championship showdown against Cheshire. Branford followed that with a 2-1 victory against the Rams to clinch the first SCC Tournament title in the program’s storied history.
The Hornets still weren’t done, though, as they prevailed in their first two games of the Class M State Tournament before losing to New Canaan in the semifinals. When the dust settled, Branford walked away from the campaign with a mark of 19-3, tying its 2005 team’s record for the most victories in a season.
“Winning the league tournament was a big thing for the team. We’ve been league champions many times, but the tournament is new, and so to get to that point and have so many different kids work together as a team to achieve what they did, that’s what makes you proud of a team,” said McGuirk, whose team scored 74 goals and only allowed 15 for the year. “Obviously, it’s the wins and the record and all that, too, but it’s the consistency, teamwork, backing each other up all the time, and just how you treat each other—that’s what makes you so proud. I’m just proud of this whole bunch of kids.”
The Hornets were led by a group of seniors who McGuirk said were “a great mix of kids who all added different things with their leadership to the younger kids.” Branford’s senior athletes were captains Keira Integlia and Alanna Grimm, along with Kiersten Bjork, Carol Frye, and Emily Sachs. The team also had two senior managers in Olivia Datre and Victoria Warfield.
Integlia, who posted 10 shutouts as the starting goalie, was an All-SCC and All-State First Team selection, along with being named one of Branford’s co-Most Valuable Players. Integlia received a few other honors from the Hornets in the Lauren E. Hayes Most Improved Award, the Best Defensive Player Award, the Speed Attack Defender Award, and the Most Offseason Skill Development Award. Grimm patrolled the defensive end of the field and, like Integlia, she was a recipient of the Hornets’ Most Valuable Player and Best Defensive Player awards.
Bjork recorded 20 goals with 12 assists at left wing and netted the game-winning score in Branford’s SCC final triumph over Cheshire. Bjork made the All-SCC Second Team, along with earning the Hornets’ Best Offensive Player Award, plus a share of the MVP and Most Improved Player awards. Frye, a midfielder who had five goals with eight assists, garnered All-SCC and All-State Second Team accolades and was a recipient of the Hornets’ MVP and Most Offseason Skill Development awards. On top of that, Frye earned Branford’s Most Effective Skills Award. Sachs, who played defense, was presented with Branford’s Perseverance Award.
Moving to the junior class, midfielder Autumn McHenry was an All-SCC and All-State First Team honoree, a recipient of Branford’s MVP, Most Improved, and Best Defensive Player awards, and she also received the Most Tenacious Defender Award. Defender Sabrina Torcellini, who had six goals and four assists, made the All-SCC Second Team and received MVP, Most Improved, Best Defensive Player, and Speed Attack Defender honors from the Hornets.
Britney Bunbanlu played forward, midfielder, and defense for Branford and so it’s no surprise that she took home the club’s Most Versatile Award, along with a share of the Lauren E. Hayes Most Improved Player Award. Junior forward LanLe Crotty tallied five goals with nine assists on her way to being named Branford’s Unsung Hero. She was also a recipient of the Most Offseason Skill Development Award.
Defender Leah-Pendl Robinson earned the Perseverance Award, goalie/defender Erica Klarman was the Most Improved JV Player, and those two were joined in the junior class by forward/defender Cailtin Baker, defender Fiona Palmieri, and manager Emily Knapp.
Defender Carly Shea led the sophomore corps by winning the team’s Most Improved Player and Most Offseason Skill Development awards. Forward/midfielder Abby Robinson and defender Jessica Amarante were named Branford’s Most Improved Sophomores. The team’s other sophomores were forwards Maddie Galdenzi, Hema Medhat, and Aleyah Bosworth; forward/midfielder Liante Claude, midfielder MaryBeth Nwagboli, and defender Khusbu Shrestha.
Branford also received major contributions from its freshman class, led by forwards Molly Zaffino and Brianna Shaw and midfielder Karly King. Zaffino broke the Hornets’ freshman scoring record with her 20 goals and 10 assists en route to earning a share of their MVP, Best Offensive Player, and Rookie of the Year honors. Shaw, who scored eight goals and dished out 13 assists, was also a Rookie of the Year, as was King.
The Hornets’ freshman class was rounded out by forward Gianna Benni; Madison Acquarulo, Claire Bickel, and Celia Shanley, who were both forwards and midfielders; Hailey Brunner and Alexis Pepe, who played midfield and defense; as well as midfielder Maggie Martin, defenders Tori Howe and Emily Taber, plus goalie Gianna Messina.
McGuirk completed her 40th season as Branford’s head coach with assistance from her husband John McGuirk, plus Robin Axtell. McGuirk concluded by sending tremendous thanks to her fellow coaches, along with all of her athletes for making the 2016 season one that won’t be forgotten any time soon in Branford.
“People call John an assistant coach, but we do this together and, as a coach, John is invaluable in the way he configures things, works with the goalies, and strategical adjustments. He just does so many things for this team. Robin adds enthusiasm and excitement and skills and it’s just a great combination of coaches. I’m so lucky to have them out there,” she said. “We’re a team. That’s the best way to put it. And I’m happy to have the kids we have out there. We have a great bunch of young ladies out there playing field hockey.”
From the Sidelines
Branford finished 14-2 for the regular season, including a mark of 10-2 in games that counted toward the SCC standings. The Hornets recorded two victories against Lauralton Hall (2-1 in overtime and 4-1), plus one versus Cheshire (1-0), Hand (2-1), Sheehan (2-0), Amity (5-1), Hamden (2-1), North Haven (6-0), Lyman Hall (10-0), Stonington (4-2), Mercy (1-0), Guilford (1-0), Shelton (11-1), and Sacred Heart Academy (2-0).
The Hornets’ only two regular season defeats came against Cheshire (2-0) and Hand (2-0).
For the postseason, Branford was the No. 3 seed in the SCC Tournament and defeated No. 6 Hamden 6-1 in the quarterfinal round. In the semis, the Hornets earned a 2-1 win against No. 2 Lauralton Hall in a game that was decided when Branford won the penalty stroke session, 4-1. Branford followed that with a 2-1 victory versus top-seeded Cheshire to take the SCC Tournament title. Then as the No. 3 seed in the Class M State Tournament, the Hornets beat both No. 14 Pomperaug and No. 6 East Lyme by 4-0 finals to advance to the semifinal round. Branford then dropped a 1-0 contest to No. 7 New Canaan to finish the year with an overall record of 19-3.