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05/17/2021 12:00 AMBoys’ Golf
The Branford boys’ golf team recently added four more wins to its ledger in the 2021 spring season. The Hornets raised their record to 10-1 after defeating Career, Lyman Hall, Hillhouse, and Foran in last week’s action. Branford will finish its regular season by playing three matches this week.
Branford started off its week by earning a 155-261 home victory versus Career at Pine Orchard Country Club on May 10. Sophomore Keegan LaLonde garnered medalist honors as the low scorer of the contest by scoring a 37 for the Hornets. Junior Justin Acquarulo finished with a 38, senior Billy Linder also turned in a 38, and sophomore Colin Deane scored a 42 to lift Branford to the victory.
In its next match, Branford totaled a team score of 175 to defeat Lyman Hall at Wallingford Country Club. LaLonde was once again the medalist with his low score of 39. Acquarulo shot a 41, Linder finished with a 44, and senior Luke Albinger recorded a 51 for the Hornets.
Branford kept the wins coming with a 172-227 road victory against Hillhouse at Alling Memorial Golf Club on May 12. LaLonde was the match medalist with a round of 39. Acquarulo finished with a score of 40, Deane shot a 45, and junior Jacob Knapp and sophomore Matt Morgan both turned in a 48 for Branford.
The Hornets wrapped up their week by posting a 174-199 win versus Foran at Grassy Hill Country Club. LaLonde and Deane both shot a 41 to share medalist honors for the match. Acquarulo shot a 43, and Linder totaled a score of 49 to help Branford notch its ninth-straight victory.
Boys’ Lacrosse
The Branford-East Haven (Bfd-EH) boys’ lacrosse team improved its record to 5-8 by winning three of the four games on last week’s schedule. The Hornets notched wins over Foran, Hamden, and Old Lyme to go with a loss to Sheehan last week.
On May 10, the Hornets hosted Foran and claimed a 7-5 victory at Branford High School. Bfd-EH was down 3-2 heading into the second half, but outscored the Lions 3-2 in the third quarter and 2-0 in the fourth to come away with the win.
Senior Jared Yakimoff had three goals with one assist in the victory. Fellow senior Nick Chieffo scored a goal to go with two assists for the Hornets, who also received one goal apiece from senior Luke Volpe, senior Matt Cordero, and junior Cam Paleski. Junior goalie Aidan Strebel made 10 saves in net for Head Coach Jim May’s squad.
The following day, Bfd-EH hosted Hamden and defeated the Green Dragons by the final score of 10-4. On May 13, the Hornets were on the road to play Sheehan and took a 9-5 defeat. In its last game of the week, Bfd-EH hosted Old Lyme and notched a 7-5 win versus the Wildcats.
Girls’ Lacrosse
The Branford girls’ lacrosse team took three defeats last week to put its record at 5-8 this season. The Hornets lost contests against Guilford, Hand, and North Branford in recent action.
Branford took a 17-3 defeat to Guilford in a home game on May 11. Two days later, the Hornets were on the road to face Hand and dropped a 13-5 decision to the Tigers. Then on May 15, Branford hosted North Branford and lost the contest by a 14-8 score.
Softball
The Branford softball team turned in a productive week on the field by winning two of its three games to improve to 6-9 on the season. The Hornets notched wins over Foran and Shelton before taking a loss against Shelton in last week’s games.
Branford began its week by claiming a 4-3 home victory versus Foran on May 11. The next day, the Hornets played a road game with Wilbur Cross and prevailed by an 11-4 score.
Branford went on to take a 7-6 home loss to Shelton in its final game of the week on May 14. Junior Marzia Johnson hit a double and a home run for the Hornets in the contest.
Baseball
The Branford baseball team took three defeats last week to move to 3-11 this year.
On May 11, Branford hosted Notre Dame-West Haven and took a 6-3 loss to the Green Dragons. The following day, the Hornets took an 11-0 defeat against Hamden in a road game.
Branford went on to take 9-4 home loss to Foran on May 14. Senior Teddy Zabawa had two hits for Branford in the game.
Boys’ Outdoor Track
The Branford boys’ outdoor track team notched an 80-70 victory versus North Haven in its regular-season finale on May 13. Branford begins the postseason with the SCC West Sectional Championship on May 18 (after press time). The Hornets will then compete in the SCC Championship on Tuesday, May 25.
Girls’ Outdoor Track
The Branford girls’ outdoor track team hosted a meet on May 13 and came away with a split by earning a 68-44 win versus Career and taking an 86-53 loss to North Haven. The Hornets, who went 2-3 on the year, are participating in the SCC West Sectional Championship this week and then have the SCC Championship coming up after that.
Freshman Joelle Budz claimed first place in three events for Branford at last week’s meet. Budz finished first in the 100 (13.2), the 200 (27.4), and the 400 (64.6) to help the Hornets get the split. Freshman Tess Wasiolek took first place in the 800 (2:27.9) and the 1,600 (5:46) for Branford. Senior Ashley Duong finished first for the pole vault (6-6), while fellow senior Steph Toste won the high jump (4-0) in her first time ever competing in the event. Branford’s 4x100 relay team of sophomore Sarah Nwagboli, junior Katie Laska, junior Samantha Burzynski, and Budz posted a state-qualifying time of 54.7.
Girls’ Tennis
The Branford girls’ tennis team came away with one win in its three matches last week and is now 9-4 on the campaign.
Branford started off its week by notching a 7-0 victory in East Haven on May 11. Senior Shae Lepre posted a 6-1, 6-0 win in the No. 1 singles match for the Hornets. Sophomore Leila Omeragic claimed a 6-1, 6-0 win at No. 2 singles; junior Nuala Paudval won her No. 3 singles match by a 6-3, 6-0 score; and sophomore Evelyn Kaiser was a 6-0, 6-0 victor at No. 4 singles.
On the doubles court, the Hornets’ No. 1 duo of senior Hanna Bloomquist and sophomore Celina Shrestha earned a 7-5, 6-4 victory; the No. 2 team of juniors Zadie Schlesinger and Juliana Torello netted a 6-0, 6-4 win; and the No. 3 team of senior Arpita Shrestha and sophomore Scout Engstrom prevailed by a 6-4, 7-5 score.
The following day, the Hornets took a 4-3 defeat to Sheehan in another road match.
Then on May 14, Branford hosted Jonathan Law and dropped a 5-2 decision. Omeragic posted a 6-2, 6-1 win at No. 2 singles for the Hornets. In doubles, Celina Shrestha and Kaiser teamed up to play the No. 1 spot for the Hornets and won their matchup by a 7-5, 7-5 final.
Boys’ Tennis
The Branford boys’ tennis team earned a split of its two matchups last week to move to 3-11 this year.
On May 10, Branford hosted Hand and took a 7-0 loss to the Tigers. Then on May 14, the Hornets played a road match against North Haven won the contest by the final score of 6-1.