Field Hockey

One week after claiming its fifth-straight Shoreline Conference title, the North Branford field hockey team has won its first two games in the Class S State Tournament to advance into the semifinals. The Thunderbirds notched a shutout victory over Immaculate and then won a close contest against Sacred Heart Academy (SHA) to reach the Class S semis and improve to 16-2-2

No. 4 seed North Branford started off the Class S draw by earning a 5-0 home victory versus No. 13 Immaculate in a first-round game on Nov. 9. Senior Olivia Toto scored two goals in the first quarter and then added two more during the second quarter to help the T-Birds win convincingly. Sophomore Keana Criscuolo scored the other goal for North Branford and also had two assists. Junior Mia Park had the assist on Criscuolo’s score.

Senior goalie Samantha Helwig earned her 11th shutout of the season for the T-Birds, who outshot Immaculate 16-1. Head Coach Babby Nuhn said that North Branford was also bolstered by solid play from senior captain Braeden LeBeau and fellow senior Mia Oliverio in the midfield, along with great defensive performances by junior Gianna Palma and sophomores Lindsey Onofrio, Morgan Onofrio, and Gianna Gamble.

Two days later, the T-Birds hosted No. 5 seed SHA for a quarterfinal contest and edged out the Sharks by a 3-2 score. North Branford fell behind 1-0 in the first quarter, but scored the next three goals of the game to come away with the win. Toto scored two goals and had an assist on a goal by LeBeau, who also assisted on both of Toto’s goals.

Helwig made six saves in net for North Branford. Coach Nuhn praised the play of Oliverio for helping to set up scoring chances, along with the strong defensive efforts of Gamble and sophomore Morgan Lucibello in the victory.

North Branford played No. 8 seed Granby in the semifinals of the Class S State Tournament on Nov. 16 (after press time). If the Thunderbirds won that game, they will face the winner of No. 2 Stonington and No. 3 Thomaston in the Class S final at Wethersfield High School on Saturday, Nov. 20.

Football

The North Branford football team hosted Morgan for a Pequot Conference Sassacus Division contest at Colafati Field on Nov. 12. The Thunderbirds took a 46-6 loss against the Huskies to put their overall record at 2-6 with a mark of 2-3 in divisional play this year.

Morgan scored 14 points in the first quarter and then put up 32 points during the second quarter to take a 46-0 halftime advantage over North Branford. The T-Birds scored their lone touchdown of the game in the third quarter to make the score 46-6.

The T-Birds will complete their season by facing divisional rival Coginchaug/Hale-Ray/East Hampton at Coginchaug High School on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m.