Opponents of the North Branford boys' soccer team don't have to worry about marking up the T-Birds' fastest player, but the opposition's offense have to run into Ben Hammond as he mans the goal."Running is more of a natural ability," says Ben, who topped all runners on his team in the preseason 1½-mile run with a time of 8:11. "Ironically I'm in net."

"Running is more of a natural ability," says Ben, who topped all runners on his team in the preseason 1½-mile run with a time of 8:11. "Ironically I'm in net."Though Ben played in the field growing up, he made a decision to change things up his freshman year when he realized his team would need a goalkeeper by the time he was a senior. Since then, Ben has been working hard to perfect his skills and that effort has paid off, benefiting Coach Cliff Yerkes and the T-Birds.

Though Ben played in the field growing up, he made a decision to change things up his freshman year when he realized his team would need a goalkeeper by the time he was a senior. Since then, Ben has been working hard to perfect his skills and that effort has paid off, benefiting Coach Cliff Yerkes and the T-Birds."Ben has had a tremendous year so far with four shutouts, including three last week where he had a lot of big saves," said Yerkes. "He's been huge for us this year-a big difference-maker in net-the best goalkeeper in the shoreline, in my opinion, so we'll see how it all shakes out as there's a lot of soccer left to be played."

"Ben has had a tremendous year so far with four shutouts, including three last week where he had a lot of big saves," said Yerkes. "He's been huge for us this year-a big difference-maker in net-the best goalkeeper in the shoreline, in my opinion, so we'll see how it all shakes out as there's a lot of soccer left to be played." Since making the switch, Ben has been training with Brian Boatman, who played goalkeeper to a high level in college. Ben has also worked with Mike Mezerewski, who does conditioning with North Branford athletes, attended goalie camps, and played for Guilford Premier last spring.

Since making the switch, Ben has been training with Brian Boatman, who played goalkeeper to a high level in college. Ben has also worked with Mike Mezerewski, who does conditioning with North Branford athletes, attended goalie camps, and played for Guilford Premier last spring."Working with Brian has helped me with the entire position, teaching me everything about it," says Ben, a 6-1 senior. "The goalkeeper before me, Justin [McGinley], taught me a lot, too."

"Working with Brian has helped me with the entire position, teaching me everything about it," says Ben, a 6-1 senior. "The goalkeeper before me, Justin [McGinley], taught me a lot, too."Ben gained experience in net his freshman year and spent some time on the field for the JV team. He continued playing on the field his sophomore year before becoming the full-time JV goalkeeper his junior year, while also playing three varsity games that year.

Ben gained experience in net his freshman year and spent some time on the field for the JV team. He continued playing on the field his sophomore year before becoming the full-time JV goalkeeper his junior year, while also playing three varsity games that year.This year, as Ben predicted as a freshman, he earned the starting role and his team is off to a 6-5 start in a season in which he has recorded four shutouts. His team is currently in fifth place in the Shoreline Conference and looking to move up to the top four to qualify for the Shoreline Conference Tournament, along with earning a bid in the state tournament to cap his senior year.

This year, as Ben predicted as a freshman, he earned the starting role and his team is off to a 6-5 start in a season in which he has recorded four shutouts. His team is currently in fifth place in the Shoreline Conference and looking to move up to the top four to qualify for the Shoreline Conference Tournament, along with earning a bid in the state tournament to cap his senior year."My four shutouts are my biggest accomplishments so far and I have to credit my defense, especially Dewey Boatman," says Ben. "It's sad that it's coming to an end, but I'm excited to see where the season goes."

"My four shutouts are my biggest accomplishments so far and I have to credit my defense, especially Dewey Boatman," says Ben. "It's sad that it's coming to an end, but I'm excited to see where the season goes." As a natural runner, Ben also decided to join the track team his freshman year. He runs the 400 and 800 and does the high jump, but his favorite event is the triple jump. Last year, he placed seventh in states in the high jump (5-10) and took second in Shorelines (28-10).

As a natural runner, Ben also decided to join the track team his freshman year. He runs the 400 and 800 and does the high jump, but his favorite event is the triple jump. Last year, he placed seventh in states in the high jump (5-10) and took second in Shorelines (28-10)."This year, I want to improve my times, distances, and jumps," says Ben, who is a two-year captain of the track team. "I want to take first in Shorelines in one of my events and qualify for states."

"This year, I want to improve my times, distances, and jumps," says Ben, who is a two-year captain of the track team. "I want to take first in Shorelines in one of my events and qualify for states."After playing basketball his sophomore year, Ben made the jump to indoor track his junior year in order to experiment in the jumps. Though he enjoyed indoor track, he missed basketball and will return to the court this season to give him four varsity letters through his high school career.

After playing basketball his sophomore year, Ben made the jump to indoor track his junior year in order to experiment in the jumps. Though he enjoyed indoor track, he missed basketball and will return to the court this season to give him four varsity letters through his high school career.Not only has Ben worked hard in athletics, he has worked hard in the classroom as well. After a rough start his freshman and sophomore years, he realized he had to turn things around in order to get into college, where he hopes to continue his soccer career.

Not only has Ben worked hard in athletics, he has worked hard in the classroom as well. After a rough start his freshman and sophomore years, he realized he had to turn things around in order to get into college, where he hopes to continue his soccer career."It dawned on me my junior year that colleges are so competitive and I needed to step it up," says Ben, who has maintained honors since then. "I'm hoping to play soccer next year, but my main focus is obviously academics. My parents, my coaches, Mr. Yerkes and Floyd Parness, and Kirt Westfall have always been there and supported me."

"It dawned on me my junior year that colleges are so competitive and I needed to step it up," says Ben, who has maintained honors since then. "I'm hoping to play soccer next year, but my main focus is obviously academics. My parents, my coaches, Mr. Yerkes and Floyd Parness, and Kirt Westfall have always been there and supported me."For now, though, Ben is focusing on reaching the postseason with the T-Birds and Yerkes is feeling good about his team's chances.

For now, though, Ben is focusing on reaching the postseason with the T-Birds and Yerkes is feeling good about his team's chances."Ben has turned himself into a really good goalkeeper-he has always had the tools, but so much of that position is mental and it's a lot of pressure," says Yerkes. "He's a leader of the team and has a presence back there. He's been outstanding and knowing he's back there gives a coach a great deal of confidence."

"Ben has turned himself into a really good goalkeeper-he has always had the tools, but so much of that position is mental and it's a lot of pressure," says Yerkes. "He's a leader of the team and has a presence back there. He's been outstanding and knowing he's back there gives a coach a great deal of confidence."