Girls’ Soccer

The Branford girls’ soccer team took a loss to Cheshire last week, but came right back to grab victories versus Hamden and Amity to make for another winning week on the field. With these results, the Hornets are standing with an overall record of 12-3 this season.

Branford took a 4-0 defeat at Cheshire on Oct. 17, bringing an end to the team’s seven-game winning streak. The next day, the Hornets played a road game against Hamden and defeated the Green Dragons by a 6-2 score.

Sophomore Bryce Infantino scored 3 goals for a hat trick in Branford’s win against Hamden. Senior Ava Ferrie scored 2 goals, while junior Tess Ferrie handed out 2 assists in the victory. Junior Raiyn Fries chipped in with an assist for the Hornets. Senior goalie Molly Pombo made 4 saves in net.

Branford wrapped up last week’s action by earning a 6-1 home win over Amity on Oct. 21. Tess Ferrie and Infantino netted 3 goals apiece to account for all of the Hornets’ scores on the day. Ferrie, who scored one of her goals on a penalty kick, also had an assist in the win. Fries dished out a pair of assists for the Hornets. Pombo stopped 3 shots in goal.

Branford will close out the regular season by playing a home game versus Guilford this week.

Boys’ Soccer

The Branford boys’ soccer team gained a split of two recent road games to put its record at 7-8 for the season. The Hornets scored a victory over North Haven before taking a loss to Shelton in last week’s contests.

Branford kicked off recent action by posting a 3-2 victory at North Haven on Oct. 19. Two days later, the Hornets were back on the road to face Shelton and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Gaels.

Branford is hosting Amity for its regular-season finale this week.

Field Hockey

The Branford field hockey team played three games last week and came away with a win, a loss, and an overtime loss to move to 9-3-1-1 on the season. The Hornets took an OT defeat to North Branford and then lost to Guilford before finishing the week with a victory versus Mercy.

In its first game of the week, Branford hosted an undefeated North Branford team and gave the Thunderbirds a great battle while taking a 3-2 loss in overtime on Oct. 17. Senior Scout Engstrom scored both of the Hornets’ goals in the game. Junior Mia d’Amuri and freshman Aliza Giordano each had an assist. Head Coach Pete Frye said that Branford received outstanding performances from senior Aryana Wilson, senior Gianna Bozzi, junior Ellie Wieland, and junior Reanna Sachs in the contest.

Three days later, the Hornets played a home game against Guilford and were edged out by a 2-1 score. Senior Lauren Kendrick scored on a penalty stroke for Branford in the game. Junior goalie Julia Bozzi made 4 saves in net for the Hornets, who were bolstered by solid showings from Wilson, Sachs, d’Amuri, and Engstrom.

Branford closed out last week on a winning note by posting a 3-0 victory at Mercy on Oct. 22. Engstrom scored 1 goal to go with 1 assist in the win. Giordano and freshman Tate Jones both scored a goal for the Hornets.

Wieland and d’Amuri each had an assist in the victory. Coach Frye said that Branford was bolstered by excellent performances from senior Gianna Bonanno, senior Gabby Morrotti, junior Rachel Esposito, junior Allison McCarthy, sophomore Randee Chobian, and freshman Siara Humphries.

Branford is playing a road game against Lyman Hall for its regular-season finale on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 3:45 p.m.

Girls’ Cross Country

Junior Violet Marrandino earned All-Southern Connecticut Conference Second Team honors while competing for the Branford girls’ cross country squad at last week’s Southern Connecticut Conference Championship. The Hornets scored 249 points as a team and finished in eighth place when the SCC meet took place at East Shore Park in New Haven on Oct. 19.

Marrandino finished in 14th place for the 5K race at SCCs. Marrandino reached the finish line with a time of 20:46.9 to make the All-SCC Second Team.

Senior Hannah Jackson finished in 42nd place by running a time of 22:24.4 for Branford at the SCC Championship. Senior Lila Wasiolek finished in 65th place (23:51.8), while sophomore Ella Stone came in 68th place (24:03.4).

Sophomore Peyton Gaudreau took 77th place (24:34.9) for the Hornets in the conference meet. Senior Marina Smiarowski finished in 83rd place (25:58.1), and senior Taylor Tracy finished in 96th place (27:07.9).

Branford will be competing in the Class M State Championship this weekend. The state meet takes place at Wickham Park at noon on Saturday, Oct. 29.

Boys’ Cross Country

The Branford boys’ cross country team posted an eighth-place performance when the Hornets competed in the SCC Championship at East Shore Park on Oct. 19. Junior Dom Zduenk turned in Branford’s best performance by finishing in 20th place at the SCC meet, helping the Hornets score 266 points as a team on their way to placing eighth.

Zduenk garnered All-SCC Second Team accolades with his 20th-place finish at the SCC Championship. Zdunek ran a time of 17:27.1 to lead the Hornets’ pack at the meet.

Senior Colin Donahoe finished in 43rd place with a time of 18:09.4 for Branford at SCCs. Fellow senior Massimo Corrick posted a mark of 18:10.9 to finish in 45th place.

Junior Sam Coppola claimed 72nd place (18:54.6) for the Hornets in the meet. Junior Vincent Hesselink finished in 86th place (19:26.6), junior Anton Hesselink came in 89th place (19:34.8), and senior Carter Burgess finished in 92nd place (19:47.9).

Next up for the Hornets is the Class M State Championship meet at Wickham Park on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 2:40 p.m.

Girls’ Volleyball

The Branford girls’ volleyball team moved to 9-8 on the season after taking losses in both of last week’s contests. The Hornets lost matches against North Haven and Guilford in recent action.

On Oct. 17, Branford took 3-0 road loss to North Haven. The Nighthawks swept the match behind set scores of 25-14, 25-16, 25-23.

Then on Oct. 21, the Hornets were back on the road to face Guilford and lost to the Grizzlies by a 3-1 score. Guilford took the match by the final tally of 25-14, 17-25, 25-14, 25-15.

Branford will finish its regular season by playing home matches versus Cheshire and Coginchaug this week.

Football

The Branford football team hosted Killingly for a non-conference game on Oct. 21. The Hornets took a 67-0 loss to Killingly at Branford High School to move to 2-4 on the season.

Killingly scored the first touchdown in the opening quarter and held a 6-0 lead after one. Killingly went on to score 4 touchdowns during the second quarter for a 34-0 advantage at halftime.

Killingly scored 3 touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 53-0 lead into the fourth. Killingly added 2 TDs in the fourth quarter to finish off the victory.

Senior Zach Turbert completed 10 passes for 78 yards for Branford in the game. Junior Cole Snider had 4 carries for 24 yards for the Hornets, who rushed for 70 yards as a squad.

The Hornets are hosting SCC opponent Hamden (6-0) for their next contest at Branford High School on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7 p.m.

Girls’ Swimming and Diving

The Branford girls’ swimming team closed out its regular season by competing in two meets last week. The Hornets lost both contests by taking defeats against Shelton and Guilford in recent action.

On Oct. 17, Branford took a 90-63 road loss to Shelton at the Shelton Community Center Pool. Three days later, the Hornets hosted Guilford and lost to the Grizzlies by the score of 89-65 at Walsh Intermediate School.

Branford will be participating in the SCC Championship this week. The SCC Diving Championship takes place at Sheehan High School on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 10 a.m.; the Swimming Qualifier is at Cheshire Community Pool on Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 4 p.m.; and the SCC Swimming Championship will be hosted at Southern Connecticut State University on Thursday, Nov. 3 at 5 p.m.