The North Branford field hockey team claimed its second-straight state title by posting a 4-0 shutout over Stonington in the championship game of the Class S State Tournament. The Thunderbirds finished with an overall record of 21-1 for a 2022 season that also saw the team win the Shoreline Conference title for the sixth-consecutive campaign.

North Branford was the No. 1 seed in the Class S State Tournament and had advanced to the final by earning wins versus Sheehan, Sacred Heart Academy, and Immaculate in the first three rounds of the draw. Then on Nov. 19, the T-Birds took on No. 3 seed Stonington in the Class S title bout and blanked the Bears by a 4-0 score to defend their state crown at Wethersfield High School.

The North Branford field hockey team’s roster includes senior captain Payton Kamienski and senior Gianna Palma; junior captain Lindsey Onofrio; juniors Sophia Toto, Téa Ferrucci, Gianna Gamble, Gabrielle Senerchia, Keana Criscuolo, Morgan Lucibello, and Sienna Brigance; sophomores Samantha Ferraro, Alivia Schmidt, Joanna Lamot, Daytona Kamienski, Riley Cole, and Lily Ardito; and freshmen Isabella Warren, Leah Brustman, Ashlyn O’Rourke, and Madison DeStefano. Head Coach Babby Nuhn is joined by Assistant Coach Kathy Galdenzi.

The Thunderbirds earned a 2-0 win over Stonington in last year’s Class S final to take the title. North Branford has now won six state championships in program history after defeating Stonington in the team’s eighth appearance in a state final.

North Branford completed its regular season with a record of 15-1 this fall, taking a 1-0 loss to Stonington in the finale for its only defeat of the season. The T-Birds went on to win their sixth-straight Shoreline Conference title by notching a 1-0 victory versus Westbrook-Old Lyme in the semifinals and then netting a 1-0 win over Old Saybrook in the final of the league tournament.

North Branford then began its quest for a second-straight state title by competing in the Class S State Tournament as the No. 1 seed. The Thunderbirds earned a 4-1 win against No. 17 seed Sheehan in a first-round game, followed by a 3-0 triumph versus No. 8 Sacred Heart Academy in the quarterfinal round, and then a 2-1 victory over No. 4 seed Immaculate in the semifinals.

—Chris Piccirillo