By Jennifer
Small, Sound Sports
Editor:
While the
North Branford field hockey team’s season ended with a 2-0 loss to New
Fairfield in the Class S quarterfinals on a dismal day, no one was raining on
the T-Birds’ parade as they put up a solid fight against New Fairfield, which
went on to capture the state title. North Branford
finished the season with an 11-5-2 overall record.
“We played
great all season,” said Coach Babby Nuhn. “This team doesn’t have a weak link.
They’re all very positive, very hardworking, and very young.”
While youth
could sometimes put teams at a disadvantage, North
Branford’s underclass was chockfull of talent, which was led by
captains Deseray Peterson and Sam Scavo, along with fellow seniors Sarah Flynn
and Erica Gaudio.
“My
captains led in their expertise, playing ability, dedication, attitude, and
spirit. They were not afraid to say, ‘Hey team, we need to work harder
today,’—they were not easy on their teammate and I admire their perseverance
and setting a higher standard,” said Nuhn. “The seniors harmonized with their
playing and teamwork and working with coaches and team members. We had four
leading by example.”
The efforts
did not go unrecognized as Scavo and Peterson earned First Team All-Shoreline
honors along with Mary DeMatteo. Scavo and DeMatteo also were named First Team
All-State, which is “unheard of to have two players on that team,” according to
Nuhn, while Peterson earned Second Team honors. DeMatteo, a junior who led the
team and the league in scoring, also was named New Haven Register All-Area.
Flynn
capped the honors for the senior class with an All-Shoreline Honorable Mention
nod. Along with DeMatteo, five other underclassmen took home All-Shoreline
honors with freshman Meagan Halligan and sophomore link Kirsten Kilburn making
Second Team and junior goalkeeper Sara Robertson, sophomore halfback Michelle
Caprio, and freshman Rachel Robertson earning Honorable Mentions.
Other key
contributors this season were sophomores Jacquelyn Ferraro, Mia Doody, and Kaitlyn
Stobiersky, along with freshman Linsey DeDomenico. With the upcoming senior
class ready for off-season training, camps, and conditioning, the future is
bright for North Branford field hockey.
“Our
biggest accomplishment was overcoming our youth and inexperience, especially on
offensive line,” said Nuhn. “We have a lot of youth up there—they were
wonderful. I’m really hoping our junior class will really step up and there are
a lot of talented freshmen and sophomores.”
Pictured: Deseray Peterson was a co-captain of the North Branford field hockey team,
alongside Sam Scavo, in the T-Birds’ successful 11-5-2 2008 season.
Photo by
Cathi Bosco