Girls’ Hockey Splits Two Games with Conard-Hall

In 2015 the Branford girls’ hockey team had a successful season finishing with a 16 – 3 record and winning the SCC D‑II championship. As a result the Hornets were required to move up from Division II to Division I for the next two years. Last season the Hornets fell to a 9 – 10‑1 record against the more difficult D‑I schedule.

Welcome to the more competitive division and the mostly bigger schools.
 

“They’re typically better,” said Branford coach Jack Norton of the D‑I schools. ​“It’s the price you pay when you have some success,” he said referring to the Hornets move up from D‑II to D‑I. Here goalie Julia San Giovanni covers the puck as teammate Emille Wilkinson comes in to help.

As a result, less successful teams in the higher division move down so the number of teams in the two divisions remain the same.

There are only 21 girls’ ice hockey teams in the state compared to 56 boys’ teams with many in both divisions being co-op teams like in the recent game between players from Branford, East Haven, and North Branford when they played a team consisting of players from Conard and Hall High Schools in West Hartford. Here Co-captain Julia San Giovanni swipes the puck away from the net.

The Branford club played C‑H twice within a week, surprising the Chieftains-Warriors on their home ice in the first game 6 – 5 in overtime, but they fell 6 – 3 last week in the rematch at the East Haven Ice Rink.

Here freshman Melanie Norton attempts to take the puck from a C‑H opponent.

{media_4)In the second contest, Conard-Hall jumped out to a 3 – 1 lead in the first period. Branford’s only goal came at 10:14 on a shot from in front by junior Emmy Norton. Here Norton crosses the blue line with the puck.

Both teams had a goal apiece in the second period. Hornet senior co-captain Sydney Hogan scored on an assist from Norton at 4:46 to close the gap to 3 – 2, but C‑H responded on a goal from Maya Borden to make it 4 – 2. Here Co-captain Maddy Rowe breaks away from the pack with the puck.

The third period C‑H pulled away with two more goals to go up 6 – 2 before Branford’s Horton scored again at 12:18 on another assist from Norton to make the final score 6 – 3. Here Brianna Raccio skates past a defender with the puck.

Since the second Conard-Hall game Branford defeated Guilford 7 – 1 to improve their record is 4 – 3‑1. Their next game is today at the Milford Ice Pavilion at 4:15 p.m. against the co-op team from Notre Dame Fairfield-Foran. Here Co-captain Sydney Hogan is greeted by Emmy Norton after scoring her second goal.
 
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