Great Effort Falls Short for Boys’ Soccer Team

It’s not uncommon in any sport for an underdog to rise up when they play a favorite in a game.

Sometimes they pull off the upset and sometimes they fall short. That was the case in a recent match when the Branford boys’ soccer team, with a 5 – 8 record at the time, hosted the Shelton Gaels, one of the top teams in the SCC, with a record of 10 – 2‑1.

Branford played a hard-fought game and stayed with Shelton until the Gaels scored the winning goal at 71:00 of the second half for a 2 – 1 win. The score was 1 – 1 at the half. The fans were treated to a special edition of the National Anthem by sophomore Elena Gruendel to start the game.

At one point there was hot and heavy action in front of the Shelton net as Shelton’s Charles Gillespie kicks a shot by co-captain Trey Duval (24) as Benjamin DeMaio (22) looks to stop his shot.

“I couldn’t be more proud of you than I am right now,” said coach Paul Hunter (pictured)at a team meeting after the game. ​“This is the best you played this season against an excellent team and you gave it your all.”

Both teams moved the ball up and down the field in the first half until Shelton scored. Here Junior Ethan Boileau (10) shoots the ball over Shelton goalkeeper Kyle Prindle for a Branford score as Marzio Mastroianni follows.

Ganging up on a Shelton player with the ball are Marzio Mastroianni (7), Ethan Boileau (10), John Tratnyek (13), Ian Casahug (6), and William Riggs (9).

The Gaels senior co-captain Isajah Robles took the ball and drove to the goal at 14:00 to score the first goal of the game.

Ten minutes later Branford scored on a goal by junior Ethan Boileau at 24:00. He was assisted by senior co-captain John Tratnyek. Here Boileau shows his excitement with Mario Mastroianni after tying the game.

Here Mastroianni, a sophomore, brings the ball up field against a Shelton defender.

The game remained nip and tuck in the second half until Shelton’s Mikey Sciortino put one past Hornet goalkeeper Nicholas Cordero at 71:00 for what turned out to be the winning goal.

Hot and heavy action in front of the Shelton net as Shelton’s Charles Gillespie kicks a shot by co-captain Trey Duval (24) as Benjamin DeMaio (22) looks to stop his shot. Here Junior Evan Cabahug (6) battles Shelton’s Micky Sciortino as Duval moves in.

Cordero had six saves in the game and Shelton goalkeeper Kyle Prindel had 5.

Here Branford Goalkeeper Nichols Cordero stops a hard shot by Shelton’s Nicola LaBello (11).

Since the Shelton game Branford defeated Jonathon Law 4 – 1 and lost a tough game 1 – 0 to Hand on Saturday. In the final game of the regular season the Hornets tied Cheshire 1 – 1 to end the season with a record of 6 – 9‑1. Here good sportsmanship is shown as Micky Sciortino and Benjamin DeMaio congratulate a Shelton player on their win.

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