Hornets Girls’ Lacrosse Off To A Fast Start of Victories

This year’s Branford girls’ lacrosse team is on a mission. They have improved each of the past three years from 8 – 7‑1 in 2014 to 10 – 8 in 2015 and 15 – 4 last year. Right now they are off to a 9 – 2 start with four victories in the past week, including a 13 – 4 victory over Masuk and a 7 – 4 win over Joel Barlow High School yesterday. 

The game the Eagle covered was last Saturday and pitted the Lady Hornets against the Masuk Panthers of Monroe, members of the South West Conference (SWC). Here Autumn McHenry, a junior, fires a shot between several Masuk players for one of her four goals. 

“I’m proud of our team’s effort against a good Masuk team,” said coach Jackie Ceccolini.

“Our student athletes face a challenging week with three games that fall back to back, in addition to their classroom responsibilities. The girls dug deep and found a way to get the job done on the field tonight.” she said. Here a Masuk player seems to be saying, ​“Where’d she go,” as co-captain Morgan Gilman flies up field with the ball.

Since then the Hornets defeated Old Saybrook, 19 – 7, and Mercy, 20 – 6, on Thursday.

Their only losses to date have been to East Lyme in their opening game in April and to perennial SCC power Cheshire, 12 – 9. The Lady Hornets lost to the Rams 14 – 4 in the semifinals of the SCC tournament last year. Here Goalie Jillian Ciarleglio and Grace Paleski protect the net against a Masuk ball carrier.

Branford struck early and often in the first half scoring eight goals while allowing just two. Here is Coach Ceccolini with co-captains Ashlee Smestad (L) and Morgan Gilman.

They scored five more in the second half. Here Senior Katie Parker fires a shot over a Masuk defender. She scored one goal in the game.

Seven different Branford players contributed to the scoring in the game with junior Autumn McHenry leading the way with four goals and an assist.
She was followed by junior Sabrina Torcellini, with three goals, and freshman Brianna Shaw, with two.

Other Hornets contributing included LanLe Crotty, Katie Parker, Haley Maercklein, and Erin O’Brien with one each and co-captain Ashlee Smestad with four assists and Grace Paleski with one. Here O’Brien gets ready to pass. She had one goal in the game.
 

“During the game I am always coaching in the moment,” said Ceccolini. ​“I love opening the book after a successful performance and seeing a scorebook filled with multiple contributors and tallies in the assist column. It is what this team sport is all about.” Here freshman Karly King grits her teeth as she get surrounded by Masuk players.

The Hornets high-powered offense is averaging over 14 goals a game.

The three home victories this week extended the Hornets’ home game win streak to 17 dating back to the second game of last year. Here junior Haley Maercklein brings the ball up between two Masuk defenders. She had a goal.

Coming up on the schedule the Hornets play at Lauralton Hall on Monday. Here Coach Cecciolini is assisted by her dad, Joe Alessi (L), and brother, Billy.

###