Hornets Soccer Looking to Claim 1st State Championship

By Ryan Connell The #17 seed Branford High School Boys Soccer team has advanced to the Class L State Championship game Saturday, where they will take on #11 seeded Avon. Branford entered with a 1-0 win over Joel Barlow in the Semifinals; Avon defeated South Windsor 1-0 in the other semifinal. Saturday’s game is a rematch of the 2011 Class L Semifinal where Avon defeated the Hornets 2-0. Branford’s seniors were freshman when they lost to Avon in 2011. Three years later the Hornets are looking to avenge that loss and take home the program’s first State Championship. The game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Middletown High School. Read the preview of the game in the New Haven Register. The Hornets enter the game with a regular season record of 9-5-2 and an overall record of 14-6-2. It is the first time a Branford Boys Soccer team has ever reached the State Finals. Last year, the girl’s soccer team reached the state championship game against Guilford. After an early exit from the state playoffs last year, Branford is fired up for this year’s game. Senior captain Mike Caminear says, “It has been our goal all year to get to this point. Now that we are here, it is time to make it happen.” The Branford High School community has been showing their school spirit for the Hornets as they packed two fan buses to Falcon Field in Meriden to watch Branford play Barlow. Senior Aaron Radulski says, “The fans were phenomenal. They kept us fired up the whole game, even if we were tired they gave us energy. It is such a great feeling knowing that you have this much support from your peers.” Early in the season, I wrote that the boys soccer team “is going to be a force to be reckoned with this season as a senior-laden group with loads of experience looks to contend for the SCC championship as well as the Class L state championship. They are a group who has been playing together since the age of 9 or 10, so the team chemistry and unity is very strong… Look for big things from boys’ soccer this year as they will be very impressive.” What the Hornets have done on the field this season speaks for itself. Avon is making its third trip to the final in the last four years. They had back to back runner up finishes in the Class L State Tournament in 2011 and 2012. Look for Avon to try and possess the ball for the majority the game, and always keep some defenders back to avoid Branford’s strong counter attack. Prediction for the game The game Saturday is sure to be a good one. Two teams looking to capture the covenanted State Championship will give everything they have to make it happen. I pick the Hornets to win 2-1 in a thrilling game. Please come out and support the Hornets as they are poised and ready to make history this Saturday.