Schools

100 Percent Effort Expected from North Branford Boys' Soccer

Coach Luke Gagliardi hopes to see his team put forth a solid effort in order to qualify for the postseason as the T-Birds also host a shoot-a-thon throughout the season to benefit the Maresca family.

The North Branford boys’ soccer team started its season with a game against Westbrook yesterday, Sept. 14. The T-Birds took a 3-3 tie after being up 3-0 at halftime. Alex Raffone led North Branford offensively with one goal, while freshman starter Andrew Sarmento, a forward, chipped in one.

While Coach Luke Gagliardi says he would like to make a run at qualifying for the postseason tournaments, what’s more important to him is the road his team takes.

“We’d rather see 100 percent effort given in each game,” said Gagliardi. “Our goals are to improve with each game and improve on our season from last year.”

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North Branford next hosts Portland under the lights on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

“We want to get off to a good start and we want to represent our school well in the hope opener against Portland,” said Gagliardi. “The players are getting more comfortable every day, which is a result of being so coachable and willing to learn.”

Find out what's happening in North Branfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mark Farat, Ryan Dombrowski and Joe Parisi will lead the team as captains with Brett Hansen, Matt Scavo, Tyler Sintay, Kyle Caravedo, Jordan Rippe, Bernie Cermolla and Randy Willis rounding out the senior class.

The junior class is strong with most of them having earned a starting position. The juniors include Mike Schettino, Jordan Bognar, Nik Costaldi, Dan Reilly, Kevin Juhasz, and Raffone.

In addition to winning their three preseason scrimmages, the team has come together in other ways as well, putting on the Kicks 4 a Cause fundraiser, which will benefit JV player Phil Maresca and his family after his father was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.

The players on both the JV and varsity teams are doing a shoot-a-thon throughout the season in which donors can pledge a monetary amount for every shot on goal the varsity team makes in the regular season or a single monetary pledge. All donations are welcomed and can be made out to the "Maresca Family Benefit Fund. For information, email Deb Farat at deborah.farat@yale.edu. 

 

The T-Birds are also adding gray wristbands to their uniforms, which they will wear during all their games to show their support for the family.

You can also stay up-to-date on the North Branford boys' soccer team on Facebook.

North Branford High School's  was previewed on Sept. 13, while the  and field hockey team were featured on Sept. 14 and the volleyball team on Sept. 15. T-Birds' fall previews will conclude with football. For this week's sports schedule, click .


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