The past week’s varsity sporting events resulted in four losses and seven wins.
Feb 012013
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By PHIL BRODSKY
Orange Live Sports Writer
Sponsored by Robert Sousa of Sousa and Stone
Allison Denny’s 12 kills and one block led the Amity volleyball team to a 3-1 (25-4, 25-19, 18-25, 25-10) Southern Connecticut Conference inter-divisional win over Career last Friday afternoon. It was the final regular season match of the season for the Lady Spartans and gave them a 14-4 record—their best season since 2007, when they won the SCC championship with a 17-1 mark. Julia Bedini and Nina Luciani each chipped in with a trio of kills. Bedini also chalked up a block. Sydnee Sousa was good on 27 of her 28 serves with six aces and added five digs. Amanda Vecchio was a perfect six-for-six from the service line with five aces.
Coach Paul Thees played all of his normal starting line-up except the setter in Game No. 1. Junior setter Haley Pierson made her first varsity start and came through with six assists. Kathryn Pisano, the usual varsity setter joined several members of the Lady Spartan bench for the second game. Following a slow start in which they fell behind 7-1, they battled back to win the game and take a 2-0 lead. The same line-up and were trailing 20-7 when Sousa ran off 11 serves in a row and battled back within two points (20-18). The Panthers regained the upper hand to win the third game. The usual starting line-up played Game No. 4 and quickly won the game and the match.
According to Thees, “I thought the varsity girls played well in the first and fourth games. Haley (Pierson) did a very nice job in her first game as the varsity setter. Although we fell behind at the start of the second game, our younger players battled back to win it. As for the third game, we just lost our edge.”
Playing only the last three contests, Pisano recorded 18 assists.
The Housatonic Division coaches have named Denny and Pisano to the All-Housy team.
Amity now moves on to the SCC playoffs where it has drawn Branford as its quarter-final opponent. It will be the third meeting of the fall between the Lady Spartans and the Hornets with the Hornets winning both of their previous matches by identical 3-2 scores.
See revised schedules for date, time and location of the Amity game.
Oct 142012
College/University Visiting: Representatives from the following colleges and universities will be visiting Amity Regional High School the week of Oct. 15-19. College/University representatives meet with students in the Career Center. Seniors are provided excused absences from class to meet with college and university representatives.
Monday, Oct. 15
Paul Smith’s College 8:00 am
Wesley College 9:00 am
Stony Brook University 12:15 pm
Western New England University 1:00 pm
Tuesday, Oct. 16
University of Wisconsin 10:30 am
Northeastern University 11:00 am
Lehigh University 1:30 pm
Wednesday, Oct. 17
Fairfield University 1:00 pm
James Madison University 1:30 pm
Thursday, Oct. 18
Clark University 9:00 am
University of Connecticut 9:45 am
Johnson State College 11:15 am
Friday, Oct. 19
Lyndon State College 9:30 am
The New English Inst. of Art 12:30 pm
Oct 122012
PHIL BRODSKY
Orange Live Sports Writer
It’s been a busy time for the Amity field hockey team. During the last 10 days, the improving Amity field hockey team has played five matches. They won two, lost one and tied one. Last week Coach Sarah Hale’s girls knocked off Southern Connecticut Conference rivals Lyman Hall (2-1) and Sheehan (1-0) but on Monday they were shut out in a not conference contest by North Branford (1-0); played Hamden to a 1-1 stand-off on Tuesday; and, were blanked 5-0 by Cheshire on Wednesday. After winning two and tying one of their last five matches, the Lady Spartan stickers have a 3-5-2 record.
In last Monday’s home win over Lyman Hall, the Trojans’ Allie Padilla scored the only goal of the first half. After trailing 1-0 at intermission, Amity battled back even on a second half score by Sam Testa. Later in the second half, with the match still tied at 1-1, Nicole Simon knocked home the game-winning goal.
According to Coach Sara Hale, “We really played well against Lyman Hall. Du ring our practices, we’ve been focusing on our communicating with each other. We talked more throughout the game. That was the key to our win.”
Amity outshot the 3-2-1 Trojans 7-2 and goalie Hannah Bercovici recorded just one save.
On Friday, the Black and Gold journeyed to Wallingford to visit Sheehan and happily came back home with its 1-0 victory. The game’s only score was recorded by Sam Testa.
“That Sheehan game was a great game for us. We didn’t know we were going to play on their turf field. It took us a while to adjust because the game moves much faster on turf than it does on grass. In the past by the time we make that adjustment, the games have been out of reach. This time, we did what we needed to do and adjusted quickly. This is the best we’ve looked so far. Up to now, this was our best played game of the season,” Hale said.
North Branford came into its match with Amity holding a 4-1-1 record, but Hale was satisfied that her stickers had held their own against the Thunderbirds.
She added, “We had the ball in the circle often and had a lot of chances to score. Unfortunately, we couldn’t score and that’s why we didn’t win. Either everybody or nobody goes after the ball and neither way is what I want them to do. We need people to go after and get the ball but we also need to keep some people back so the other team can’t go in behind our defenders and catch our goalie unprotected.
The T –Birds ended up with a 10-8 edge in shots. Bercovici made nine saves. The only goal of the game was recorded by Stephanie Hogan.
Sam Testa gave Amity an early lead and the Lady Spartans had a number of chances to add to their lead but never were able to cash in. Later in the first half, the Green Dragons added the game-tying goal.
Hale said, “When we played Hamden, we played a good game against a good team. We held them off from scoring for quite a while. Offensively, we know that Sam (Testa) is our most consistent scorer. She has proven that she has the ability to put the ball into the net.”
There wasn’t much that Hale was pleased about in the schellaching by Cheshire. She explained that the Rams have a long-established varsity program that has a local feeder system to constantly provide players with prior to high school experience.
“We were on turf again. We knew the game would be much quicker, but never got anything going,” Hale said. “Despite the final score, Hannah Bercovici had a fabulous game in goal.”
The Rams outshot Amity 21-0 and Bercovici had a busy night, making 16 saves. Emma Farrell scored twice for the 10-1 winners and Miranda Garcia added a goal and an assist.
Hale expressed her overall pleasure with the performances of midfielder Jess Krieger.
“Jess has played well in every game. She has good stick skills and is able to make great passes to our offensive players, setting up potential scoring opportunities. She also comes off the ball very well and almost never makes a bad play or pass,” Hale said. “Even if the score doesn’t always show it, I’ve been very proud of my girls thus far in the season. They are working har; playing their hearts out; and trying to improve their communicating with each other.”
Hale’s girls host Fairfield Warde on Monday at 4 p.m.
Oct 082012
By PHIL BRODSKY
Orange Live Sports Writer
Sponsored by Robert Sousa of Sousa & Stone
Some will tell you that one mark of a good volleyball team is its ability to win five- set matches. If that is true, the Amity volleyball team has the marks of being a good team. In their first 10 matches, the Lady Spartans have played four five-setters and won three of them. Two of those four long five-setters occurred last week and Amity won both. Sandwiched around the Lady Spartans’ 3-1 victory over Lyman Hall on Wednesday, were 3-2 wins over Sheehan on Monday and the same score over Guilford on Friday. With those pair of Southern Connecticut Conference triumphs, Amity upped its Southern Connecticut Conference record to 8-2 (3-2 in the Housatonic Division) and qualified for November’s state tournament.
“The good thing about these five set-matches is we are showing resiliency. We have proven that we are able to come back when our backs are against the wall,” Coach Paul Thees said. “On the other hand, we have shown the tendency to let the opposing team win close games due to our inconsistent communication. Too many balls are drop ping to the floor because we don’t talk to each other. That leads to very scary situations.”
In Amity’s 25-12, 24-26, 20-25, 25-15, 15-13 victory over Housy rival Sheehan, it won the first game quiet easily. After that, the Black and Gold let the second and third games slip away in the face of the Titans’ increased offensive efforts. Trailing 2-1 and facing defeat if they lost Game No. 4, the Lady Spartans shook off their mid-match slump to take that game in convincing fashion. Trailing 13-11 in the 15 point third game, Amity swept the last four points to win the game and the match.
As usual, Allison Denny led the winners’ attack with a season-high 22 kills along with six digs and landing nine of her 10 serves. Sydnee Sousa added five kills, a block, six digs and was good on 25 of her 26 serves—with a pair of aces. Rebecca Denny had five kills, nine digs, and was good on all 20 of her serves—an ace. Kristen Post chipped in with five kills, six digs, and two service aces. Setter Kathryn Pisano was credited with a season-high 39 assists and was good on all but one of her nine serves with two aces.
The 5-4 Titans were led by Ali Sperrnazza, who had 13 kills and 15 digs. Katie Reed dug up 26 balls and setter Meghan Gavin recorded 26 assists and eight service aces.
It was much the same story against Guilford on Friday night when Amity survived a 25-23, 18-25, 23-25, 25-10, 15-13 marathon.
“I’ve noticed that the games we win in the five-setters are usually won quite easily, by wide margins; however, the games we lost are usually very close. As I said before, it all comes down to communication. When we communicate, we play well and win. When we don’t communicate well, we don’t play well and lose,” Thees said.
After squeaking out a narrow victory in the opener, Amity fell victim to hot serving from Sam Gavin in the second game. With her team trailing 14-9, Gavin landed 12 consecutive serves that turned her team’s five point deficit into a six point lead (20-11).
Thees added, “Guilford played well in the second and we didn’t.”
After dropping a hard-fought third game and once again trail 2-1, Amity stepped up to take the fourth game in a laugher. With the fifth and final contest deadlocked at 13-13, Guilford committed a costly net violation, giving the Lady Spartans game/match point and the serve, which they quickly converted into a match-winning final point.
This time Sousa led the winners with a dozen kills and landed 18 of 20 from the service line—with 2 aces. Allison Denny had eight kills and a block. Rebecca Denny added five kills. Amanda Vecchio was good on all 26 of her serves with four aces. Libero Liz Marino charted a career-high 23 digs while Pisano put up 28 assists and landed 10 11 serves.
Thees said, “This was the same scenario as the Guilford match. We made too many mistakes, which forced us to again come-from-behind to pull it out. As I did against Lyman Hall on Wednesday, I moved Sydnee from weak side to outside hitter in the last two games. That gave us more offense and I put Claire Foster in to give us some additional defense on the weak side. She’s very quiet but is a very smooth player who does her job quiet well. In the spring, she is an outstanding player for our tennis team.”
With her13 kills, Caitlin Sobolewski was the top hitter for the 5-5 Indians. She also chalked up 11 digs and six services aces. Setter Taylor White recorded 20 assists eight digs, and five kills. Grinold had a dozen digs, 14 service points, and four aces.
On Friday Amity visits Branford for an SCC inter-divisional contest at 5:00 p.m. seeking to avenge an early season 3-2 loss to the Hornets.
Oct 052012
By PHIL BRODSKY
Orange Live Sports Writer
Sponsored by YOUR NAME/COMPANY HERE
Double dips by Anna Lu and Dana Grindall were key factors in Amity’s undefeated girls swim team dunking of Glastonbury 94-84 Thursday afternoon at the Orange Community center pool. It was the Lady Spartans’ sixth consecutive victory of the season.
Lu claimed blue ribbons in both the 200-yard freestyle (1 minute, 58.3 seconds) and the 500 free (5:16.80). Grindall won both the 50 free (24.32) and the 100 butterfly (56.68).
The talented Lady Spartan duo also teamed with Madeline Snow and Dana Chung to post a first place time of 1:41.14 in the 200n free relay. Shannon Early, Lydia Pokluda, Chung, and Grindall splashed to a winning 1:53.62 in the 200 medley relay.
Snow won the 200 individual medley in 2:14.77.
As usual Amanda Craig was the meet’s top diver with a score of 204.
The 100 free went to Chung with her 55.18 effort. With his team holding an insurmountable lead after winning the 200 free, Coach Todd Rainey had his girls swim exhibition (non-scoring) for the meet’s final three events.
Rainey and Co. host Hand High of Madison in a Southern Connecticut Conference meet On Tuesday, October 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Orange Community Center pool.
Sep 282012
AMITY VARSITY SPORTS
Week of Oct. 1-6, 2012
Home games are in RED
Mon. 10-1
GIRLS SOCCER Branford 3:45 PM
BOYS SOCCER @ Cheshire 3:45 PM
VOLLEYBALL Sheehan 5:30 PM
SWIMMING @ West Haven 3:45 PM
Tue. 10-2
BOYS XC @ Fairfield Prep 4:00 PM
FIELD HOCKEY @ Hand 7:00 PM
GIRLS XC @ 4:00 PM
Wed. 10-3
GIRLS SOCCER @ Sheehan 7:00 PM
BOYS SOCCER Sheehan 3:45 PM
VOLLEYBALL Lyman Hall 5:30 PM
Thu. 10-4
SWIMMING* Glastonbury 7:30 PM
Fri. 10-5
BOYS SOCCER Jonathan Law 3:45 PM
FOOTBALL Guilford 7:00 PM
VOLLEYBALL Guilford 7:00 PM
FIELD HOCKEY @ Sheehan 3:45 PM
GIRLS SOCCER @ Jonathan Law 5:30 PM
Sat. 10-6
BOYS XC Wickham Park Inv. 10:00 AM
GIRLS XC Wickham Park Inv. 10:00 AM
* @ Orange Community Center Pool
Sep 212012
VARSITY SPORTS
Week of Sept. 24-29, 2012
HOME Games are in RED
Monday, Sept. 24
FIELD HOCKEY Branford 3:45 PM
GIRLS XC* Branf., East Haven 4:00 PM
GIRLS SOCCER @ Lyman Hall 3:45 PM
BOYS SOCCER @ Shelton 7:00 PM
VOLLEYBALL @ West Haven 5:15 PM
BOYS XC* Branf., East Haven 4:00 PM
SWIMMING# @ North Haven 4:00 PM
Thursday, Sept.27
FIELD HOCKEY @ Danbury 4:00 PM
Friday, Sept. 28
BOYS SOCCER Lyman Hall 3:45 PM
FOOTBALL @ Shelton 7:00 PM
VOLLEYBALL @ Cheshire 6:30 PM
FIELD HOCKEY Lyman Hall 3:45 PM
Saturday, Sept. 29
GIRLS SOCCER @ Shelton 7:00 PM
# @ Gawrych Town Pool in North Haven
* (Also including Lyman Hall)
Aug 202012
Amity students perform a scene from Almost Maine in Scotland
The Amity students who were invited to perform at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, are winding down their visit.
On Sunday, Director Rob Kennedy wrote, “A quiet work day here in Fringe Land. This morning we handed out more flyers on the Royal Mile. Saw a student production of a Roman Comedy and performed an 8 p.m. show for our largest and most responsive audience yet. Oh and our door on the set got jammed in the first scene. Our awesome kids just worked around it and blocked the scene on the fly!”
After, they had pizza in the company of their new friends from Alberta Canada.
“Tomorrow (Monday) we close,” Kennedy said.
Visiting parent, Russ Adair wrote on the Amity theater site, “Saw the kids perform the third time in Edinburgh tonight and they were so on. They were led by the best audience yet. Everyone was into the show from the start. Major laughs and moving moments. Even a malfunctioning door (the only real set piece) could not throw them. They all ad libbed around it. Great job!”
Amity students perform a scene from Almost Maine in Scotland
