Guilford Field Hockey Works Double Overtime To Top Branford In Class M

WETHERSFIELD, CT —Guilford and Branford high schools are less than six and a half miles apart, in adjoining towns on the Connecticut coastline. Saturday, there was even less space between them than that.

The top two seeds in the Class M field hockey tournament battled to a 0-0 tie through 60 minutes of regulation play and a 10-minute overtime session. Once the second extra period began at the Wethersfield High School athletic complex, it didn't take long for separation to finally occur between the teams.

Guilford senior co-captain Cassandra Ward picked up a loose ball in the Hornets' end, made a dandy fake to lure Branford goalkeeper Lily Panuccio out of the cage and slammed the ball into a virtually empty net to give the Grizzlies a 1-0 victory, their first state title since 2021 and fourth in the past six seasons.

Branford, the top seed with a 13-3 record in the regular season, had been seeking its second Class M crown in three years.