The West Haven football team, ranked first in the CIAC Class LL Point standings with a 5-0 record, hosted the Norwich Free Academy Wildcats on Saturday night at Ken Strong Stadium. After the Blue Devil defense stopped the Wildcats on their first possession, Zach Conlan took a handoff on the second play for the Westie offense and raced 48 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead just 2:03 into the game.
That was just the beginning of an outstanding night for Conlan. With 5:51 left in the first quarter, Conlan broke off a 60-yard TD run and after Chris Chance’s two-point conversion, the Blue Devils were up 15-0.
On the Wildcats’ next possession, Conlan intercepted a pass at midfield and set up West Haven for another touchdown drive that was capped off by a Chris Chance 4-yard TD run and with 47 seconds left in the first quarter, the boys were in control 22-0.
The Wildcats got one back with a 17-yard touchdown pass just 1:08 into the second quarter but, West Haven would put any NFA comeback hopes to rest with a Kyle Godfrey 78-yard touchdown run with 2:43 on the clock and a Chris Chance 12-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Wetmore in the corner of the end zone with 1:31 left in the half for a commanding 36-7 halftime lead.
After the Westies punted on their first possession of the second half, the West Haven defense held the NFA offense and forced the Wildcats to punt. Shane Clarke rushed in on the Wildcats’ punter, leapt to block the punt and then scooped up the bounding ball to return the play for a touchdown and a 42-7 lead with 9:05 left in the third quarter. Norwich Free Academy was able to get a little closer with a 24-yard TD pass with 4:19 left in the game and a 4-yard TD pass as time expired to make it a 42-19 final.
Zach Conlan finished with 163 yards rushing to go with his two touchdowns and interception while Kyle Godfrey rushed for 105 yards to help West Haven rack up 521 yards in total offense.
The Blue Devils will enjoy a bye week this week and return to action next Friday when they host the always tough Shelton Gaels on Friday at 7 in Ken Strong Stadium.
The girls soccer team got a huge 1-1 tie against the Guilford Indians last week in Guilford to qualify for postseason play. The Westies got on the board first when Kelsey Gilmore set up Keegan Riccio for the goal and a 1-0 lead. The Indians would get even with a goal later in the first half. Alycia Morales made 10 saves between the pipes for the Blue Devils to preserve the tie and send the girls into the tournament.
On Friday evening, the Westies hosted the Mercy Tigers in Ken Strong Stadium. The Blue Devils had several chances in the first half from the speedy Kelsey Gilmore but her opportunity with 23:15 left in the first half sailed wide and then she was denied by the Tigers’ keeper two and a half minutes later to keep it scoreless.
In the second half, Mercy broke through with a goal 3:58 into the half to make it 1-0. Fifty-two seconds later, Betsy Magana came up with a big save when she challenged a charging Tiger player. Magana was able to punch the ball away just before a violent collision at the top of the box. The Westies had another chance with 18:02 left in the game but Gilmore’s crossing pass was just a little too far ahead of her teammate. Mercy picked up an insurance goal with 8:35 left in the game for a 2-0 final. Magana finished with eight saves in goal for West Haven.
This week, the Blue Devils hosted the Foran Lions on Monday, traveled to Branford on Wednesday and have a home contest against the North Haven Indians on Friday at 7.
The boys soccer team had its scoring drought continue with a 3-0 loss to the Shelton Gaels and a 0-0 tie against the Sheehan Titans. On Tuesday, the Westies hosted the Gaels at Ken Strong Stadium and saw Shelton take a 1-0 lead at 20:37. That would be all the offense the Gaels would need. Shelton added two, insurance goals in the second half for the 3-0 win. Saul Novoa stopped seven Shelton shots in the loss.
On Thursday night, the Blue Devils traveled to Wallingford to take on the Sheehan Titans. The Westies couldn’t generate any offense but the goaltending of Saul Novoa made sure the boys would not be defeated on this night in a 0-0 tie.
This week, the boys had an afternoon contest on Monday at Fairfield Prep, hosted the North Haven Indians on Wednesday in their final home game of the year and finish the week at Career/Hillhouse on Friday at 7pm. Next week, the Westies finish the regular season with games at Hamden on Monday at 7 and at Xavier on Wednesday at 7.
The girls swim team was defeated by the Jonathan Law Eagles on Wednesday, 102-71. The Westies got victories in individual events from Anya Celmer in the 200 IM and Alana Orecchio in the 100 freestyle. The Blue Devils also picked up wins in the 200 freestyle relay with Madison Hobart, Jillian Doherty, Anya Celmer and Eva Predom and the 400 freestyle relay team of McKenna Driver, Nicole Gaston, Morgan Falanga and Daniela Morales. This week, the girls wrapped up their regular season with their Senior Day against East Haven/Wilbur Cross on Tuesday.
The boys cross-country team lost to Notre Dame of West Haven, 20-35, despite the efforts of Sebastian Villanueva, who finished first overall with a time of 17:59.
The volleyball team ran into a tough Guilford squad on Tuesday evening at the WHHS Gym and were swept, 3-0. The Indians used a combination of sharp serves, good sets and quick kills to defeat the Westies. Veronica Lynn with four kills and three digs and Megan Paterson with four assists and two digs led the Blue Devils. Also contributing for the Westies were Alyanah Bonilla with four digs, Danna Tortal with three digs and Nancy Tapia with three digs.
On Friday evening, the girls traveled to battle the Career Panthers. A trip to New Haven was just what the girls needed with a dominant 25-10, 25-18, 25-8 victory. Megan Paterson had 10 assists, Nancy Tapia and Irene Ronan had seven kills each and Veronica Lynn had six kills and two digs.
This week, the girls hosted the Hand Tigers on Monday, the Platt Tech Panthers on Tuesday and finish the week with a road match at North Haven on Saturday at 3. Next week, the Westies play at Platt Tech on Monday at 5:15, host their Senior Night against Lyman Hall at 5:15 and finish the regular season at Sacred Heart Academy on Wednesday at 5:30.