The West Haven football team was looking to bounce back after last week’s heartbreaking 20-19 to North Haven last week when the Hamden Green Dragons visited Ken Strong Stadium on Friday evening. The Blue Devils got just what they needed with a 33-7 thumping of the Dragons.
The Westies struck first when Juan Gutierrez took a 1-yard dive into the end zone with 4:35 left in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. After Tylen Jennette busted a 51-yard run to get the Blue Devils deep into Hamden territory, West Haven extended the lead to 13-0 when Justin Medina ran it in from four yards out with 7:49 left in the half. Hamden managed to get on the scoreboard with a 29-yard touchdown pass with 2:58 left in the half.
The Westies went back to work in the second half and made it 19-7 on a Jordan Berrios 2-yard TD run with 6:53 left in the third quarter. Hamden looked like they were going to get back in the game when they drove down the field and appeared to be going into the end zone but fumbled at the 1 yard line and the Westies pounced on the ball in the end zone for the touchback.
The Blue Devils put the finishing touches on the victory with two Jaden Grant touchdowns. Grant had a 9-yard touchdown run with ten seconds left in the third quarter and then raced 37 yards with 8:54 left in the game for the 33-7 final.
This week, the Westies head up the hill for the annual Soderman Bowl with cross-town rival Notre Dame at Veterans Field on Friday at 7.
After dropping it opening match against Sacred Heart, the volleyball team came up with two, big victories last week. On Wednesday, the Westies defeated the Lyman Hall Trojans, 3-2 (25-22, 23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-13), in Wallingford. Bria Stanley had 11 kills and five blocks while Irene Ronan had seven kills, three digs and two blocks to lead West Haven. Jennifer Ortiz had 31 assists and five digs, Nancy Tapia had 12 kills and six digs and Noelle Noble had seven digs and six kills to contribute to the victory.
On Friday evening, the Blue Devils dominated the Hillhouse Academics with a 3-0 sweep by scores of 25-13, 25-14 and 25-9. Irene Ronan had 11 kills and four aces, Jennifer Ortiz had 17 assists and three aces, Noelle Noble had six aces and four digs while Kara Erickson contributed with six digs to lead the Westies.
This week, the girls hosted Amity on Monday and then host Hamden on Thursday at 5:15 and Wilbur Cross on Friday at 5:15.
The girls soccer team continues to do what it needs to do to stay out of the loss column. After opening the season with a comeback tie against Sacred Heart, the Blue Devils came back to defeat North Haven. 2-1. on Tuesday and then battled to a 1-1 tie with perennial power house Guilford on Saturday night. On Tuesday, the girls spotted the North Haven Indians an early 1-0 lead but, Kaylie Hollister got the Westies even assisted by Kelsey Gilmore before halftime. Then with seven minutes left in the game, Alexia Guerrero set up Keegan Riccio for the game-winner for West Haven. Mackenzie Gardner stopped six Indian shots between the pipes to preserve the victory.
On Saturday night, the Westies hosted the Guilford Indians at Ken Strong Stadium. Kelsey Gilmore set up Jessica Robinson, who found the back of the net and give the Blue Devils a 1-0 lead just three minutes into the game. The Indians were able to get the equalizer about four minutes later. The Westies’ defense and Mackenzie Gardner, who made five saves, were able to keep the score there and get the tie.
This week, the girls traveled to take on Lauralton Hall on Tuesday, host the Hand Tigers on Thursday at 6:30 and then travel to Wallingford on Saturday to take on Lyman Hall at 10:30.
After opening the season with an exhilarating victory over Notre Dame, the boys soccer team suffered consecutive 3-1 losses. On Tuesday evening, the Westies lost 3-1 to the Foran Lions. Foran took an early 1-0 lead just four minutes into the game and then extended the lead six minutes into the second half before Matt Ffrench cut the lead to 2-1 on a penalty kick with 11 minutes left in the game. The Lions iced the game with a goal four minutes later for the 3-1 final. Joey Buestan Lojano made seven saves in goal for West Haven.
On Saturday afternoon, the Blue Devils suffered a 3-1 loss to the Shelton Gaels at Ken Strong Stadium. The Gaels had a chance13 minutes into the game but were denied twice on diving saves by Joey Buestan Lojano. Unfortunately for the Westies, Shelton kept the pressure on and capitalized with a goal a minute later to take a 1-0 lead at 26:47.
In the second half, Danny Morales had a chance just four minutes in but saw his kick sail just over the crossbar to keep the score 1-0. The Blue Devils cashed in about a minute later when a header by Alsaddik Alfazzani on a set piece, found the back of the net to knot the score at 1-1 with 34:53 left in the game. Unfortunately for the Blue Devils that would be their only offense and the Gales would strike for q goal with 30:08 left and then another 2:48 later to seal the victory. Joey Buestan Lojano made six saves between the pipes for the Westies.
This week, the boys hosted Fairfield Prep on Tuesday, travel to take on the Sheehan Titans on Thursday at 6:30 and host Career/Hillhouse on Saturday at 6:30.
After opening its season with a close loss to Jonathan Law, the girls swim team battled to a 90-90 tie with the Branford Hornets on Friday afternoon in West Haven. Anya Celmer led the Blue Devils to victory with wins in the 200 IM, 100 butterfly and was a member of the victorious 200 medley relay team (Hobart, Acuna, Celmer, K. Falanga) and the 200 freestyle relay team (Hobart, Acuna, Taulty, Celmer). Kaylee Taulty was victorious in the diving competition for the Westies.
This week, the girls had a meet at North Haven on Monday and travel to the campus of Wesleyan University to face the Mercy Tigers on Friday at 7.