We had questions about which soccer teams could rise in the SCC. Here are some of those answers:



Can anyone beat Fairfield Prep? Answer: Yes. Shelton did, on the road. The Gaels are for real, everyone.

Will someone new make a move into the top tier of the SCC? It’s been quite awhile since Lyman Hall has been among the upper echelon. The Trojans face Hamden on Tuesday.
Answer: Lyman Hall went to 3-0 by pounding Hamden 5-0.

West Haven and Sheehan would like to be division contenders. The two teams play one another in Wallingford Tuesday. Answer: Teams tied 2-2.

Can the North Haven girls start out 0-3? Last year’s tri-champs in the SCC Oronoque drew the toughest schedule and now hosts Hand on Tuesday.
Answer: Unfortunately for the Indians, the rough road continued with a 2-0 loss to Hand.

Are the Branford girls for real? The Hornets got an easier schedule than North Haven. One of its toughest tests, Amity, awaits in Woodbridge Tuesday.
Answer: Yes they are. Branford won 1-0. Check out that game and more on Tuesday's action in the area.

Matchup of the day? Sacred Heart Academy at Cheshire, 6 p.m. Both of these girls’ teams are likely ticketed to the SCC eight-team playoffs. One of them could be the top overall seed.

Answer: SHA wins on the road 3-2. A little bit of a surprise but there once again seems to be some parity at the top in the SCC.

The Branford girls soccer team remained undefeated with a first-half goal from Rachel Cholewinski. Amity is one of the toughest games on Branford's regular-season schedule. So far, defense if the league title is going smoothly for the Hornets. Here is the game's only goal. I apologize for the fuzziness from my I-phone, but even with that you can see by the angle how great a goal it was.

The first week of the regular season is over. Now we get to answer some questions beginning with Tuesday's action in the SCC:

Can anyone beat Fairfield Prep? Shelton gets a chance on Tuesday on the road at 3:45 p.m.

Will someone new make a move into the top tier of the SCC? It's been quite awhile since Lyman Hall has been among the upper echelon. The Trojans face Hamden on Tuesday.

West Haven and Sheehan would like to be division contenders. The two teams play one another in Wallingford Tuesday.

Could Hand really start out 0-3? The boys have faced Prep and Xavier so far. Now the Tigers get Branford on the road at 6:30 p.m.


Can the North Haven girls start out 0-3? Last year's tri-champs in the SCC Oronoque drew the toughest schedule and now hosts Hand on Tueday.

Are the Branford girls for real? The Hornets got an easier schedule than North Haven. One of its toughest tests, Amity, awaits in Woodbridge Tuesday.

Matchup of the day? Sacred Heart Academy at Cheshire, 6 p.m. Both of these girls' teams are likely ticketed to the SCC eight-team playoffs. One of them could be the top overall seed.

Above, Branford girls’ soccer captains Tanya Altrui, left, and Izzy Suppa are hoping to lead the Hornets on another SCC tournament title run. It won't be easy, but the Hornets will be a solid team in the SCC once again in 2013.



Check out our cross country preview in Monday's edition and field hockey on Tuesday, which is the opening day for the season.

SCC DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 1 Hand (10-5-3) vs. No. 2 Branford (11-6-2)

WHEN: Today, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Quinnipiac’s High Solutions Arena, Hamden

ON THE AIR: The game will be broadcast live at CPTV Sports and on WELI-960, 960WELI.com, iheart radio

WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Two of the hottest teams in Division II face off in a rematch of last season’s SCC Division II final (Branford won 5-4 in OT). Like the SCC Division I final, these finalists mirror each other in every phase of the game. Both teams possess some of the most talented goalies in Division II state-wide with Hand led by Chase Briggs and Branford led by A.J. Brink (Coach Adolph Brink’s son) and Alex Sarno. The Hornets are led on offense by Tyler Hackett (16 goals, 19 assists), Tyler Criscuolo (17 goals, eight assists), Rob Klouda (five goals, 17 assists) and Tony Pascale (11 goals, seven assists). Rob Petrillo (five goals, 12 assists) and Robert Denhardt lead the strong on-ice defense. Hand is led on offense by forwards Danny Braumann (13 goals, 18 assists), Ben Solin (15 goals, 13 assists) , Sam LaFontaine (nine goals, 11 assists), Ryan Bell (12 goals, five assists) and Matt Oman (three goals, eight assists). Will Lavin and Connor Bell are among the strong defensemen.

CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: Branford makes its fifth D-II championship appearance with a title in 2012 and Hand makes its third straight appearance with a title in 2011.

YOU SHOULD KNOW: Branford defeated Hand 2-1 in the season-opening game and the teams tied 2-2 on Jan. 23.

— Dan Nowak

Three SCC finals are on tap this evening.
Branford reached the finals of the boys' and girls' soccer final for the first time in school history. The boys face Fairfield Prep at 7:30, preceded by the girls, Branford vs. Shelton, at 6 at West Haven High. Follow @nhrJoeMorelli on Twitter for all of the up-to-the-minute updates.

Cheshire faces Hand in the SCC field hockey final at 6 at Cheshire. Follow @nhrDanNowak for updates on that contest.

Here is the latest SCC tournament schedule update:


Boys’ soccer

Semifinals

Monday’s result

No. 3 Branford 3, No. 2 Amity 2 (2 OT)
Championship

Today

at West Haven

No. 1 Fairfield Prep vs. No. 3 Branford, 7:30 p.m.

Girls’ soccer

Semifinals

Monday’s result

No. 6 Branford 1, No. 7 Hand 0

Championship

Today

at West Haven

No. 4 Shelton vs. No. 6 Branford, 6 p.m.

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Quarterfinals

Monday’s result

No. 3 Amity 3, No. 6 Branford 1

Semifinals

Monday’s result

No. 1 Cheshire 3, No. 4 Sacred Heart Academy 0

Today

No. 3 Amity at No. 2 Mercy, 5 p.m.

Championship

Wednesday

at North Haven

No. 1 Cheshire vs. No. 2 Mercy/No. 3 Amity, 6 p.m.

FIELD HOCKEY

Semifinals

Monday’s results

No. 1 Cheshire 0, No. 4 Branford 0 (Cheshire advances 4-2 on penalty strokes)

No. 2 Hand 2, No. 3 Guilford 1

Championship

Today

at Cheshire

No. 1 Cheshire vs. No. 2 Hand, 6 p.m.

There has been quite a battle raging between the Orange, Branford, Milford and East Haven American Legion baseball teams for the top spot in Zone II.

Nick Fusco led Orange to a state tournament-qualifying 2-0 victory over Stratford on Wednesday night to improve Post 127's record to 14-3. Branford is right behind at 14-4 while Milford and East Haven both were at 13-5 entering Thursday's games.

Milford's Cody Hadden fired a complete-game one-hitter with 10 strikeouts to lead Post 196 past Hamden on Tuesday night.

In another recent game, Orange ace Mike Concato shut down North Haven Post 76 and East Haven closed in on a tournament berth with a 7-2 win over West Haven.

For more American Legion Zone II coverage, visit ctbulletin.com/sports and ctpostchronicle.com/sports and follow us at twitter.com/ElmCitySports

Here is the complete list:


BASEBALL
Non-league
Platt Tech at Career (West Rock Park), ppd. to Saturday, 10:30 a.m.
O’Brien Tech at Westbrook, ppd. to Wednesday, 4:45 p.m.
NVL
Ansonia at Kennedy (Municipal Stadium),ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
Seymour at Watertown, ppd., TBA
Derby at St. Paul, ppd., TBA
SCC Housatonic
Sheehan at Shelton, ppd. to Thursday, 5 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Branford at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Foran at Law,ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
SOFTBALL
NVL
Kennedy at Ansonia, ppd. to Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Naugatuck at Crosby, ppd. to Friday, 3:30 p.m.
St. Paul at Derby, ppd. to Wednesday, 4 p.m.
Watertown at Seymour, ppd. to Wednesday, 5 p.m.
Non-league
East Haven at Platt Tech (Foote Field), ppd. to Wednesday at East Haven, 5 p.m.
Morgan at Wilcox Tech, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
Berlin at Hale-Ray, 7 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Lyman Hall at Foran, ppd. to Wednesday, 5 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Sacred Heart Academy at Hamden, ppd. to Tuesday, 6 p.m.
Shoreline
Old Saybrook at Westbrook, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
SWC
Pomperaug at Stratford (DeLuca Field), ppd. to Friday, 4:15 p.m.
FCIAC
St. Joseph at McMahon, ppd. to Thursday, 2 p.m.
BOYS’ LACROSSE
SCC
Cheshire at Xavier, ppd. to Wednesday, 4:30 p.m.
Non-league
Morgan at Stonington, ppd., TBA
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
Shoreline
Old Lyme at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
SCC
Cheshire at Hand, ppd. to Wednesday, 7 p.m.
BOYS’ OUTDOOR TRACK
SCC West Sectional at Amity, ppd. to Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Shoreline
Hyde, Westbrook at Morgan (Peters Complex), ppd. to Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS’ OUTDOOR TRACK
SCC West Sectional at Amity, ppd. to Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
Shoreline
Coginchaug, Cromwell at Valley Regional,ppd. to Wednesday, 3:45 p.m.
Hyde, Westbrook at Morgan (Peters Complex), ppd. to Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
BOYS’ TENNIS
Preps
St. Luke’s at Hamden Hall, ppd., TBA
SCC
Foran at West Haven (Painter Park),ppd. to Saturday, 12:30 p.m.
Shelton at North Haven, ppd. to Monday, 3:45 p.m.
Shoreline
Portland at Westbrook, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
NVL
Watertown at Seymour, ppd., TBA
Non-league
Stratford at Law, ppd.to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
East Lyme at Guilford, ppd., TBA
SCC
Branford at Shelton, ppd., TBA
West Haven at Hillhouse/Career (East Shore), ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
BOYS’ GOLF
CSC
O’Brien Tech at Goodwin Tech (Stanley GC), ppd., TBA
SCC
Xavier at Cheshire (Farms CC), ppd., TBA
Hand at East Haven (Alling GC), ppd., TBA
Hamden at Shelton (Brownson CC), ppd. to Thursday, 2:45 p.m.
Lyman Hall at Foran (Grassy Hill CC), ppd. to Wednesday, 3 p.m.
Guilford, Foran at Branford (Pine Orchard CC), ppd., TBA
Fairfield Prep at Amity (CC of Woodbridge), ppd., TBA
GIRLS’ GOLF
Haddam-Killingworth, Sacred Heart Academy at Canton (Tower Ridge CC), cancelled

Here are today's postponements on the area schedule:

BASEBALL
FCIAC
St. Joseph at Danbury, ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.
CSC
Kaynor Tech at O’Brien Tech, ppd. to Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Abbott Tech at Whitney Tech, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Goodwin Tech at Platt Tech, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
NVL
Holy Cross at Seymour (French Park), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Ansonia at Crosby (Washington Park), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Shoreline
Westbrook at Haddam-Killingworth, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
East Hampton at North Branford, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Old Saybrook at Hyde/Hillhouse, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Morgan at Portland, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Guilford at Hand, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Xavier at Hamden, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
West Haven at Fairfield Prep, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Housatonic
Cheshire at Lyman Hall, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Shelton at Sheehan, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Oronoque
North Haven at Wilbur Cross, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Career at East Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC interdivision
Law at Notre Dame-West Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Amity at Branford, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
SWC
Stratford at Bethel, ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.
Barlow at Bunnell, ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.
SOFTBALL
FCIAC
Danbury at St. Joseph, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
CSC
O’Brien Tech at Kaynor Tech, ppd. to Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
Whitney Tech at Abbott Tech, ppd. to May 1, 3:30 p.m.
NVL
Crosby at Ansonia, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
Woodland at Naugatuck, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
Seymour at Holy Cross, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Kennedy at Derby, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Shoreline
Coginchaug at Old Lyme, ppd., TBA
East Hampton at North Branford, ppd., TBA
Morgan at Portland, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Quinnipiac
Hamden at Sacred Heart Academy, ppd. to Thursday, 3;45 p.m.
SCC Housatonic
Amity at Sheehan, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC Oronoque
Wilbur Cross at North Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Branford at Career (East Shore Athletic Complex), ppd. to Tuesday. 4 p.m.
SCC Hammonasset
Hillhouse at Foran, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Guilford at Law, ppd. to Thursday, 4 p.m.
SCC interdivision
East Haven at Cheshire, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
SWC
Kolbe Cathedral at Stratford (DeLuca Field), ppd. to May 3, 3:30 p.m.
Barlow at Bunnell, ppd. to Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.
GIRLS’ LACROSSE
SCC
Guilford at North Haven, ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Shelton at Amity, ppd. to Tuesday, 4 p.m.
Preps
Hamden Hall at Hopkins, ppd., TBA
BOYS’ TENNIS
SWC
Stratford at Bunnell, ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.
SCC
Branford at Career (Edgewood Park), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:45 p.m.
Sheehan at Hand, ppd. to Thursday, 3:45 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
NVL
Crosby at Ansonia (Nolan Field), ppd. to Tuesday, 3:30 p.m.
Seymour at Holy Cross, ppd. to Thursday, 3:30 p.m.
SWC
Lauralton Hall at Barlow, ppd., TBA
Bunnell at Stratford (Short Beach), ppd. to Friday, 3:45 p.m.

BOYS’ GOLF
SCC
Law at Lyman Hall (Wallingford CC), ppd., TBA
Non-league
Cheshire at Wolcott (Farmingbury CC), ppd., TBA
Shoreline
Coginchaug at Valley Regional (Fox Hopyard CC), ppd., TBA