Danbury boys work overtime to win in FCIAC quarterfinals

DANBURY — There were several instances, earlier in Friday’s FCIAC quarterfinal game, when Danbury High School boys soccer player Malamin Jallow came agonizingly close to scoring a goal but couldn’t quite capitalize.

With the fate of the Hatters’ season hanging in the balance, Jallow had one more opportunity in overtime.

And he nailed it.

Jallow, a dynamic senior forward, booted home a low shot off an assist from Tiago Dos Reis with less than four minutes remaining in the first of two 10-minute overtime periods to lift the top-seeded Hatters to a 3-2 victory over Brien McMahon, the upset-minded eighth seed.

“We were up two and we let it slip, so we couldn’t let it go down any more,” Jallow said. “It feels good to put one in the net and be moving on.”

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Girls soccer: Ridgefield tops Trumbull, 4-0, in FCIAC quarterfinals

Scoring two goals in each half, the Ridgefield High girls soccer team began the postseason with a 4-0 win over Trumbull in an FCIAC quarterfinal game Thursday evening at Tiger Hollow. Ridgefield, the third seed in the eight-team field, will now play second-seed St. Joseph in the semifinals on Monday (5 p.m.) at Wilton High … Read more

The FCIAC boys soccer playoffs by the numbers

The FCIAC boys soccer tournament will kick off on Friday with eight teams vying for the title of conference champion. Here’s a look at some stats on the eight playoff teams, as well as how they fared this season against their quarterfinal opponents. • To see an archive of the FCIAC’s champions and runners-up, click … Read more

FCIAC Girls Soccer Quarterfinals Box Scores

FCIAC Girls Soccer Quarterfinals Darien 2, Staples 0 (OT) Darien 0-0-2 2 Staples 0-0-0 0 Darien: Eilanna Dolan 1g; Nathalie Bravo 1g Goalies D – Olivia Maniscalco 10 saves S – Zoe Barnett 3 saves St. Joseph 2, Brien McMahon 0 McMahon 0-0 0 St. Joseph 1-1 2 St. Joseph: Jess Mazo 1g, 1a; Maddie … Read more

Darien girls soccer topples No. 1 Staples in OT of FCIAC quarters; New Canaan is up next

The Darien girls soccer team is going to get a second shot at the rival New Canaan Rams. The eighth-seeded Blue Wave snapped a scoreless tie by scoring two goals in the first 90 seconds of overtime en route to a 2-0 upset victory over No. 1 Staples in the FCIAC quarterfinals Thursday at Loeffler … Read more

Ridgefield girls top Trumbull in FCIAC soccer quarterfinals

RIDGEFIELD — The Ridgefield High School girls soccer team has prided itself all season long on its stellar defensive play — and rightfully so, as the Tigers allowed only three goals in the regular season and posted 14 shutouts in 16 matches.

On Thursday night in the FCIAC quarterfinals against Trumbull, Ridgefield showed off its offensive firepower as well its defensive prowess.

Caitlin Slaminko tallied two goals and an assist, freshman phenom Julia Bragg added a goal and two assists and Tasha Riek scored a goal as the third-seeded Tigers defeated sixth-seeded Trumbull 4-0. Lauren Castle made four saves to preserve the shutout.

“We’re definitely happy with the win,” Slaminko said. “We played pretty well, and we finished our chances. We’re moving on now, and we have to focus on getting better and being prepared for what’s ahead.”

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New Canaan edges Wilton in FCIAC girls soccer quarters; Semi showdown with Darien next

New Canaan’s Dillyn Patten and Wilton’s Maddie Wecker pursue the ball during the FCIAC girls soccer quarterfinals Thursday at Dunning Field. — Dave Stewart photo The New Canaan girls soccer team has been playing with an underdog mentality for the entire season. It’s an approach which has served the Rams well. Now the underdogs are … Read more

St. Joseph holds off McMahon to advance

TRUMBULL — Barely holding off an upset-minded Brien McMahon team for most of the first half, St. Joseph needed a momentum swing in a big way.

That turn came 34 minutes into the first, as Jessica Mazo connected with Maddie Fried on a textbook two-on-one chance to break the scoreless tie.

The second-ranked Cadets would go on to defeat No. 7 McMahon 2-0 at home in the FCIAC quarterfinals Thursday.

“For 20 minutes in the first half I really thought they were playing better than us,” said Cadets coach Jack Nogueira, whose team will play the winner of No. 6 Trumbull and No. 3 Ridgefield in the semis on Monday. “Once we scored the first goal I thought we weren’t as nervous and started playing a little bit better. Today we finished our opportunities. They had a couple opportunities they could’ve finished that they didn’t, we found a way to win a game that was very tough for us.”

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The FCIAC girls soccer playoffs by the numbers

The FCIAC girls soccer tournament kicks off this afternoon with four quarterfinal games at on tap for eight teams. Here’s a look at some stats on the eight playoff teams, as well as how they fared this season against their quarterfinal opponents. • To see an archive of the FCIAC’s champions and runners-up, click here•  FCIAC … Read more

Darien girls soccer clinches FCIAC bid with Senior Night victory

Darien senior co-captain Lauren Sulger battles for the ball during a Blue Wave victory over Fairfield-Ludlowe. — Darien Athletic Foundation photo Making the FCIAC playoffs is certainly nothing new for the Darien High girls soccer program or, for that matter, head coach Leigh Parsons. Parsons is in his eighth year with DHS and the Blue … Read more