Tournaments

Staples girls soccer tops Warde in Class LL opener

WESTPORT — A small part of it was redemption. But more importantly, it was another chance to chase greatness.

The Staples High girls soccer team took its first step forward in the Class LL tournament Monday by nipping a stubborn Warde squad 2-1 in first-round action at Wakeman Field.

No. 5 seed Staples (14-1-3 overall) had been upset 2-0 in double overtime by No. 8 seed Darien in the recent FCIAC playoff quarterfinals.

“Our girls were disappointed after the Darien game, our first loss in 17 games,” Staples coach Barry Beattie said. “The girls learned a lesson the hardest way possible. Darien deserved that win. We had to put the enjoyment back into playing soccer. They had to put the smiles back on their faces.”

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Girls soccer: Dejana’s goals lift Wilton to 2-1 state tourney win

Senior Ally Dejana scored both goals as the Wilton High girls soccer team rallied from an early deficit to beat Fairfield Ludlowe, 2-1, in the opening round of the Class LL state tournament Monday in Wilton. The 1th-seeded Warriors (11-4-3) will now play sixth-seed St. Joseph in a second-round game on Wednesday at 4 p.m. … Read more

Wilton overcomes early deficit to beat Ludlowe

WILTON — Just four and a half minutes into its state tournament opener, the Wilton girls soccer team found itself trailing.

Fairfield Ludlowe found the back of the net as the 22nd-seeded Falcons were looking to upset the 11th-seeded Warriors on their home field.

“I think I was surprised and I didn’t expect it,” Wilton standout Ally Dejana said of the early deficit. “We got off to a bit of a slow start but we really picked it up.”

Dejana, however, scored the next two goals, helping carry Wilton to a 2-1 victory over FCIAC foe Fairfield Ludlowe in a CIAC Class LL state tournament first-round game in a steady rain on Monday afternoon at Lilly Field.

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St. Joseph shuts out Westhill

TRUMBULL — An overtime loss to Ridgefield last week in the FCIAC semifinals left the St. Joseph girls soccer team with seven days to practice — and stew over that defeat — before the Class LL tournament commenced.

On Monday afternoon, St. Joseph took out that frustration on Westhill in the Class LL first round.

The Cadets dominated in all facets, scoring six times in the first half en route to a 6-0 victory on a chilly, wet afternoon. Sixth-seeded St. Joseph moves on to host No. 11 Wilton — a 2-1 winner over No. 22 Fairfield Ludlowe — in the second round on Wednesday.

“I had a sense we would come out and play well, only because how we practiced after the Ridgefield game,” St. Joseph coach Jack Nogueira said. “We were a little hungrier. I didn’t think it would be 6-0, but I thought we would play very, very well.”

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Trumbull cruises to win over Cheshire

TRUMBULL — After stewing over their tough FCIAC first-round playoff loss for the last 10 days, the Trumbull High Eagles figured they deserved at least a soothing 10-minute break during halftime of Monday’s Class LL first round girls soccer game against Cheshire.

Thanks to Erin Melia’s goal, set up beautifully by Simone Dewar 34 seconds before intermission, the Eagles got their wish.

“The third goal (giving Trumbull a 3-1 lead before halftime) was massive for us,” Trumbull’s first-year coach Rich Sutherland said after his team’s 5-1 victory. “At 2-1, it’s a tough game. At 3-1 it changed the game and had (Cheshire) hanging their heads. It was a good time for us to score.”

With Skylar Jorge scoring three goals, including two by penalty kick, the 13th seed Eagles (12-6) advanced to Wednesday’s second-round game at No. 4 Shelton at 2 p.m. The win helped erase the memory of Trumbull’s 4-0 FCIAC quarterfinal loss to eventual champ Ridgefield back on Oct. 26.

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No. 2 Trumbull sweeps No. 1 Westhill in FCIAC volleyball final

The Trumbull Eagles celebrate a point during their 3-0 victory over Westhill in the FCIAC championship match Saturday at Fairfield-Ludlowe HS, — Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media photo

FAIRFIELD — Making history was the mission. And nothing was going to stand in the way of the Trumbull High School girls volleyball team from finishing the job.

The No. 2 seeded Eagles soared to a 25-22, 25-22, 25-13 victory over No. 1 seed Westhill High Saturday afternoon before a raucous capacity crowd at the Ludlowe High gym to capture their first-ever FCIAC Championship.

“It was 20 years since a Trumbull girls volleyball team even reached the FCIAC final,” Trumbull’s sophomore setter Ali Castro said. “Knowing we are the first Trumbull High girls volleyball team to capture an FCIAC title. That’s history that will stay with us forever.”

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Ridgefield edges upstart New Canaan for 3rd FCIAC girls soccer title in four years

Claire Middlebrook and the rest of the Ridgefield Tigers’ senior girls soccer players are quite accustomed to being in the winner’s circle. So it’s fitting that they’ll go out the way they came in as freshmen — FCIAC champions. After having their two-year reign atop the conference end last fall, the Tigers are back on … Read more

Trumbull nips Ludlowe in 5 to reach FCIAC Volleyball final

FAIRFIELD—A berth in the FCIAC Girls Volleyball final is a worthy reward.

Trumbull High School earned its chance to play for the 2018 league crown Thursday night by outlasting Ludlowe High, 25-15, 23-25, 25-21, 21-25, 15-10 in the FCIAC semifinals before a passionate crowd at the Ludlowe High gym.

The win means No. 2 seed Trumbull will face No. 1 seed Westhill (20-2) on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Ludlowe’s gym for the FCIAC Championship. Westhill held off Darien, 3-2 in Thursday’s early semifinal.

“Every night in FCIAC volleyball is a battle. This was fun,” said Trumbull’s first-year head coach Nicole Trommelen. “How did we do this? With our fight. With our resilency. Ludlowe beat us in the regular season. And we could have gotten down after losing Game 4 to tie the match. But our team responded as it has all year against adversity.”

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Darien edges previously unbeaten Staples for FCIAC title

In recent years the Darien and Staples field hockey programs have had several memorable showdowns, scripting a new rivalry in a sport where historically the Blue Wave have had the edge with the Wreckers having closed the gap over the past couple of seasons.

A new chapter was written Thursday night as the No. 2 Blue Wave re-established themselves as the best team in the conference, defending their FCIAC championship by knocking off the top-seeded Wreckers in a 2-1 thriller at Brien McMahon’s Jack Casagrande Field.

“Our goal was to get here and obviously playing Staples is always such a great, fun competitive game,” Darien head coach Mo Minicus said. “We wanted nothing more than to beat them and these girls played their hearts out.”

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