Tournaments

Wilton stuns St. Joseph on PKs in second round of states

Freshman goalie Erynn Floyd secured Wilton’s 2-1 upset win over St. Joseph with this save in the second round of penalty kicks. — GretchenMcMahonPhotography.com With six injured starters standing on the sidelines in street clothes and warmup gear, the Wilton High girls soccer team certainly was the underdog in Wednesday’s Class LL second-round game against … Read more

Darien girls soccer eliminates previously-unbeaten Suffield in Class LL playoffs

The Blue Wave has done it again. In the FCIAC tournament, the Wave eliminated the number No. 1 seeded — and previously unbeaten — Staples Wreckers in the quarterfinals. This time, in the second round of the state Class LL tournament,  the No. 18 seed Darien girls varsity soccer team (12-6-2) destroyed another team’s perfect … Read more

Ridgefield girls soccer advances to state quarterfinals

For the rest of the Class LL girls soccer field, it’s a worrisome possibility: The defending champs might be getting more dominant with each game. Powered by three first-half goals, seventh-seed Ridgefield cruised to a 4-0 victory over 10th-seed South Windsor in a second-round state tournament game Wednesday afternoon at Tiger Hollow. “We kept possession; … Read more

Wilton upsets 3-time defending state champion St. Joseph in PKs

TRUMBULL — Losing on penalty kicks is probably the worst way in all of sports for a team’s season to end. And based on the Wilton High girls soccer team’s post-game celebration after its 1-1 (9-8 PK) victory over St. Joseph Wednesday, it just might be the best way to stay alive.

After Wilton’s Ashley Carbonier scored the tying goal with under 12 minutes remaining in regulation, Wilton and St. Joseph battled through two 10-minute overtimes before going to the 10th round of PKs to decide this Class LL second-round game.

And when Wilton’s freshman goalkeeper Erynn Floyd stopped a kick by the Cadets’ Ashley Collins, the Warriors were on their way to the quarterfinals, denying St. Joseph a chance at a fourth-straight state championship.

“You can train the girls and train the girls but in the end they’ve got to be mentally tough to win on PKs,” Wilton coach Renalto Topali said. “The only thing you can control is you and the ball. It’s all about mental toughness.”

The win lifts the 11th seeded Warriors (12-4-3) into a quarterfinal contest at home Friday at 2 p.m. against No. 19 Simsbury.

Click here for more

-----

Trumbull sinks Hamden on penalty kicks in Class LL first round

TRUMBULL—The Trumbull boys soccer team likes doing things the hard way. The Eagles posted quarterfinal and semifinal wins on penalty kicks on their way to the 2018 FCIAC Championship. And on Tuesday night in the rain, 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime weren’t enough for No. 9 seed Trumbull to vanquish a … Read more

Ridgefield girls soccer team begins state title defense with 4-0 win

There was no letdown. Four days after winning its third conference championship in four years, the Ridgefield High girls soccer team began defense of its Class LL state title with a 4-0 victory over Manchester in a first-round game Monday at Tiger Hollow. Ridgefield, the seventh seed, will now host 10th-seed South Windsor in a … Read more

Darien runs down Hall in Class LL volleyball tournament

Darien senior co-captain Cristina Escajadillo gets set to serve up a winner. Dave Stewart photo The Darien volleyball team had a bit of a wake-up call with a first-set loss to the Hall Warriors in the opening round of the Class LL playoffs. In the end, however, the Blue Wave rolled on. Darien responded to … Read more

New Canaan girls soccer routs Conard in Class LL first round

New Canaan’s Kaleigh Harden dribbles the ball between Conard’s Isabela Glynn (2) and Lauren Massaro during the Rams’ 5-0 win in the Class LL playoffs Monday at Dunning Field. — Dave Stewart photo The New Canaan girls soccer team hasn’t had a had a problem with remaining positive this fall. Less than 24 hours after … Read more

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.”

Click here for more

-----