FCIAC – Page 200

Glastonbury reaches fourth Class LL semifinal in five years, defeating Greenwich

November 11, 2018 by Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate

GLASTONBURY—If there is one thing the Glastonbury boys soccer team knows how to do, it is win Class LL quarterfinal games. The No. 8 Tomahawks scored a fluke goal, were outshot by No. 16 Greenwich but did just enough defensively to hold off the Cardinals, winning 1-0. Glastonbury advances to the Class LL semifinals where … Read more

Westhill volleyball sweeps Greenwich, advances to Class LL semifinals

November 11, 2018November 10, 2018 by David Fierro, Greenwich Time

Westhill High School’s Betsy Sachs and Greenwich High School’s Erin O’Keefe meet at the net in the Class LL volleyball quarterfinal played at Westhill. — Scott Mullin/Hearst Connecticut Media photo

STAMFORD — After losing to Trumbull in the championship game of the FCIAC Volleyball Tournament, Westhill was determined to get back on the court and go after a title that’s eluded it for a long time — the Class LL championship.

Three wins later, the Vikings are only two victories away from accomplishing their ultimate goal.

Dictating the points and carrying the momentum from the outset, third-seeded Westhill registered a convincing 3-0 victory over 11th-seeded Greenwich in the CIAC Class LL Tournament quarterfinals.

The host Vikings advanced to the Class LL semifinals, where they will face either Amity or Cheshire on Wednesday. Westhill (22-3) won Saturday’s matchup against the Cardinals by set scores of 25-15, 25-17, 25-20.

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Staples’ set-piece goals key vs. Trumbull in quarterfinals

November 9, 2018 by Mike Cardillo, GametimeCT

WESTPORT — Stick around soccer long enough and invariably you’ll hear a coach or pundit waxing poetic about the value of set pieces — especially in knockout games. The Staples girls soccer team found this out the hard way last season, losing to Ridgefield in the Class LL final on a pair of goals from … Read more

Muir tosses five touchdowns as No. 2 Greenwich tops Danbury

November 9, 2018 by Ryan Lacey, GametimeCT

DANBURY — Heavy rain threatened to change the approach that Greenwich has brought to every game so far, with its high-flying passing attack possibly taking a back seat to a more conservative ground attack. That plan went out the window early, though. Gavin Muir tossed five touchdowns — including two to Lance Large — as … Read more

Staples routs Stamford, keeps playoff hopes alive entering Thanksgiving game with Greenwich

November 9, 2018 by Nick Veronica, GametimeCT

WESTPORT — Staples entered Friday eighth in the CIAC Class LL playoff point rankings, slotted for the final postseason berth with two games remaining. Pounding fellow Class LL school Stamford on Friday night, 37-0, was important and necessary, but the Wreckers know playoff qualification will come down to their regular-season finale on Thanksgiving against Greenwich, … Read more

Ridgefield beats Darien, 1-0, advances to state semis

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018 by Tim Murphy, Ridgefield Press

Carolyn Donovan (center, shown in a game earlier this season) and the Ridgefield High girls soccer team are headed to the state semifinals. — Andy Hutchison photo Whenever the Ridgefield High girls soccer team scores first, head coach Iain Golding usually notices a spike in his confidence level. It’s what happens when you have a … Read more

Defending champion Ridgefield edges Darien to reach state semifinals

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018 by Tim Murphy, Danbury News-Times

RIDGEFIELD — Whenever the Ridgefield High girls soccer team scores first, head coach Iain Golding usually notices a spike in his confidence level. It’s what happens when you have a defense that concedes less often than Florida politicians.

But Golding found himself unable to exhale after Tasha Riek’s goal less than three minutes into the second half staked seventh-seed Ridgefield to a 1-0 lead and eventual win over No. 18 Darien in Friday afternoon’s Class LL state tournament game at Tiger Hollow.

“Darien was putting us under a lot of pressure,” said Golding, whose team improved to 19-2-1. “I wasn’t feeling as good as I normally do when we get the first goal. I was still nervous.”

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O’Connell, New Canaan run away from Ludlowe in the rain

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018 by Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate

FAIRFIELD — In the Class LL standings, state powerhouse New Canaan and upstart Ludlowe were only separated by a few points heading into Friday’s showdown.

After watching the game, it is clear the gap is still fairly wide between the two on the field.

In a driving rain storm, Ludlowe hung in the game for most of the first half before New Canaan pulled away for a 41-7 win at Taft Field.

The win means New Canaan (7-2) is still alive in Class LL, though it will likely have to beat No. 1 Darien on Thanksgiving to get in.

The loss eliminates Ludlowe (6-3) from playoff contention but does not diminish the turnaround of the program this fall with a game against town rival Warde looming on Thanksgiving.

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Danbury hangs on against Naugatuck, advances to Class LL quarterfinals

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018 by Scott Ericson, GametimeCT

DANBURY — It was not pretty but at this point in the season, there are no points for style. No. 6 Danbury scored eight minutes into the game then held on as No. 11 Naugatuck did all it could to tie the game over the final 20 minutes of play. In the end, Danbury escaped … Read more

Greenwich upsets top-seeded Xavier in OT, advances to face LL defending champ Glastonbury

November 9, 2018 by Paul Augeri, GametimeCT

MIDDLETOWN — The postseason is not a time for a team to lose its sense of urgency. Yet it happened with Xavier on Thursday and spelled the end to the Falcons’ 17-win soccer season. After a scoreless regulation, Greenwich broke through on Christopher Cruz’s goal in the 82nd minute to beat the top-seeded Falcons 1-0 … Read more