Updated FCIAC state tournament schedule and scoreboard

November 10, 2018November 10, 2018 by Dave Stewart

The FCIAC will have 42 teams in action as the CIAC’s soccer, volleyball, and field hockey tournaments get underway this week. Scores will be updated here as the games are completed. Scroll down for previous rounds. Saturday, Nov. 10 Boys Soccer – Class LL Quarterfinals • Click here for the complete bracket East Hartford 1, … Read more

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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State Open Cross Country: Danbury girls complete triple crown, FCIAC runners star at meet

November 9, 2018November 9, 2018 by Bob Greeney

MANCHESTER – All five of those finishing surges, every final kick to either outkick another runner or hold off an oncoming runner, and all the accompanying physical pain Danbury’s first five runners had to tough it out with while running up the long hill and into the Wickham Park finishing chute at the CIAC State … Read more

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