Connecticut 2022

[random observer]

As a follow up on NC's 10-5 win over Rumson-Fair Haven down in NJ, that same RFH just lost to undefeated IMG in OT tonight after leading the whole game. This team has been a really pleasant surprise given the low expectations coming into the year, and they're pretty young. If only they'd been able to hold onto the lead against Radnor for the out of state sweep...

[justanotherperson]

Simsbury had a run of several years with strong teams but never really could get past the big boys in L in the tournament. Towns like Cheshire, Glastonbury, Simsbury, even Avon as a smaller one certainly don’t lack for money. The Burys do well in many sports, both are soccer powers. There are a ton of strong lax private schools in the area that kids can go to as day students. Plenty of FCIAC kids go to West-1 of course but primarily have to board, I think this keeps more home in the case of parents not wanting their kids to leave the house at 14. In that north-central part of the state, you can easily go day at 4 or 5 West-1 schools, I think that plays a role in their losing a lot of kids.

Did some digging for historical successful teams East of Route 8 / North of 691 or 84 (state switched from Class 1/2 to Class L/M/S in 2006)

Somers: Champions Class S (2016, 2017) and Class 2 (1996, 1997), Runner-up Class S (2006, 2012, 2018)
Cheshire: Champions Class L (2010) and Class 1 (2002)
South Windsor: Champion Class 1 (1999) and Runner Up Class 2 (1995, 1996)
Xavier: Champion Class 2 (1998)
Simsbury: Runner up Class L (2009, 2016)
East Catholic: Runner up Class S (2021)
Glastonbury: Runner up Class 1 (2002, 2003)
Avon: Runner up Class 2 (1997)

That is it folks. Only 4 champions and 8 runner ups

[Dave]

NH State Champion and perennial power house Bishop Guertin to play Staples on Saturday...Staples still the clear favorite

[random observer]

Staples appears to have come back to earth a bit. Lost a tough won at Iona Prep on Tuesday 14-13 in OT. Disappointing in that much like against Wilton they went up big in the first quarter and let them back in it. Staples made some sloppy errors as the game went on but I wouldn't classify this as a game they just threw away -- Iona Prep looked really good. I think they're a much better program than most people realize (beat Chaminade last year, lost to them 9-8 this year). Followed that up with a 15-10 loss at Darien today that felt closer than the score. They were controlling the tempo and playing very clean lacrosse for the most of the game, and had a 9-7 lead halfway through the third quarter. Then Darien made a surge and the Wreckers fell apart. The backbreaker came at 11-9 early in the fourth quarter when the Staples goalie lost control of the ball as he was moving to clear and put it in his own net. There's work to be done but I still think this team will be right there come the postseason; they need to clean up the defense a bit. Best seems to be back at full strength and he looked very good. Offensively they don't have as much star power as Darien or Ridgefield but they are deeper.

Darien looked similar to the way they've looked for most of the season. The defense is talented but has porous stretches where the slides aren't buttoned up. On offense they are careless at times but potent, if not deep. Guys like Minicus, Alliegro, and Pokorny get a lot of (deserved) accolades, but more and more it looks like Cesare is the engine of this offense. He had 3G and 6A today out of the midfield, and he is also very effective defensively (he stripped IL's #3 senior Joey Terenzi to clinch the win against Manhasset last week). I have difficulty evaluating the goalie because he plays with a very unorthodox style; he doesn't react to the ball at all and instead tries to guess where the shooter is going and use his frame to cut down angles. Like against Manhasset he made the stops he absolutely had to make, but I'd say both Darien and Staples are more vulnerable to a cold day in goal than Wilton, NC, and Ridgefield. Tighe Cummiskey held his own against Dodge and keeping him healthy will be critical for this team.

Elsewhere Fairfield Prep finally came out on the right side of a big game, beating NC 6-5. They were more convincing than the scoreline, as they hit a bunch of pipes and the NC goalie made a ton of saves. The Rams were thoroughly outpossessed and struggled to find rhythm offensively. I think there offense has the potential to be hit or miss, but the defense will keep them in any game.

Wilton beat Fairfield Ludlowe 11-4. I don't have any color but that is a good showing. Masterson appears to be back.

And lastly, Cheshire is up 9-8 on Fairfield Prep going into the fourth quarter as we speak.

[Blue White]

Prep 12 Cheshire 11

Fake news on Masterson, he's not back or at least was not for the Ludlowe game. Coach was quoted as hoping he'd be back by the end of the season.

Game of the weekend looks like Ridgefield v New Canaan. Rams possession, defense key against a healthy Ridge. Anyone know of a stream for it?

[Gshep40]

https://www.youtube.com/c/RHSAthletics/videos

Not the greatest video stream but at least you can follow the game.

[random observer]

Prep 12 Cheshire 11

Fake news on Masterson, he's not back or at least was not for the Ludlowe game. Coach was quoted as hoping he'd be back by the end of the season.

Game of the weekend looks like Ridgefield v New Canaan. Rams possession, defense key against a healthy Ridge. Anyone know of a stream for it?

Mea culpa. It appears my source was mistaken.

[Blue White]

https://www.youtube.com/c/RHSAthletics/videos

Not the greatest video stream but at least you can follow the game.

Thank you!

[jmct]

https://www.youtube.com/c/RHSAthletics/videos

Not the greatest video stream but at least you can follow the game.

Thank you!

Ridgefield 13, New Canaan 5. Final. New Canaan had a significant edge at the X, which continues to be Ridgefield’s Achilles’ heel. But Ridgefield’s goalie played well.

[random observer]

Darien falls 12-10 at Brunswick. The game played out similarly to the first matchup in 2019, where Brunswick built a big lead and Darien rallied to make it tight. This time Brunswick delivered the big blow much earlier, going up 7-0 after one quarter. I can't decide if the final score was a fair reflection or if it flattered Darien; they only pulled it back to 2 goals in the final minute, but they had a number of quality looks during the final 6 minutes that they just missed on. All in all they showed great resolve going toe-to-toe with, and then taking it to the #2 team in the country after an abysmal first quarter. Brunswick is at the pinnacle of high school lacrosse right now, and it would take a vintage Wave team to beat them. This Darien team is good but not on the level of the program's best ones.

I thought this was the best they played defensively all year. In the past matchups Darien protected the interior whilst relying on Demopoulos to be a wall from outside. I figured if they did that this time it would be a recipe for disaster given the current goalie's weakness is to outside shots and Brunswick has terrific midfield shooters. But the Wave did a good job of protecting the perimeter and forcing Brunswick into the kinds of shots that Weibel (who has improved since the start of the season) wanted to see. In 2019 and 2021 Brunswick nearly doubled up Darien in total shots, but this time Darien actually had one more shot in the official tally. The Wave also made great adjustments after the first quarter, double poling the midfield and holding the Brunswick offense in check from that point on. Another bright spot was face-off play against an elite FOGO; much like against Staples, Cummiskey adjusted after a poor first half and dominated the second half. I think if Darien can replicate the last three quarters (particularly on the defensive end), they'll have a good chance against St. Anthony's tomorrow.

[Kismet]

Game also played with NCAA rules (and a shot clock) which Darien has not played all year.

[DCIII]

Shot clock was actually a huge help to Darien's 4th quarter run (6 goals). Would not have been possible if Brunswick had been able to run out the clock. Stupid Brunswick penalties also helped...(5 man-up goals).

[random observer]

There were a few times were it looked like Darien got into their sets a little slow because they weren't used to the timer, but on the whole I would definitely agree that the shot clock was to their benefit. I don't think they will ever complain about playing with a shot clock after Ridgefield ended their record winning streak with a perfectly executed stall-based gameplan.

Big day for CT in out of state matchups today:

Fairfield Prep takes down Boston College High School 13-8. Solid convincing win over one of the best publics in Mass. Prep started slow but seems to be picking up steam a lot like last year. They returned a lot but people tend to overlook that this is still a young team.

Ridgefield put a 19-6 beating on Briarcliff to cement that they are fully healthy and clicking. For comparison Briarcliff's other losses were 15-6 to St. Anthony's and 11-8 to SWR -- both nationally ranked. Their 15-4 win over Rye earlier in the year looks pretty decent as well given Rye took down nationally ranked CSH 7-3. Really wish they could have been at full strength for the Manhasset game, but they'll at least get second chances against Darien and Wilton.

Darien bounced back from the disappointment of the Brunswick game to beat St. Anthony's 19-18 in a wild finish. Both offenses were locked in despite the rain, and none of the goalies on either side saw the ball well. Darien made a goalie change late in the third, and after letting in the first few shots he saw, the sophomore Hagen made 3-4 big saves in the fourth quarter to turn the tide. I think he earned a chance to start the next game. Darien was up 7-5 after one quarter, and then St. Anthony's methodically seized control of the game over the next 2 and a half quarters. St. Anthony's was up 18-14 late and the game seemed beyond doubt. But Darien scored 5 straight in the final two and a half minutes, with Alliegro scoring the winner with one second left.

[fritz44]

Wilton beat New Canaan last night 6-4. The stream from NFHS Network wasn't the best quality but it looked like Wilton was without Masterson and Caleb Rath, their 2 best midfielders. Both goalies and defenses played very well and Wilton was only able to break away in the final half of the 4th quarter with a flurry of 3 goals to take the score from 3-4 to 6-4.

The officiating wasn't fantastic but the bad calls were evenly distributed between the teams for the most part. Hopefully Wilton can get healthy again, both John Jay and Greenwich could threaten Wilton if the warriors maintain their currently hobbled lineup and don't play their best games. A Lot of CT teams haven't been able to show their skills while at full strength against out of state competition this season.

[JJDolan2020]

Excited for the Prep vs. Delbarton game next week. The Jesuits seem to have gotten in a groove since the win over New Canaan and Delby will be a great litmus test for them heading into the post-season. Looks like Delbarton beat Chaminade earlier this year, a team that I felt like Prep should have beaten...Fun season for all so far!

[CT Transplant]

Due to the unfortunate circumstances in Shelton on Saturday night involving Prep students,this weeks games will be cancelled/ postponed.

[justanotherperson]

Due to the unfortunate circumstances in Shelton on Saturday night involving Prep students,this weeks games will be cancelled/ postponed.

Just so sad. An unthinkable tragedy. The Brunswick hockey player and this makes a tough year for Fairfield County sports.

[fritz44]

Darien barely survives Greenwich 9-8 in double OT. Darien has had a bad habit of playing down to the level of their competition this season. NC was able to capitalize against them. But against Yorktown and Greenwich Darien barely escaped against teams they should, on paper be blowing out.

[Matnum PI]

[CTlaxfan1]

The FCIAC tournament field is set. The semi finals are setting for a great rematch of a healthy Ridgefield vs Darien. The game is at noon at Darien High School. Of course, Ridgefield needs to get by Greenwich to play Darien. That could also be a good game.