Whether it was back several decades ago in mid- to late-1980s when Wilton High School had a superstar by the name of Kristine Lilly, or whether it is today, the FCIAC has long had a tradition of strength and quality in girls soccer.
An example of how that tradition is being maintained these days would be the latest Class L/LL rankings in the Girls Soccer State Coaches Poll which was released Monday, Oct. 10.
St. Joseph, the defending state Class L champion, is ranked No. 1 and the Cadets led the strong contingent of four FCIAC teams ranked among the top five.
St. Joseph, which improved to 9-1 with a 2-0 victory at Brien McMahon on Oct. 6, received 12 of the 14 first-place votes.
Second-ranked Cheshire got the other two first-place votes and was followed by three FCIAC teams ranked 3-5.
Staples is ranked No. 3, Fairfield Ludlowe is No. 4, and Ridgefield is No. 5.
Staples High School’s undefeated Wreckers improved to 8-0-3 with their 4-1 victory at Stamford on Oct. 11.
Fairfield Ludlowe improved to 8-2 and ended a two-game losing skid with a 3-0 victory at Stamford on Oct. 7.
Ridgefield improved to 7-1-3 with a 1-0 victory at home over Norwalk on Oct. 11.
After fifth-ranked Ridgefield, the teams ranked 6-9, in order, are Notre Dame-Fairfield, Glastonbury, Wethersfield, and Nonnewaug.
Fairfield Warde is No. 10, the fifth FCIAC team in the Top 10.
Fairfield Warde improved to 8-2-1 with a 4-2 victory at New Canaan on Oct. 11 and was set to take the team bus across town Thursday (Oct. 13) to play crosstown rival Fairfield Ludlowe at Ludlowe’s Taft Field.
That showdown is the first of a few big games in which the five FCIAC teams in the Top 10 play against each other down the homestretch of the regular season.
Those other three upcoming big games, in order of the dates they are scheduled, are No. 1 St. Joseph at No. 5 Ridgefield on Oct. 18, No. 3 Staples at St. Joseph on Oct. 22, and Staples at No. 4 Fairfield Ludlowe on Oct. 25.
The 2022 FCIAC Girls Soccer Tournament begins with the quarterfinals on Oct. 28, a Friday. The semifinals take place the following Tuesday on Nov. 1, and the championship game is scheduled for Nov. 3, a Thursday.