FCIAC

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

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

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

Defending champion Greenwich tops Ludlowe in Class LL volleyball second round

FAIRFIELD — Though Greenwich graduated a number of players from last season’s squad, which captured the Class LL girls volleyball championship, a group of athletes on this year’s team experienced the thrill of one of the program’s greatest victories in 2017 and they’re hoping to relive that moment. After two rounds of action in the … Read more

Darien’s comeback tops Newtown volleyball in Class LL

NEWTOWN—The Darien High School girls volleyball team had taken their season to the brink.

Here in the second round of the Class LL Tournament, the Blue Wave was in Game 4 staring at five match points for No. 5 seed and host Newtown. The Nighthawks had already beaten Darien twice in the regular season.

But the word surrender isn’t in the Darien volleyball lexicon.

The Blue Wave came back to forge a 24-24 deadlock and eventually take Game 4 by 29-27.

Finally given a chance to exhale, Darien took Game 5 to cap an amazing 25-21, 25-27, 21-25, 29-27, 15-11 road triumph Thursday night.

“It was a nervewracking spot down 24-19. But we’ve learned to let our troubles go and rise to the occasion,” said Darien senior tri-captain Lindsay Bennett.

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Lesko, No. 12 Trumbull knock off No. 4 Shelton, advance to Class LL quarterfinals

SHELTON — The depth of the FCIAC in girls soccer was on full display Wednesday in the Class LL state tournament second round. The state’s top conference in the sport filled five of the eight spots in the quarterfinals. That includes No. 12 seed Trumbull, which knocked out No. 4 Shelton 3-1 Wednesday night at … Read more

Greenwich advances in Class LL with win over Shelton

GREENWICH—Greenwich senior Shoki Araki never forgot the mistake he made in the 2016 Class LL quarterfinals which he felt cost his team the game against Shelton.

Araki can now focus on another memory against Shelton in the state tournament.

Less than two minutes into the second half, Araki pounced on a ball misplayed by the Shelton keeper, scoring the first goal of the game.

The Cardinals would tack on another goal late as No. 16 Greenwich defeated No. 17 Shelton in the opening round of the CIAC Class LL boys soccer tournament Wednesday at Cardinal Stadium.

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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