FCIAC

Ludlowe winning as it rebuilds, faces New Canaan in key clash in state playoff race

To say Ludlowe football was at a low point in 2016 is kind of underselling it.

The team went 0-10 , playing in front of mostly empty bleachers with a roster that resembled that of a Class S school rather than the LL school Ludlowe is.

In fact, when Mitchell Ross took over as coach in 2017, he inherited a roster of 22 players.

Total.

He was able to add a few players through in-school recruitment and the team won a game in his first season though they still finished as the last-place team in Class LL at 1-9.

This preseason, the roster is topping out at close to 100 players.

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Staples girls soccer tops Warde in Class LL opener

WESTPORT — A small part of it was redemption. But more importantly, it was another chance to chase greatness.

The Staples High girls soccer team took its first step forward in the Class LL tournament Monday by nipping a stubborn Warde squad 2-1 in first-round action at Wakeman Field.

No. 5 seed Staples (14-1-3 overall) had been upset 2-0 in double overtime by No. 8 seed Darien in the recent FCIAC playoff quarterfinals.

“Our girls were disappointed after the Darien game, our first loss in 17 games,” Staples coach Barry Beattie said. “The girls learned a lesson the hardest way possible. Darien deserved that win. We had to put the enjoyment back into playing soccer. They had to put the smiles back on their faces.”

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Wilton overcomes early deficit to beat Ludlowe

WILTON — Just four and a half minutes into its state tournament opener, the Wilton girls soccer team found itself trailing.

Fairfield Ludlowe found the back of the net as the 22nd-seeded Falcons were looking to upset the 11th-seeded Warriors on their home field.

“I think I was surprised and I didn’t expect it,” Wilton standout Ally Dejana said of the early deficit. “We got off to a bit of a slow start but we really picked it up.”

Dejana, however, scored the next two goals, helping carry Wilton to a 2-1 victory over FCIAC foe Fairfield Ludlowe in a CIAC Class LL state tournament first-round game in a steady rain on Monday afternoon at Lilly Field.

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St. Joseph shuts out Westhill

TRUMBULL — An overtime loss to Ridgefield last week in the FCIAC semifinals left the St. Joseph girls soccer team with seven days to practice — and stew over that defeat — before the Class LL tournament commenced.

On Monday afternoon, St. Joseph took out that frustration on Westhill in the Class LL first round.

The Cadets dominated in all facets, scoring six times in the first half en route to a 6-0 victory on a chilly, wet afternoon. Sixth-seeded St. Joseph moves on to host No. 11 Wilton — a 2-1 winner over No. 22 Fairfield Ludlowe — in the second round on Wednesday.

“I had a sense we would come out and play well, only because how we practiced after the Ridgefield game,” St. Joseph coach Jack Nogueira said. “We were a little hungrier. I didn’t think it would be 6-0, but I thought we would play very, very well.”

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Trumbull cruises to win over Cheshire

TRUMBULL — After stewing over their tough FCIAC first-round playoff loss for the last 10 days, the Trumbull High Eagles figured they deserved at least a soothing 10-minute break during halftime of Monday’s Class LL first round girls soccer game against Cheshire.

Thanks to Erin Melia’s goal, set up beautifully by Simone Dewar 34 seconds before intermission, the Eagles got their wish.

“The third goal (giving Trumbull a 3-1 lead before halftime) was massive for us,” Trumbull’s first-year coach Rich Sutherland said after his team’s 5-1 victory. “At 2-1, it’s a tough game. At 3-1 it changed the game and had (Cheshire) hanging their heads. It was a good time for us to score.”

With Skylar Jorge scoring three goals, including two by penalty kick, the 13th seed Eagles (12-6) advanced to Wednesday’s second-round game at No. 4 Shelton at 2 p.m. The win helped erase the memory of Trumbull’s 4-0 FCIAC quarterfinal loss to eventual champ Ridgefield back on Oct. 26.

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No. 2 Trumbull sweeps No. 1 Westhill in FCIAC volleyball final

The Trumbull Eagles celebrate a point during their 3-0 victory over Westhill in the FCIAC championship match Saturday at Fairfield-Ludlowe HS, — Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media photo

FAIRFIELD — Making history was the mission. And nothing was going to stand in the way of the Trumbull High School girls volleyball team from finishing the job.

The No. 2 seeded Eagles soared to a 25-22, 25-22, 25-13 victory over No. 1 seed Westhill High Saturday afternoon before a raucous capacity crowd at the Ludlowe High gym to capture their first-ever FCIAC Championship.

“It was 20 years since a Trumbull girls volleyball team even reached the FCIAC final,” Trumbull’s sophomore setter Ali Castro said. “Knowing we are the first Trumbull High girls volleyball team to capture an FCIAC title. That’s history that will stay with us forever.”

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Stamford outlasts Bridgeport Central in defensive clash

STAMFORD—At this point in the season a win is a win and the Stamford High football team will take them anyway they can.

Saturday at Boyle Stadium the Black Knights escaped a defensive struggle against Bridgeport Central with a 7-0 victory.

It was Stamford’s second win on the season while Central remains the only team in the FCIAC without a victory.

While neither offense was able to get going, it was the defenses for both teams shining.

“Getting the shutout feels good,” Stamford defensive back Daniel Simms said. “We were getting put in bad situations by our offense but (the defense) executed the whole time. We had a good shutout. We tried to stop the run first because they every time they threw the ball it was basically a 50/50 ball, so, we tried to stop them from running.”

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Trumbull overcomes early deficit to beat Westhill

Trumbull High football coach Marce Petrocchio said that the first quarter Friday against Westhill “took 10 years off my life.” Fortunately for Marce, the rest of the game probably restored those 10 years.

With Adam Tolk having a great all-around game, quarterback Colton Nicholas passing for 264 yards and two touchdowns and running back Corey Osborne rushing for 130 yards and a score, Trumbull reached .500 with a 35-15 victory.

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Ridgefield edges upstart New Canaan for 3rd FCIAC girls soccer title in four years

Claire Middlebrook and the rest of the Ridgefield Tigers’ senior girls soccer players are quite accustomed to being in the winner’s circle. So it’s fitting that they’ll go out the way they came in as freshmen — FCIAC champions. After having their two-year reign atop the conference end last fall, the Tigers are back on … Read more