NC Girls U9 Red Defeat Westport White 5-3
Lexie Tully controls the ball during the NC Girls U9 Red win this Sunday against Westport White.
It was a gorgeous Mother’s Day, and the NC Girls U9 Red players were determined to notch another victory, and give their moms one more thing to celebrate.
The Red exploded from the start when Kelly Polacek connected with Lexie Tully, who fired a hard shot into the corner of the goal. Fiona Mueller scored next on a masterful break down the middle and delivered a line drive past Westport’s goalie.
Despite a stellar defensive effort led by Devon Russell and Kathryn Norton, Westport managed to tally two late goals to tie the score at 2-2 at the end of the first half.
In the second half both teams came out gunning for the win, but the NC Red proved to be stronger. They executed superior ball control and an impressive passing game despite a physical Westport who fought hard to advance the ball. Summer Achille was a force on defense taking on multiple players at times, and Maggie Murphy blocked several tough shots on goal.
The NC Red were the first to capitalize in the second half when Tully intercepted a Westport goal kick and beat the goalie to put New Canaan ahead 3-2.
NC remained hungry for the win, and consistently challenged Westport’s defense. Ava Pertusiello scored next with a skillful shot off the left post that was assisted by Isabel Cavanaugh and Tema Wagner.
Westport managed one more goal on a scramble in front of the net, but it would be their last. Norton quickly answered with an impressive breakaway past two defenders to put NC Red up by a final score of 5-3.
***
New Canaan U9 Boys Black Shut Out FUSA Team 4 at Home on Sunday
Co-Captain Nate Markin, Fletcher Heron and Nathan Sieckhaus hold the defensive line. Contributed
Alex Werner, Luke Frame and Nis Tuga anchored the offensive line for New Canaan in a well-played match that saw the hometown boys emerge with a 4-0 win.
At the outset, the teams battled for the ball before Finn Greiner broke away with the ball and passed it to Alex Werner, who scored the first goal.
New Canaan kept the offensive pressure on in the first half with several shots on goal by Co-Captain Matthew Stimpson and Alex Werner.
Thanks to the strong defensive team of Co-Captain Nate Markin, Nathan Sieckhaus, Enzo Fredericks and Fletcher Heron, and goalkeeper Cyrus Pearson, Fairfield did not score and the half ended with New Canaan holding its 1-0 lead.
Determined, New Canaan also dominated the play in the second half.
After an attempt on goal by Alex Werner which hit the post, Enzo Fredericks swiftly took the ball and scored the second goal to give New Canaan a 2-0 lead.
The offensive line in the 2nd half could not be stopped, with Benji Sturcke, Cyrus Pearson and Nate Ehrlich pressuring Fairfield’s defense and goalie. Cyrus Pearson and Nate Ehrlich deftly worked the ball, resulting in a pass to Finn Greiner, who scored the third goal. Fletcher Heron scored the fourth and final goal of the game.
Fantastic teamwork led to a shut out, and U9 Boys Black remains undefeated this Spring season.
Henry Silva, right, of the New Canaan U9 Boys Red soccer team, beats a Monroe player to the ball. New Canaan defeated Monroe 4-1 on Sunday. Contributed
***
New Canaan U9 Boys Red Defeats Monroe 4-1
The New Canaan U9 Boys Red soccer team soundly defeated the Monroe Panthers 4-1 on Sunday, earning the squad’s third consecutive win of the Spring season under Coach Chris Gilligan.
The play was evenly matched for the first 15 minutes of the game, with New Canaan’s defensemen Jaden Oyekanmi, Max Lowe, Ted Werner and Cole Wilson working tirelessly in the hot sun to fend off Monroe’s offense. Monroe got off a few close shots but New Canaan’s goalie Teddy Balkind read every move and was always in position to deflect them.
Finally, New Canaan’s offense changed the momentum when Will Langford and Henry Silva moved the ball into Monroe territory and Augusto Baldini scored off of a pass from Jack Cuda.
Minutes later, Ethan Schubert outran a defender to get the ball to the goal side again, where Jack Cuda took a pass from Teddy Hoffstein and scored the second goal.
Early in the second half, Monroe scored on a breakaway to bring the score to 2-1. But New Canaan’s midfielder Ben Bilden responded with an incredible lofted shot that popped over the head of a defender and into the Monroe goal before the Monroe goalie saw it coming.
Jack Cuda, as fast and agile as ever, received a cross from Connor Lytle and scored the final New Canaan goal, with a blistering shot that the goalie had no chance of saving.
Next week, the team faces Darien.