Sports

Sweeney Scores 1,000th Point; New Canaan Falls to St. Joe’s

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Tyler Sweeney would be the first person to tell you he’d trade every point he’s ever scored for a win. The New Canaan senior basketball star has seen more than his share of personal success over his four-year career—success that unfortunately hasn’t translated into wins for the Rams.

Even so, Sweeney—as he has been every game since cracking the New Canaan lineup as a freshman—was a huge bright spot in the Rams 58-42 Senior Night loss to St. Joe’s, netting the 1,000th point of his career. Sweeney became the first century scorer at New Canaan since the great Monroe Trout hit the mark in the 1979-80 season. He is only the fourth 1,000-point scorer in NCHS boys basketball history joining Wilky Gimore, Bill Saunders and Trout in that exclusive club (former girls basketball star Sara Mannelly also scored 1,000 points for the Rams).

Sports

‘It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This’: 2016 New Canaan Rams Football Preview

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For the first time in recent memory, the New Canaan Rams will be heading into their season without a defined quarterback situation. It’s a scenario that may be amplified for the Rams—who will look to defend their three consecutive Class L State Championships—given the graduation of All-State signal caller Michael Collins, who has taken his considerable talents to the University of Pennsylvania this fall. It’s not that New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli lacks choices. In fact, as many as eight QB’s were in the running for the starting job through the summer—a talent pool that has been whittled down to five as New Canaan’s opening game against Trinity Catholic approaches this Saturday. “We’ve started all over again,” Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com.

Sports

Keshin, Kane Lead New Canaan Softball Over Ridgefield

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Molly Keshin has hit lots of home runs in her two-and-a-half years with the New Canaan Rams. In fact, the junior catcher’s six homers coming into Friday’s game at Ridgefield High School were the most in program history. Perhaps none were bigger than number seven. Keshin’s three-run blast in the third inning gave New Canaan a lead it would not relinquish as the Rams picked up a huge 4-3 win over the Tigers. With the win, New Canaan improved to 7-5 overall and 6-3 in a tight FCIAC playoff race. Meanwhile the Tigers, who came into Friday’s contest having won seven of their last eight games, fell to 8-4 and 5-3 in the FCIAC.

Sports

New Canaan Boys Basketball Falls to Wilton 62-47

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From convincing to confounding. Just two days removed from a nearly flawless blowout win over Bridgeport Central, the New Canaan Rams dug themselves into an early hole Wednesday night at Wilton’s Zeoli Field House, ultimately falling to the Warriors 62-47. New Canaan (4-14, 3-11 FCIAC) couldn’t get things going offensively in the early going, trailing 14-4 after one quarter and 29-12 at the half.  Wilton built a 20 point lead early in the second half, as the Warriors completely out-worked the Rams on the offensive glass, leading to multiple second-chance scores. The Rams fought back, eventually pulling to within 49-41 with just under 4 minutes left to play in the fourth. Wilton, however, reeled off an 8-1 run to put the game away, earning a huge win in terms of FCIAC post-season positioning and foiling New Canaan’s hopes of playing spoiler.

Around Town

New Canaan Football Tops Ludlowe 42-7, Clinches Berths in FCIAC Championship Game and Class L Playoffs

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The New Canaan Rams scored six touchdowns in the first quarter and cruised the rest of the way en route to a 42-7 victory over the Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons Friday night at Dunning Field. With the win, the Rams (8-0) punched their ticket to the FCIAC Championship game for the third consecutive year, also earning a spot in the Class L State playoffs. “This has been our goal from the beginning of the year,” New Canaan head coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “To get back to the FCIAC championship game and put ourselves in a position to play for a State, so we’re right where we want to be.” The Rams were led once again by quarterback Michael Collins, who followed up last week’s record-setting performance against Trumbull by completing 12 of 19 passes for 220 yards and five touchdowns against the Falcons (2-6), all in just one quarter of action. New Canaan senior running back Matt Cognetta also had a big night, scoring the game’s first touchdown with a 53-yard run.