Youth Soccer Roundup: New Canaan Boys and Girls Best Darien and Greenwich

Note: The following summaries and photos are from parents of the New Canaan Soccer Association. NC Girls U11 Red Deliver 6-1 Victory in Strong Season Opener

The New Canaan U11 girls red travel soccer team hosted Greenwich on Sunday to start the season. Despite a steady stream of shots on goal from New Canaan’s offense, Greenwich was the first to score following a breakaway driven shot that tipped off a player to roll into the net 15 minutes into the game. New Canaan soon recovered when Ava Gizzie intercepted a Greenwich attempted pass in front of its goal and blasted it deep into the top right of the net to end the first half tied 1-1. The second half brought out an energized New Canaan team that sizzled a wilting Greenwich squad in the afternoon heat.

Youth Soccer: New Canaan Red U-9 Girls Team Trumps Trumbull 7-1

The New Canaan Red U-9 Girls soccer team may have set the tone for the season with a dominating 7-1 victory in their debut pre-season friendly against Trumbull United U-9G Thunder. The game began slowly as both sides shook off the cobwebs of summer and sought to establish their positions in early play. Trumbull took advantage of the early confusion and scored a quick goal in the 10th minute from the scrimmage in front of the NC Red goal. Ignited by the early goal, NC Red struck back in the 16th minute with Sydney Patten finding Madeline “Maddie” Tully on a beautiful cross through traffic which she promptly lifted above the Trumbull keeper’s head. After several more offensive thrusts on goal by the NC Red team, Maddie Tully broke from midfield traffic, drove up the right side of the pitch and rocketed a shot off the far post to take a 2-1 lead.

Youth Soccer Roundup: Strong Finish for New Canaan U9 Girls Red; New Canaan U9 Boys Black Win; U13 Girls Red Finish Season Unbeaten

New Canaan Ties Fairfield 3-3

On Saturday the New Canaan Girls U9 Red faced off against Fairfield Team-1 in the peak afternoon heat. Both teams battled for control of the ball, but it was New Canaan that struck first. Lexie Tully intercepted a Fairfield throw in and delivered a beautiful cross to Ava Pertusiello who fired a shot to the low left corner of the net. The Red scored again off a corner kick from Lila Volpe. Tully saved the ball from going out of bounds and connected with Pertusiello in front of the net, who launched a high shot to the top right corner of the goal.

Friday Evening: Women’s World Cup ‘Viewing Picnic’ Planned for Pop Up Park

Though plans to install the Pop Up Park downtown permanently through the summer have been indefinitely suspended, one local organization is moving forward—with blessings from all parties—with a Women’s World Cup “viewing picnic” to be held Friday evening at South Avenue between Morse Court and Elm Street. The New Canaan Soccer Association is encouraging locals to wear red, white and blue and attend the event that it organized and for which it secured town approval last month. Three big-screen TVs will air Australia vs. Nigeria at 5 p.m., followed by the United States vs. Sweden at 8 p.m.

“Please bring your own food and drink,” the association says.

Youth Soccer Roundup: U9 and U13 Girls Red, U9 Girls Black Teams Notch Weekend Wins

New Canaan Girls U9 Red Soccer Defeat Westport Blue 3-1

Looking to avenge their only loss last year, the New Canaan Girls U9 Red Soccer Team traveled to Westport on Sunday and played to win. From the start both teams fought hard for possession and it was clear to New Canaan that they needed to be physical and intense to get on the scoreboard. Lexie Tully struck first when she charged up the right sideline and fired a bullet despite pressure from several Westport defenders. On defense, Maggie Murphy, Devon Russell, and Fiona Mueller were tenacious, and turned back Westport’s multiple attacks on goal. Kelly Polacek masterly protected the net, and made many tough saves to keep New Canaan ahead.