News

Champions Once Again: NC Boys Lax Defeats Daniel Hand for 2nd Consecutive Year to Defend CIAC Class M Title

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Going into this season, New Canaan head coach Chip Buzzeo knew that despite graduating an incredibly talented class of 23 seniors the prior year—a class whose final victory as Rams was a Class M state championship—that his squad, led by its 15 seniors, could put together a repeat performance and cap its season off with another title win. And on Saturday afternoon at Jack Casagrande Field in Norwalk, the top-seeded Rams (17-4) made their coach’s belief in them come to fruition when they defeated the No. 6 seed Daniel Hand Tigers (10-6 regular season) for the second consecutive year in the finals, 13-2, to retain the Class M title. “This is my fourth year with this senior class,” Buzzeo told NewCanaanite.com. “It’s the first time that I’ve had four years with a group.

News

‘A Win’s a Win’: NC Boys Lax Pulls Out Close Contest, 8-7, vs. Fairfield Prep

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Coming off a terrific, 9-8, win over Loyola Blakefield down in Towson, Md. on Saturday, many wondered how New Canaan Boys Lacrosse would follow such a feat when they stepped onto the turf of Dunning Stadium for the first time in 2016. And while it started off great, with five first-quarter goals from five different contributors, 10 penalties and both forced and unforced turnovers pinned New Canaan (2-0) into a nail-biter versus Fairfield Prep (1-1). Ultimately, the Rams were able to thwart the Jesuits’ comeback attempt and leave with an 8-7 victory—thanks in large part to some outstanding goaltending from junior Drew Morris and stellar defense from those in front of him. “Last year we lost a game like that, where we had too many turnovers and penalties, and we were upset with ourselves,” head coach Chip Buzzeo told NewCanaanite.com. “Today the same thing happens and we pull out a win. It’s a good sign that we pulled out the win—especially against another great team like Fairfield Prep. But you’re a hundred percent right.

News

Reloaded and Ready: 2016 New Canaan Boys Lax Preview

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It was a season that many of those who either were part of, or witnessed, the 2015 New Canaan Boys Lacrosse team (13-3, 10-1 FCIAC) will not soon forget—a year that culminated in a Class M State Championship. On a team that had 23 seniors, including All-American attackmen Michael Kraus and Justin Meichner; outstanding defensemen in Frank Cognetta, Logan Hart, Sterling O’Hara, Liam Harris, and Chris Keeffe; midfielders Owen Toland and Max Begoon, as well as face-off specialist, Teddy Dumbauld, the 2015 Rams were blessed with some of the finest senior talent in the history of the boys lacrosse program. But while those guys will be missed by their former coaches and teammates, Rams Head Coach Chip Buzzeo has his 2016 roster reloaded and ready to repeat. “It was great to end last year with a state championship,” Buzzeo told NewCanaanite.com. “We’re going to miss those guys.

Around Town

Collins Sets State TD Mark as New Canaan Football Beats Notre Dame-West Haven in Class L Semifinals

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After two uncharacteristically shaky performances in the past two games, the big question heading into Monday night’s Class L semifinal at Dunning Field between New Canaan and Notre Dame-West Haven was: “Will the real Michael Collins show up?”

It only took one snap to get the answer. On New Canaan’s first offensive play, the New Canaan quarterback threw a 79-yard touchdown pass deep over the middle to a wide-open Kyle Smith, setting the tone for the rest of the game and leading the Rams to a 51-27 win over the No. 7 Green Knights. “We were just glad to get him back,” New Canaan head Coach Lou Marinelli told NewCanaanite.com. “People were really concerned, but this week he came back strong.

Sports

Déjà Vu All Over Again: Darien Football Edges New Canaan 28-21 for FCIAC Championship

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Leave it to the career state record holder to leave his mark when it counted the most. With Darien leading New Canaan 28-21 in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter of the 2015 FCIAC Championship at Stamford’s Boyle Stadium, Darien defensive end Mark Evanchick dropped Rams quarterback Michael Collins for his first sack of the game, forcing a turnover on downs and all but clinching the conference title for the Blue Wave. The Rams would get one more shot to tie the game, but a New Canaan fumble was recovered by Darien at midfield with 1:08 left in the game, sealing the championship for the Wave. It was the second consecutive year the Blue Wave topped the Rams for the FCIAC title, having won last year’s contest by the same 28-21 score. It was also Darien’s fourth straight Turkey Bowl win, as New Canaan has not won the annual Thanksgiving Day matchup since 2011. “We hadn’t really been tested, but we were tested today,” Darien head coach Rob Trifone told NewCanaanite.com.