The following write-ups and photos came in from New Canaan Youth Field Hockey and the New Canaan Soccer Association. If you have game summaries and photos to share, please email mike@newcanaanite.com.
Field Hockey
8th Grade Red Shuts Out Fairfield 1-0
The 8th grade Youth Field Hockey Red team’s Campbell Connors (#3) fights to get ball from Fairfield with players in position to attack the goal. Also pictured: #7 Katie Cutler, #45 Sarah Murphy, #28 Catherine Bopp and #9 Sadie Seelert. Contributed photo
On an unseasonably hot late September day, 8th grade Red took on an aggressive Fairfield field hockey team. The offense of Brielle Connelly, Katie Cutler and Sadie Seelert applied pressure throughout the entire first half. Megan Mitchell and Sarah Murphy helped with keeping the ball from getting past the mid field line. Nice passing from Campbell Connors and Grace Ruksznis in front of the goal allowed Katie Tan to take a shot and score the one and only goal of the game.
Fairfield came out swinging in the second half. They kept defensive players Celia Sokolowski and Caroline O’Dea busy with some nice stick work to advance the ball to forwards Olivia Flaherty Lovy and Katie Jahns, who had some nice runs taking the ball to the net. Catherine Bopp had a beautiful shot on net that Fairifield saved before the game ended in a 1-0 win for 8 Red.
5/6 Black Falls 2-1 to Westport
5-6 White Youth Field Hockey team. Contributed photo
On a bright sunny day that felt more like August than late September, the New Canaan 5/6 Black field hockey team played against Westport at home. Early in the game New Canaan had possession several times and a drive by Westport was abruptly halted by Ellie Luciano, who brought the ball all the way downfield. A drive up the right side by Ingrid Weissman, with help from Caroline Sibbett and Dakota DeFrancesco kept the Black team in possession for much of the early half, but the New Canaan squad was unable to score.
Just past the midpoint of the half, Westport was able to score, then in rapid succession scored again. Their momentum was halted, however, when New Canaan goalie Sidney Sheffield made a skillful block, holding Westport at 2.
New Canaan took possession early in the second half and though they drew three corner kick fouls in a row early in the half, Westport was able to hold New Canaan scoreless. Eve Johansson and Kiera Cooney helped the NC Black team maintain possession and a solidly hit shot by Jordan Walker up the middle was blocked by the Westport Goalie. Then a well-executed assist by Caroline Beecher put Molly Mitchell in scoring position and New Canaan was on the board with a goal.
Despite some exciting plays and near misses, New Canaan was unable to tie the game and the final score was 2-1, Westport.
Soccer
The New Canaan Soccer Girls U10 Red Team Beats the Heat
Saige Hartslief takes a goal kick for the New Canaan Soccer Girls U10 Red Team. Contributed photo
On this hot autumn Sunday, the New Canaan Soccer Girls U10 Red Team went on the road to beat the Trumbull United Heat. The scoring for the day began as the Heat scored a quick goal just three minutes into the first half.
With a 1-0 deficit the New Canaan offense came alive and answered back when Ellie Gallois scored after being set up nicely by a combination of passes from Katharine Byrne and Ava Gizzie. With the momentum of the game behind the offense, Byrne sent the score to 2-1 by blasting a shot past the Heat goalie on an assist from Julia Dunn and Nola Kammerer.
The defense anchored by the goaltending of Saige Hartslief, remained solid and held Trumbull scoreless for the rest of the half that ended with a 2-1 Red Team lead.
As the second half opened, both teams came out with high powered offensive play which was evidenced by the scoring that was about to take place. Once again Trumbull managed to score two quick goals to take the lead 3-2. Answering back, Ellie Gallois scored to tie the game. At 3-3 the tie was broken when Caroline Underwood buried a shot to send New Canaan back into the lead at 4-3. However, the excitement was not yet over as Trumbull responded and scored the next two goals to make the score 5-4 in their favor.
Down by a goal, the New Canaan girls turned up the offensive heat and never looked back.
The next tying goal was scored when Saige Hartslief finessed the ball past the Trumbull goal keeper. With the game all even at five, the New Canaan offense continued their attack and once again broke the tie when Caroline Underwood scored on a great crossing pass from Katharine Byrne. Byrne would go on to add an insurance goal just minutes later, making the score 7-5 New Canaan. As the clock wound down the defense and goal keeping of Grace McManus shut down the Heat offense to finalize the New Canaan 7-5 victory.
New Canaan’s U11 Girls Red Advance in CT Cup Tourney
New CanaanU 11 Girls Red team’s keeper Kiki Brainard makes a challenging save against East Lyme on Saturday. Contributed photo
New Canaan’s U11 Girls Red soccer team will continue on to the third round of the CT Cup tournament after a decisive 10-3 victory over East Lyme on Saturday. Playing on the road, New Canaan’s Dillyn Patten stunned the home team by scoring two goals within the first two minutes of play. Her front line teammate Kiki Brainard added a third goal just a few minutes later. Maintaining relentless pressure on East Lyme’s defense, New Canaan continued their attack on goal and added three additional goals by the end of the first half – two more for Patten and another for Brainard.
Defensively, New Canaan’s Avery Minter, Kaleigh Harden and Caitlin Tully completely shut down the East Lyme offense winning tackle after tackle and moving the ball beautifully up the field. New Canaan keeper Grace Crowell was confident in the net, holding East Lyme to only one goal – a penalty kick late in the half.
Starting the second half up 6-1, New Canaan’s coach Gwyn Jones made the strategic decision to highlight his team’s excellent passing game. The girls continued to control the pace of the game and demonstrated their impressive command of the ball and poise on the field. Although usually found playing center defense, teammates Kaleigh Harden and Emma Lamaker led the offense each finding the back of the net in the second half. Equally impressive was Grace Crowell who added two goals of her own, including a gorgeous lob from almost mid-field.
The East Lyme girls did not give up and tested goalkeeper Kiki Brainard who made several challenging saves. Although Brainard was well protected by the defensive duo of Madeleine McLaughlin and Ashley Barton, East Lyme managed to score a second goal on another penalty kick and then sneaked a third goal in the corner of the net.
New Canaan would come home with the victory – final score 10-3. New Canaan faces Trumbull United Dynamite in the third round of the CT Cup on Saturday, October 4.
New Canaan Girls U11 Black Shut Out Westport 6-0
New Canaan Girls U11 Black hosted Westport on an uncharacteristically warm day for late September. But as warm as the day was, the New Canaan soccer players were hotter.
New Canaan went up 2-0 in the first half thanks to goals by Anna Barnard and Zoe Walker. Westport was not without their chances, but Lauren Doherty led the defensive corps in turning back the offense and sending the play back upfield thanks to her heads up play and smart passing. Anything that did get through was gobbled up by the fearless Carolyn Baron in goal.
In the second half, New Canaan continued to wear Westport down with strong pressure in the offensive zone. Maiah Oyekanmi put on a show with two separate drives navigating through multiple defenders for her two goals of the day. Also notching two goals on the day was Jasmine Mansourov – one on a pretty pass from Bella Licata and then another on a gritty scramble in front of the Westport goaltender, thanks in large part to the hard work of Abigail Gaudreau.
Enzo Fredricks controls the ball. Contributed photo
U9 Boys Black Dominate Greenwich Barcelona 5-1
Facing off against an undefeated Greenwich team, game co-captain Alex Werner anchored the offensive line, flanked by Nate Ehrlich and Matthew Stimpson. Well matched, the teams battled for the ball well into the half before Benji Sturke scored the first goal, assisted by Cyrus Pearson. Greenwich answered and the score was tied at the half.
Nathan Sieckhaus fends off Greenwich pressure. Contributed photo
Determined, New Canaan dominated the play in the second half. Walker Bright scored the second goal and the team gathered steam. Chase Abbott and game co-captain, Nathan Sieckhaus, deftly worked the ball, continually feeding the offensive line. Nis Tuga scored goal three and on the heels of this goal, Nate Markin scored the forth. Fletcher Heron scored the fifth and final goal of the game.
Despite intense Greenwich pressure, the defensive held Greenwich to just one goal. Enzo Fredricks let nothing by and anchored the line with Nathan Siekhaus and Fletcher Heron. Walker Bright made some great saves in goal and in the second half Finn Greiner played goalie, blocking all shots to hand Greenwich their first loss.
Alex Werner and Nate Ehrlich on an offensive drive. Contributed photo
Teamwork and unselfish play trumped the day and U9 Boys Black remains undefeated in the regular season.
New Canaan U9 Boys Red Soccer Team Remains Undefeated
On Sunday, New Canaan’s U9 Boys Red became the team to beat, overcoming a two goal deficit to upset the also-undefeated Old Greenwich Thunder in a 4-2 win.
Old Greenwich surged ahead early, scoring two goals in the first ten minutes, but the New Canaan boys were not flustered and were backed by the confidence of Coach Chris Gilligan, whose practices repeatedly drilled the passing and positioning skills that the team would need for this game.
The New Canaan Boys U9 Red Team celebrates after winning their game against Old Greenwich.
Front row: Connor Lytle, Henry Silva. Next Row: Augusto Baldini, Jack Cudo. Next row: Ben Bilden, Felipe Galavis. Rest of team from left to right: Will Langford, Teddy Hoffstein, Ted Werner, Teddy Balkind, Max Lowe, Cole Wilson, Jaden Oyekanmi. Contributed photo
The day’s appointed defensemen, including Jaden Oyekanmi, Cole Wilson, Max Lowe, Ted Werner and goalkeeper Teddy Balkind, were especially tireless and unbeatable for the rest of the game. With the score at 0-2, New Canaan’s Connor Lytle, pursued closely by an equally quick Old Greenwich player, raced down the field at top speed and perfectly timed his shot into the back of the net to bring the score to 1-2.
Impressively, he repeated the feat several minutes later, which tied the game just before the half. In the second half, the New Canaan defense was a steel wall to a fading Old Greenwich and New Canaan’s offense, including Augusto Baldini, Ben Bilden, Jack Cuda, Felipe Galavis, Teddy Hoffstein, Will Langford, and Ethan Schubert, had the opportunity to aggressively attack the goal, getting several close shots.
Finally, Felipe Galavis created an opening and kicked the goal that brought New Canaan into the lead for the first time in the game.
The boys gave it everything they had to hold on to their lead, sprinting after every ball and taking every possible shot. Then, with five minutes left in the game, Connor Lytle scored the insurance goal, his third goal in the game. After the game, Coach Gilligan commended each player for working hard and doing his part against their most competitive opponent yet.
New Canaan U9 Girls Red Defeat Darien 3-1
New Canaan U9 Girls Red soccer team downed Darien. Contributed photo
It was a gorgeous but unseasonably hot day that tested the stamina of the New Canaan U9 Girls Red soccer team. Despite the heat, they played a tough match and proved their athleticism by defeating Darien 3-1 at home.
The U9 Red first capitalized when Lila Volpe scored her fourth goal of the season when she blasted a shot into the top corner of the goal.
Lexie Tully continued the offensive momentum by firing back-to-back goals that lifted her season goal tally to four.
Up 3-0, the U9 Red was determined to keep their lead. Devon Russell led a persistent defensive effort along with teammates Maggie Murphy and Kailee See that held Darien to one goal in the first half.
In the second half, Darien came out strong, but New Canaan fought hard for possession and stood their ground.
Fiona Mueller, Alexandra Gelvin, and Ava Pertusiello moved the ball well at midfield and generated several offensive opportunities.
Lila Volpe, Devon Russell, and Kelly Polacek charged the goal with many hard shots but could not find the net.
Meanwhile, Tema Wagner, Isabel Cavanagh, and Katie Quill were a wall defense thwarting Darien’s last attempts to score.
***
Estelle Asker & her Dad Karl, Claire Flatow & her Dad Brian. Credit: Anne-Marie Knight
New Canaan Youth Field Hockey had an amazing turn out for their first annual Sticks Against Ticks! event on Sunday, Sept. 21 at Dunning Stadium. Players invited their fathers to play and learn the game of field hockey for a fathers against daughters tournament.
The festivities began with the New Canaan High School Varsity playing the Junior Varsity team to show dads how it done. Grades 5-8 competed against their dads for a 20 minute game of fun and laughs. We don’t know the official score, or if one was kept, but we do know the dads now have a new found respect for the game of field hockey. Fathers dressed in wigs, big hats, glasses and skirts to win prizes for best costume and most spirit.
7th grade girls and their dads. Credit: Anne-Marie Knight
The event was a fundraiser for the fight against Lyme disease. It included a silent auction, t-shirts for the cause and a bake sale. The event raised over $3,700.00 dollars for the Lyme Research Alliance, a not for profit organization based in Stamford, CT. Their mission is to fund cutting edge research into the prevention, diagnostic and treatment of Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. For more information contact www.lymeresearchalliance.org. For more information on New Canaan Youth Field Hockey visit their website at http://www.newcanaanyouthfieldhockey.com.