Field Hockey
NCYFH 7 Red Eases passed Easton/Redding 6-0
—submitted by Darleen Ferraro
Victoria Lockhart gets ready to crash the net for the fourth goal of the game with Taylor Cloud ready assist, if needed. Credit: Michael Lockhart
On Saturday, October 14th, NC 7 Red came out with their sticks in overdrive. Within the first five minutes of the game, NC Red scored six goals. The score was 6–0. Coach Hills decided, even this early into the game, that it was time to make the girls pass, pass, pass. The girls could not score unless the other team did. For the remainder of the game, the girls worked every area of the field. They practiced their drives as well as used the time to focus on stick handling.
In the second half, Coach Hills switched it all up and moved the defensive line up to play offense and moved the offense line back to play defense. Not one shot on goal for goaltender, Amelia Totaro.
Saige Hartslief passes to Youl Na who then takes it downfield towards the goal. Credit: Michael Lockhart
The first goal of the game went to Shawna Ferraro, assisted by Polly Parsons-Hills. The second goal was scored by Hills after an amazing pass made by Skylar Bennett. Hills scored the third goal following a corner from Ellie Parkhill. The fourth goal went to Victoria Lockhart after a great pass from Ferraro. Avery Morawa took away the fifth goal of the game and also assisted on the sixth goal when she passed it to Abby Evans who shot it in the net.
Abby Evans swiftly gets the ball passed her opponents and scores the sixth goal of the game. Credit: Michael Lockhart
Everyone played well in their different positions including Cece Ferriera, Taylor Cloud, Youl Na, Hannah Smick, Katherine O’Connell, Cece Easley, and Saige Hartsleif. The girls are looking forward to their next game, on Saturday, October 21st when they travel to Sandy Hook to take on the Newtown 7/8.
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Soccer
U11 Girls Red Continue Chase for Ct Cup
‑by Dewey Finn
Some exciting things happened this past weekend. Netflix announced that Season 2 of “Stranger Things” will air at the end of October. And the Girls U11 Red soccer team won their third round game in the CT Cup to move on to the quarterfinal round. The team, starting with an impressive runner-up finish at the East Meadow Tournament on Long Island in August, has quietly put together a season that lives up to their moniker of “The Big Red Wrecking Ball.” The result this past weekend was no different, with Big Red jumping out to an early lead and cruising to a 5-0 defeat of the Watertown Titans in CT Cup action.
As has been the case with Big Red throughout the 2017 Fall season, the wins are a team effort, with Coach Luke Green moving the girls around to different positions to find the optimal performance for any given weekend. Like a seasoned conductor, Coach Green found the right notes early on, as Syd “The Kid” Patten found Madeline Tully with a wonderful through ball that Tully collected in stride and buried the ball in the back of the net with aplomb. Sensing Watertown was not up to the task of running with Tully up front, Reese Quinn, Leanela Negron, Madison Hartnett and Cailey Varas began feeding balls up to the forward like a game of Hungry, Hungry Hippo. The Watertown goalie stood proud and tall, however, and turned away a number of solid chances. But as the old hockey saying goes, “When you put the puck on net, good things happen.” And good things indeed happened, with Patten jumping on a loose ball at the front of the net and burying the second goal of the day for New Canaan.
Not wanting to yield all of the excitement to their mid-field teammates, wing backs Julia McPhillps, Paige Place and Eleanor DuPont made numerous deep runs into the Watetown half of the field. With McPhillps winning a number of corner kicks on direct challenges at the goal, and wing-back partner Place darting down the sideline to hoist in a number of her patented crossing passes, pressure was being applied from all angles. And if that wasn’t enough, DuPont just simply blew by her defenders and twisted up the Watertown defense into Gordian knots. Taking advantage of a hard fought McPhillps run, Patten took the ensuing corner kick, lofting it superbly onto the waiting foot of Madison Harnett, and just like that it was 3-0. The fourth goal of the game, occurring a few moments later, was a masterclass in what makes Big Red tick. High pressure, some dazzling footwork be Leanela Negron, a delicious through ball to Tully – and Voila! 4-0. It can be said, my fair reader, that you can’t stop the Girls U11 Red team. You can only hope to contain them.
And all the while, the defense of Big Red was quietly turning away the Watertown challenges as they occurred. Peyton DeCamillo, Christina Swarni and Kate Kupchak went about their business like savvy veterans. Never losing their composure and running down the incursions one-by-one, the girls made the resounding statement to Watertown that the Titans would have to lift their game if they were going to score any goals. Izzie “I don’t like playing goalie, yet I am awesome at it” Janiga turned away number of quality chances and distributed the ball like a pro.
Watertown caught their breath at half-time, found their sea-legs, and came out for the start of the second half with more fire in their bellies. Once again, DeCamillo and Swarni were there to turn aside the challenges. It was at this point that Leneala Negron put the final touches on the offensive side of the ledger. Collecting a pass at mid-field and employing some tricky footwork, she weaved her way down the field and cheekily looped the ball over the goalie’s head and into the back of the net. And that was the final goal to make the score 5-0. And for one day, there was joy in Mudville.
For those New Canaanites who might be wondering, Where can I catch this soccer juggernaut in CT Cup action? Big Red will be traveling to the wilds of eastern Connecticut to face Tolland in quarterfinal action this Saturday.
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NCFC 2007 Boys Red take on undefeated Westport
—submitted by Ed Ho
New Canaan ’07 Boys Red team.
How best to measure our Youth Sports teams? The easiest answer is wins and losses. However, that expedient mindset ignores the development in character and resolve that our kids derive from healthy athletic competition, how they develop more important character traits like commitment, teamwork and grit. How 9 and 10 year olds can surprise us expectant parents with their personal growth.
One year ago, the NCFC 2007 Boys Red team seemed on the verge of relegation from the top division – clearly outclassed by better teams with a season ending winless record to prove that. So, with that perspective let’s set the table for this weekend’s action. An undefeated Westport team, who trounced the New Canaan boys last year, came on to the fields at Saxe this year with every expectation to repeat the 2016 result.
Not this year Wesport…not on our field!
Dylan Ho sent an early message to the visitors in Blue, slide tackling several attackers and setting the tone for this match. Rohan Shinoy led several runs into Westport’s defense that resembled Ronaldo’s break-away speed with the ball, coming close to ending the 0-0 tie while Joaquin Blanco secured the other end of the field with his sure handed goalkeeping. As the action intensified so did the physicality of this match. Javier Minuesa drew a foul and set up a free kick for New Canaan from the right side just outside the box. Max Ocho Maggard, “teed it up” and sent in a lovely ball to the left side that Ryan Stannard volleyed into the goal. 1-0 NC!
Westport’s side rose to the occasion in the second half and unleashed an unrelenting attack. The 35-minute half seemed to never end and the uneven time of possession in Westport’s favor should have resulted in New Canaan’s defeat. Westport finally did score and the match did end 1-1. But that final result belies the NCFC Boys’ effort on this day.
Rogan Lowe, literally left it all in the field throughout the match and raised his hand to let Coach Dan know that he was “gassed.” Drew DeGaetano had more sprints than Usain Bolt in an attempt to counter attack Westport’s pressing offensive alignment, but was shut down by Westport’s stalwart keeper. And Hall of Fame Steelers’ Coach Chuck Noll summed up the performance of Chase Harden, Brooks Walker, Sajan Shah William Arnold and Shane McMahon with his famous quote, “Good things happen to those who HUSTLE.”
YOU GO NEW CANAAN! Your fans and your parents see good things ahead. And Coach Noll, I really liked watching the Steelers back in the ’70, but with all due respect, I love watching these Boys a little more and how much they hustle.
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Right wing Stephen Brown brings the ball down field.
New Canaan Boys 07 White Tops Greenwich U11 Milan 2-1.
—submitted by Anne Walker
NC Boys 07 White came up on top on Sunday at Saxe against Greenwich. Simon Tchakarov scored early on to give the boys an advantage. A second goal by Tchakarov, assisted by Lucas Breed, widened the boys’ margin—one which they maintained for most of the game. In goal, Ellis Frey played great defense, blocking all of Greenwich’s attempts up until the final minutes when Greenwich got one past. Great job boys!
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Sienna de Kanter creates an opportunity to score.
New Canaan Girls 09 Red Dominates Darien 09 White 6-1
—submitted by Anne Walker
NC Girls Red 09 dominated the game against Darien White at Farm Road. While the girls started off slow, with Darien scoring first, that would be the only time during the game that girls would be at a disadvantage. Soon after, they picked themselves up (literally because there was all around a lot of trips and tumbles) and decided to get to business with Mimi Matviak scoring the first goal to tie the score by the end of the first half. During the second half, they kicked into high gear. Mimi scored a second goal followed by Maggie Newport who shot a high cross into the net. The girls continued to up the score with two quick consecutive goals by Mimi and followed by one by Whitney Hoegstedt. Maggie Greiner and Maddie Kupchak took turns in goal, stopping any of Darien’s attempts. Zanna Moor, Maggie G. and Madison Schulte played great defense and Niamh Cooney, Kathleen Langford and Sienna de Kanter worked tirelessly to successfully keep the ball down field, creating many additional scoring opportunities for the team. Great game girls!
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New Canaan’s U13 Red Girl’s Soccer Shuts Out Two Opponents
—submitted by Kara Underwood
On Saturday, New Canaan’s U-13 soccer team bested Wilton 5-0 in a Connecticut Cup match at Saxe Middle School.
New Canaan set the tone early, with Kelly Polancek scoring a few minutes into the game.
Natalie Plosker followed up with a strong kick into the top left of the net, bringing the score to 2-0. Lexi Tully impressed the crowd with a header into the goal off a corner shot from Caroline Underwood. New Canaan closed the first half 4-0 with another goal from Tully on a pass from Evelyn Slatoff and Underwood. Ella Imbruce tended goal and easily held off Wilton’s shots on goal assisted by strong defense from Nola Kammerer, Kate Caione, Avery Laird and Peyton Zaletsky. New Canaan finished the game with a fifth goal from Julia Dunn. The U13 Red team advances to the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Cup in a game against Simsbury on Saturday.
The team was back at it on Sunday in a match up with Ridgefield. Despite a lumpy field, New Canaan’s girls came out strong and defeated Ridgefield 4-0.
First goal was scored 30 minutes into the game off a penalty kick by Plosker. Underwood served as goalie first half of the game warding off 6 of Ridgefield’s shots on goal with great assistance from the defensive line led by Kammerer, Caione, Zaletsy, Slatoff and Laird. The second half of the game showed the girls handling the ball with more confidence, with tighter passing and getting the ball through to open space to set up shots on goal. Polancek scored the second goal, with an assist from Tully. Dunn popped in the third goal, and Plosker delivered the final goal. Imbruce confidently tended the net in the second half.
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New Canaan Girls 2009 Black Tie FUSA 4-4
—submitted by Alyson Toombs
The 2009 Girls Black team played a great game against FUSA on Sunday. They tied the game 4-4 but dominated the overall play. The team worked very well together with a series of passes moving the ball up the field. Lila Wolfson, #14, put the ball in the net and got New Canaan on the scoreboard. The second goal was scored by Sophie Seaver, #88, who cleverly dodged past a defender and put a nice, hard shot in goal. Maddie Gray, #11, showed the tenacity we have seen from her all season and scored, putting New Canaan in the lead. About midway through the 2nd half, Tori Elezi, #7, got past a defender and created a fast break to score to the team’s 4th goal. All the girls played a great game. Defense was strong and worked together well to protect the goal. Brooke Bisesi (#5), Caeley Clough (#22), Ava Magliacano (#2), Lucy Paine (#33) and Aryana Shah (#19) all had great games and were instrumental on the field in both defense and offense. Both Tori Elezi, #7, and Riley Schlafman, #27, did a great job in goal. Way to go 2009 Black Team, well done!