Blue Wave Earns Trip to Girls Lacrosse State Finals [Video]

At least one Darien lacrosse team will be playing for a state championship.

After watching the boys get stunned by Wilton in the first game of a doubleheader at Fairfield Ludlowe, the Darien girls did their part by defeating rival New Canaan 9-7 in the CIAC Class M semifinals.

Darien will face No. 2-seed Daniel Hand in the state finals Saturday at 1 p.m. at Stratford's Bunnell High School. Hand defeated East Lyme 12-9 in overtime to earn its spot in the final.

The Darien girls (15-7) jumped to a 4-0 lead with a little more than nine minutes remaining in the first half, but the Rams (12-6) battled back, slicing the deficit in half by scoring a pair of goals within two minutes. The Blue Wave answered 30 seconds later to grab a 5-2 halftime lead.

New Canaan coach Kristin Wood gave an impassioned halftime speech, and it appeared to motivate her team. Attackman Liz DeTour pumped in two goals in the first three minutes of the second half, pulling the Rams within 5-4.

But the Blue Wave responded with two straight, then the teams traded goals for an 8-5 Darien lead.

Once again, the Rams fought back, as Olivia Hompe slammed in two goals within 47 seconds to make it at 8-7. With New Canaan pressing for the equalizer, Taylor Hardison completed a hat trick 30 seconds later to put away the contest.

Jena Fritts and Brynn Gasparino each scored twice for Darien, while Hompe and DeTour had two apiece for New Canaan.

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