Nolan Boosts Blue Wave Boys Lax In Double OT Thriller

Make that six straight state championship berths.

In Tuesday's semifinal round of the CIAC tournament at Fairfield Ludlowe High School, the Blue Wave boys lacrosse team earned a spot in Saturday's Class M title game with a 5-4 double overtime win against New Canaan.

All that stands between the Blue Wave now and another state championship is New Fairfield, which wiped out Conard, 17-2, later in the evening.

Quality scoring chances and goals were hard to come by Tuesday, and when Darien led 2-0 at halftime, it appeared that the Wave had a fairly safe lead. All of that changed in the fourth quarter when the Rams climbed off the deck to take the lead.

In a first quarter in which patience seemed to be the mantra for both squads, Darien struck first. Case Matheis, who was arguably the quickest player on the field, scored first just three minutes in. With both teams moving but not forcing the ball, the Wave maintained the 1-0 lead after one. Defense was key for both teams.

"We tried to maintain long possessions because our defense was so good," said Matheis.

There wasn't much space for an attacker, and the few times an attack man closed in, he got bumped off the ball. Then, with under one-minute left until the break, Matheis scored again. The Wave took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.

That usually isn't enough to send a coach or his players into a comfort zone in lacrosse, but when Darien's Henry West scored a third goal one and a half minutes into the third quarter, they had a pretty decent cushion—or so it seemed.

With the Wave leading and just over one minute remaining in the third, Cody Newton got the Rams' first goal. It proved to be an awakening for New Canaan. Rams goalie Tom Carey was making some outstanding saves to keep the score close, and it got closer with Newton's ice-breaker.

The horn sounded with the Wave leading the Rams, 3-1 after three.

New Canaan went on a run to open the fourth quarter, scoring three unanswered goals. Henry Eschricht started it off just over two minutes in. One minute later, Todd Bratches's goal tied the game at 3-3; midway through the quarter, Newton scored his second goal to put New Canaan ahead 4-3.

But with 4:10 left, Matheis tied the game at 4-4 with his third goal. Neither team could break the knot before the end of regulation.

The play continued into four-minute sudden death overtimes. No goals were scored in the first OT, but with the second overtime winding down, Bobby Nolan got the gamer.

"West cleared and passed to Brian Gleason who drew some defenders. Gleason fed me and I just aimed for the net, no particular spot," said Nolan. 

The Blue Wave had a 5-4 win, its second consecutive one-goal win in the tournament (they beat Wilton 10-9 in a quarterfinal game last Saturday). They head into the championship game with an 18-3 rercord. 

"It's always special to beat New Canaan. It's a testament to them that they were able to come back today after trailing 3-0," Darien Coach Jeff Brameier said.

"We stressed patience against their zone which they changed often to man-to-man but we didn't move the ball very well today. This one was tough to swallow," Rams Coach Alex Whitten said.

New Canaan's season ends with a 16-4 record.

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