Undefeated Blue Wave Advances to Finals

The Darien High School Field hockey team is one step away from clinching another Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) championship. The undefeated team beat the number four seed Wilton, by a score of 3—0 on Tuesday night at Dunning Stadium in New Canaan.

After crushing the Staples (number eight seed) 6—0 last Friday and en route to the FCIAC finals, the Blue Wave hoped for a similar defeat against the tougher Wilton squad. The team made that happen, scoring less than five minutes into the first half when the team converted on a penalty corner. On the play, junior Sam Johnston got the ball over junior Ellie Riegel who then made a great pass to junior Sophie Doering; Doering put it into a wide open net to give her team a 1—0 lead.

“Our passing has really improved this season,” said senior Anna Heck. “We worked on it all season long, and I think that showed on our two penalty corners tonight.”

With less than four minutes to go in the first half, Darien capitalized on a second penalty corner when Darien junior Sam Johnston passed the ball to Riegel and Riegel stick-handled through three Wilton players, putting one past Wilton senior goalkeeper Steph Fricke.

“Our second goal gave us a big boost heading into the second half,” said Blue Wave coach Mo Minicus. “In a semi-final game every goal helps, and that one enabled us to be calm, cool and collected to begin the second half.”

The Blue Wave continued their fine play early into the second half as Heck scored less than two minutes into the half. Doering got the ball at the side of the net in the offensive zone and fed it to wide open senior Anna Heck, who put it in the net. Score: 3—0 Blue.

“Sophie was able to make a really nice play at the side of the net and pass the ball over to me,” said Heck. “All I had to do was sweep it into the goal.”

Minicus was also impressed by her team's performance.

“We were really able to execute our goals inside tonight,” said Minicus. “We were able to execute our corners and when there were chances down low, we were able to either generate a quality scoring opportunity or put the ball in the net.”

And Darien's defense also helped hold the lead.

“We came into this game prepared,” said Riegel. “In practice this week, we worked on double team coverage, and I think that showed tonight.”

Darien’s next challenge comes this Thursday night, when the Blue Wave will meet the New Canaan Rams on the field for the FCIAC finals. Minicus feels confident and prepared that her undefeated team (Tuesday's win was their seventeenth) will rout the Rams, and repeat as FCIAC champions.

“It is going to be a great game,” said Minicus. “It will be tough, both teams will be aggressive and since it is the finals, anything goes. We will be ready.”