Sports
Wave Washes Over Ridgefield, 10-7, in Boys Lacrosse Conference Final [Video]
Darien jumped out to 7-0 lead en route to winning its first FCIAC title since 2008.
This time, the Darien boys lacrosse team was not going to be denied.
The Blue Wave jumped out to a big early lead and defeated Ridgefield 10-7 on Friday night to win their first FCIAC championship since 2008.
Ridgefield defeated Darien in the 2009 final and the Blue Wave did not make the final last year.
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Case Matheis scored five goals for the Blue Wave (17-2), who recorded five in the first period and opened a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Matheis had a natural hat trick — three goals in a 1:23 span — to stake Darien to its big early lead.
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The Blue Wave appeared headed to an easy win, but the Tigers (14-5) did not go quietly. Ridgefield finally scored with 9:22 left in the half on a goal by Matt Hrvatin and began a comeback.
Matheis answered two minutes later with his fifth — and ultimately game-winning — goal. Hrvatin scored again with 5:26 left as Darien took an 8-2 lead into the half.
Ridgefield made it interesting by outscoring the Blue Wave 5-2 in the second half. Darien defenseman Eric Paron was named the game's MVP.
Darien now sets its sights on winning a seventh consecutive state championship while Ridgefield hopes to build on Friday's second-half performance as the Tigers begin state tournament play.
