Fairfield Ludlowe Fall Sports Previews

The Fairfield Ludlowe field hockey team hopes to build on its success from last season, when the Mustangs finished 7-6 and qualified for the state tournament for the first time in the program's history.

They suffered a few key losses, including  Katie Urqhart (first team all-state) Meg Reilly (second team all-state) and Tierney Larson (honorable mention all-state).

However, they have a solid returning cast, led by captain  Elise Perazinni, who was an FCIAC honorable mention pick last season. Also back are Layne Risolo, Haley Lynch, Beth Louden and goalie Jill Moffet.

"We have many returning players with a lot of experience and playing time from last year," coach Cathy Hammill said. "The girls have a strong work ethic and have been working out most of the summer.

This year's team has a great deal of depth.  We have strong leadership with our captains and seniors as great role models."

Ludlowe, which lost to Staples, 2-1', in the qualifying round of the CIAC Class L tournament last year, opens its 2010 season with a pair of road games - Tuesday at Wilton and Thursday at New Canaan.

The home opener is September 21 against Greenwich at 7 p.m.

Girls swimming

Darby Golino, who is entering his third year's as Ludlowe's coach, is hoping for significant improvement after the Mustangs won only two meets last year.

Our team is looking forward to trying to improve its record of 2 - 8," Golino said. "We are very excited to welcome all the new  freshman. We look forward to our competition in the FCIAC."

Golino will be counting heavily on three swimmers - junior Karen Chu, senior Samantha Hilton and junior Emma Fitzsimmons.

Last year, Chu made the all -FCIAC and all-state  teams for her performances in the 200 free and 500 free,  and also qualified for the state open.

Hilton, one of this year's captains, is a Class L state finalist in the 200 individual medley and 100 breastroke events.

Fitzsimmons: is a Class L state finalist in the 200 individual medley and 100 breastroke events.

The Falcons graduated Katelin Overton, who was a CIAC Class L state finalist  last season in  the 100 back and 100 free, and  Suzy Valdes-Rodriguez, who was a state finalist in the 200 free and 500 free.  Both also were team captains.

The Mustangs open their season at Wilton on September 22.

Cross country

Christina Caron, who coaches boys and girls cross at Ludlowe, is looking for each team to improve its record from last season, when the boys were 11-6 and the girls 10-7.

According to Caron, who is entering her seventh season, the "boys have a lot of depth this season (and the) girls are motivated and determined."

The boys return Mike Frasco, Shawn Cody, Taylor Peterson George He, Andrew Fernandes, Sean Coyle and Rob Thottam, while newcomers Jack White, Brian Peterson, Shannon Rooney and Sydney Kay will help provide depth.

The only runner the Falcons lost from last season was Ryan Warkentin, an all-FCIAC second team pick.

Leading the way for the girls will be Heather Moriarity, an all-FCIAC and all-state performer from last year whom Caron says might be the best female runner in Fairfied.

Moriarty will be joined by Marissa Klein, Maddy O'Brien, Sydney Foulk, Siri Carr, Hannah Greenberg, Quinn Foley.

"The girls will have to work hard to close the gap with Heather," said Caron, who hopes the boys can contend for an FCIAC title.

The keys will be "working together as a team, pushing each other to run together as a pact, motivating each other (and) believing they can compete with traditionally stronger teams in the FCIAC."