Warde Fall Sports Previews

Coming off a 8-5-5 season in which it reached the second of the CIAC class L state tournament, the Fairfield Warde girls soccer team is looking to get back to postseason play, both in the FCIAC and on the state level.

Tom Cummingham, who is entering his fourth season as the Mustangs' coach, has a career mark of 27-11-8, including a 7-2 record in the state tournament.  Warde won the Class L title in 2007, Cunningham's first season at the school.

The Mustangs finished seventh in the FCIAC last season, losing to New Canaan in the first round of the playoffs. They then defeated Darien in the opening round of the state tournament being eliminated by Berlin, 2-1.

"(The key to success will be) coming together as a team early in the season," Cunningham said.

The Mustangs did suffer some graduation losses, losing all-state forward Sarah Duffy, along with defender Maggie Giambalvo and goalkeeper Ali Rocchi, a pair of all-FCIAC honorable mention picks. Also departing were defender Caroline Lutz and midfielder Hannah McGrath.

Still, Cunningham says this year's squad has strong senior leadership, along with "great speed and technical skills."

Leading the way will be senior center midfielder Kat Young, an FCIAC second team pick lastyear who has been a member of the varsity team since her freshman year.

"She was a major part of the 2007 run for a state championship," Cunningham added.  "She is a great leader on and off the field and has been instrumental in getting the freshmen prepared for their high school care."

Also returning is junior Keegan Thimons, another FCIAC second team pick from a year ago, along with two other seniors - defender Alex Kelly and forward Taylor Bargmann.

Cunningham also will be counting on junior forward Carly Mappa and sophomore midfielder-forward Emily Pullen.

Warde will have a tough game out of the gate, as its kicks off the season September 16 at FCIAC champion and state semifinalist Ridgefield. Its first home contest is against Trumbull on September 20.

Field hockey

Entering her 10th season as Fairfield Warde's field hockey coach, Jodie Shannon stills feels the Mustangs are trying to catch up to the more established powers in the FCIAC.

Shannon points out that Warde usually has only 29 or 30 players annually try out, including freshmen, which puts the Mustangs at a disadvantage compared to some FCIAC teams who have that many freshmen on their rosters alone.

"We are still struggling in catching up to the experienced FCIAC programs," she said.

However, despite the limited numbers, the Mustangs held their own last season, going 8-5-4-1 before being eliminatedin the first round of the CIAC Class M state tournament.

Despite losing leading scorer Christie Zierolf, an all-FCIAC selection, and two key defenders in Jo Groccia and Gabby Young, the Mustangs expect to contend for FCIAC playoff and state tournament berths again this season.

They have a strong core returning, led by a pair of all-FCIAC  and all-state picks in goalie Jess Deutsch and Stacy Dileo. Also back is another all-FCIAC selection Darcy Berger, along with three strong midfielders - Mallory Gibson,  Molly Brachfeld and Lauren Allen.

Shannon says some of the team's strengths are "conditioning, working together and sheer determination."

Of course, Warde has to stay healthy. That's true for every team and it is especially true for the Mustangs.

"Last year we had a collision which resulted in two players with broken collarbones that were done for the season," Shannon said.

Warde opens the season at home against Norwalk on September 14 at 4 p.m.

Girls volleyball

Matthew Narwold, a former player at Warde and fresh out of Southern Connecticut,  takes over as coach as the Mustangs' girls volleyball team, which is coming off a 7-11 season in 2009.

Warde graduated three seniors - middle players Kate McTigue and Laurie Bock and outiside hitter Ally Robacynski - but the Mustangs return two athletic and determined seniors in Alyson Leppla (opposite hitter) and Christina Fatse (setter/outside hitter). They have been named the team's captains.

According to Narwold, Warde's JV coach for the past two seasons, the club's strengths will be defense, which will be led by junior Grace Price, and communication.

"Since we graduated both of our middles this past season, our offense will take somewhat of a hit to start off the season, but my middles and outside hitters are developing quickly these first few weeks of the season," said the 22-year-old Narwold, who hopes his team can contend for berths in the FCIAC playoffs and state tournament in his first year.

"First and foremost I expect my girls to grow and mature as student athletes," he added. "After those expectations have been met, then we can focus on volleyball.

"I would like to make a good run for states and FCIAC titles this year. Most importantly, I want to begin to develop a program that will be able to contend for those titles year after year such as schools like Darien and Staples."

Warde opens its season Tuesday at Weshill (4:30 p.m).

"This girls know what I expect of them, and more importantly what to expect from themselves," Narwold added. "They have the opportunity to go as far as they  want to this season."