New Canaan FC Girls U11 Red Team Has Championship Weekend

The New Canaan FC Girls U11 Red Team played two games this past weekend to claim their division’s champion title.

On Saturday, the Red team traveled to Newtown to take on the number one seeded Wilton Blue Team in a game that turned out to be one of the most tension filled games of the season. New Canaan scored first when Saige Hartslief stole the ball from Wilton and passed it to Addie Cannon who worked a beautiful crossing pass to Ava Gizzi. Gizzi blasted a shot into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. The defensive play of Kate Caione and Nola Kammerer, with the goal tending of Ella Patterson, managed to keep Wilton at bay but Wilton would score twice to bring the score to 2-1 as the half ended.

The second half was a battle for field position when a free kick was awarded to New Canaan in the Wilton zone. Ava Gizzi took the kick which was saved, but the rebound was recovered in front of the goal by Natalie Owsley who put a shot past the goalie. With the score now 2-2, Gizzi added to her tally for the day when she came up with an amazing breakaway and goal to give a 3-2 lead back to New Canaan.

Caroline Underwood’s second half goal tending was tough but Wilton would not go down quietly and scored on a corner kick to bring the game back to even at 3-3. As the clock wound down New Canaan kept up the pressure in the Wilton end. With just a minute to go in the game, the action in the box resulted in a penalty call against Wilton. A penalty kick was awarded to New Canaan which was taken and made by Ava Gizzi sending the score to 4-3. Gizzi got a hat trick for the day and New Canaan the win as time expired. The Red Team was victorious and would have a chance to play for the championship on Sunday.

On Sunday the Red Team traveled back to Newtown to take on their cross town rival Darien in the championship game. Once again the Red Team found themselves in a tense battle. The action packed game proved to be evenly matched with both teams moving the ball well and playing great defense. New Canaan scored the first goal of the game when they were awarded a free kick after a hand ball call against a Darien defender. Katharine Byrne took the shot and buried it into the upper part of the net to give New Canaan a 1-0 lead. Ella Patterson’s goal tending was perfect and the half ended with New Canaan on top 1-0.

As the final half of the fall soccer season began it was apparent that Darien was not going to give up their chance at the title. Both teams came out with high energy and quick play. Just minutes into the half Darien converted a corner kick into a score to tie the game at 1-1.

With thirty minutes to play the heat was turned up, leaving the fans riding an emotional roller coaster as both teams made great game saving defensive plays and potential game winning attacks. As the final whistle blew the game ended in a 1-1 tie and by rule the championship game does not go to overtime but co-champions are awarded. So New Canaan and Darien are both considered division champions and will have to wait to battle it out again in the spring season.