Rams Football Takes on Trumbull Tonight; Milano Expected To Start

The New Canaan football team is expected to have starting quarterback Matt Milano back under center on Friday when it hosts Trumbull in a 7 p.m. kickoff.

Milano, who has become New Canaan's all-time leader in career touchdown passes in less than two years as the Rams' starter, was in the first quarter with an apparent concussion and did not return.

After the game, Rams coach said that Milano was suffering bad headaches. According to the Connecticut Post, however, Milano is ready to go.

Sophomore played well in relief last week but could not prevent the Rams from suffering their first defeat to Stamford since 1977.

The loss dropped New Canaan to 7-1 and put the Rams in a position where they likely need to win their final two games to make the state playoffs in Class L. That would include a victory over archrival Darien in the annual Turkey Bowl on Thanksgiving.

New Canaan has slipped to seventh in this week's Class L state rankings after standing fourth last week.

Trumbull is reeling, having dropped five in a row after a 2-0 start, and is coming off a 50-20 loss to Bridgeport Central.

The New Canaan girls soccer team (14-3-2)  opened play in the Class LL state tournament Thursday with a 2-0 overtime victory over No. 26 seed Middletown.

Alyssa Valente and Anna Borea scored for the Rams, who will host No. 23 Hamden in the second round on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Green Dragons advanced with a 2-1 upset on No. 10 Naugatuck.

After the teams battled through 80 scoreless minutes of regulation, Valente scored two minutes into the first overtime on an assist from Borea, who converted a penalty kick six minutes later.

Also on Thursday, the New Canaan girls volleyball squad defeated FCIAC rival Trumbull 3-1 (25-9, 24-26, 25-16, 25-15) in a Class LL first-round contest.

The Rams advanced to a second-round meeting at No. 6 Staples on Saturday at 7 p.m.. The Wreckers had a bye in the first round.

Andrea Mullaney had 13 service points, four aces, 15 kills, five digs and four blocks for the Rams on Thursday. Kellen Tensen added 14 service points, five aces, five kills, five digs and 29 assists for New Canaan.

The New Canaan boys soccer team begins defense of its Class L state championship on Friday when the 12th-seeded Rams (9-4-5) host No. 21 Lyman Hall at 3 p.m.

If the Rams advance, a showdown against archrival Darien could await in the second round as the winner of the New Canaan-Lyman Hall contest takes on the winner of the game between No. 5 Darien and No. 28 North Haven.

New Canaan, which is coming off a 1-0 loss to Staples in the FCIAC semifinals, was something off a Cinderella story last season, winning the title as a No. 19 seed.

Along the way, New Canaan knocked off the top three seeds, culminating with a 2-0 victory over No. 1 seed Bunnell in the state finals.

Finally, New Canaan's field hockey squad faces New Milford on Friday in a Class L first-round contest at 1 p.m. The game will be played in Brookfield.

The winner will take on either No. 3 Norwalk or Fairfield Warde in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Norwalk hosts Warde in the the first round on Friday.

Seven New Canaan teams have made it to the semifinals of the Fairfield County Football League playoffs, which will be played this weekend.

Bantam third grade

Wilton Blue vs. New Canaan Red, Saturday, at Wilton High School, 4 p.m.

New Canaan Black vs. Wilton White, Saturday, at Wilton High School, 5:30 p.m.

Bantam fourth grade

Wilton Blue vs. New Canaan Red, Sunday, at Wilton High School, 10:30 a.m.

Wilton White vs. New Canaan Red, Sunday, at Wilton High School, 3 p.m.

Junior fifth grade

New Canaan Red vs. DJFL Wave, Saturday, at Dunning Stadium, 6:30 p.m.

Wilton Blue vs. DJFL Blue, Sunday, at Wilton High School, 1:30 p.m.

Junior sixth grade

Fairfield Red vs. DJFL Blue, Sunday, at Fairfield Warde, 1 p.m.

Westport North vs. Wilton Black, Sunday, at Wilton High School, 12 p.m.

Senior seventh grade

DJFL Blue vs. Fairfield Blue, Saturday, at Darien High School, 10 a.m.

RYF Orange vs. DJFL White, Sunday, at Darien High School, 12 p.m.

Senior eighth grade

New Canaan Black vs. DJFL White, Sunday, at Darien High School, 1:30 p.m.

DJFL Blue vs. New Canaan Red, Saturday, at Dunning Stadium, 8 p.m.

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

Girls soccer

New Canaan 2, Middletown 0 (OT), Class LL, first round

Girls volleyball

New Canaan 3, Trumbull 1 (25-9, 24-26, 25-16, 25-15), Class LL, first round

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE

Football

Trumbull at New Canaan, 7 p.m.

Boys soccer

Lyman Hall at New Canaan, 3 p.m., Class L, first round

Field hockey

New Canaan vs. New Milford at Brookfield, 1 p.m., Class L, first round

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

Girls soccer

Hamen at New Canaan, 2 p.m., Class LL second round

Girls volleyball

New Canaan at Staples, 10 a.m., Class LL second round

STANDINGS

• Football

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball