New Canaan Scores and Standings: Nov. 3

Editor's Note: Send any write-ups on youth or recreational games in your town to michaeld+sports@patch.com.]

New Canaan's bid to dethrone three-time FCIAC boys soccer champion Staples fell just short Wednesday.

After the teams battled through 100 scoreless minutes in Westport, the fourth-seeded Wreckers advanced to their fourth straight FCIAC final by defeating the Rams 3-2 on penalty kicks.

Seeking a fourth consecutive title, Staples (12-2-4)  will take on Darien/Trumbull in Friday's championship at Fairfield Ludlowe.

Staples took the first shot in the shootout but its initial kick went wide. However, Wreckers goaltender James Hickok stopped his counterpart Scott Levene to keep keep the Rams off the board.

Max Hoberman, Ben Root and Steve Smith converted their opportunities, giving Staples a 3-2 lead after four rounds.

The Wreckers' final attempt sailed wide, giving New Canaan a chance to tie and force another set of five kicks, but Hickok made the stop on Steve Valente's final attempt. His save sent the Wreckers into the finals, where they will be seeking their 28th FCIAC championship.

"For 52 years, Staples has relied on strong defense,” Wreckers coach Dan Woog said. “This game ranks up there with some of our best defensive efforts of all time."

New Canaan, the defending CIAC Class L state champions, had reached the semifinals after stunning top seed Norwalk in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

Jon-Luke Ferrandino and Charles Pickhardt converted penalty kicks for the Rams (9-4-5).

The Fairfield Warde girls soccer team pulled off a major upset Wednesday, surprising No. 2 seed New Canaan 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the FCIAC playoffs.

Cate Allen scored the game's only goal in the 25th minute. The Mustangs (10-5-2) then shut down the Rams to advance to Thursday's semifinal against No. 6 Wilton. The Warriors also pulled off an upset, defeating No. 3 Westhill 3-2 on penalty kicks (4-2 penalty kicks).

New Canaan (12-3-2) entered the FCIAC playoffs riding an eight-game winning, but the Rams were thwarted by Warde's defense and the goaltending of Katie Brennen, who made four saves.

In Wednesday's other quarterfinal, top seed St. Joseph held off No. 8 seed Trumbull.

In Thursday's semifinals, which will be played at Norwalk, St. Joseph takes Greenwich at 5 p.m. and Warde faces Wilton at 7 p.m.

Melanie Sztorc scored the game's only goal with four minutes remaining Wednesday as sixth-seeded New Canaan blanked No. 3 Norwalk 1-0 Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the FCIAC field hockey playoffs at Fairfield Warde.

Wednesday's contest appeared headed to overtime as both team were in a defensive mode. New Canaan (10-4-1-1) did not record its first shot until the 30-minute mark.

In the semifinals, the Rams will take on No. 2 seed Wilton (15-2) Thursday at 7 p.m. at New Canaan. The Warriors advanced with a 4-0 win over No. 7 seed Fairfield Ludlowe.

Britt Gardella made five saves for New Canaan and Shannon O'Malley stopped three shots for Norwalk (12-3-1), which outshot the Rams, 10-6.

In Wednesday's other quarterfinals, top seed Darien scored three goals in the second galf to defeat No. 8 Westhill 3-0 and No. 4 Staples defeated No. 5 Stamford 1-0.

Staples and Stamford meet in the first game of the semifinal double at 5 p.m. at Ludlowe.

The FCIAC girls volleyball playoffs begin Thursday with the quarterfinals:

No. 8 Fairfield Ludlowe at No. 1 Darien, 4 p.m.

No. 7 Danbury vs. No. 2 Ridgefield at Staples, 6 p.m.

No. 6 Stamford at No. 3 Staples, 4 p.m

No. 5 Greenwich at No. 4 New Canaan, 6 p.m.

The CIAC has announced that the state Open cross country meet, scheduled for Friday at Manchester's Wickham Park, has been postponed until next Tuesday.

The site of the meet also has been changed as the girls and boys races now will be take place at at Hammonasset State Park in Madison. The boys will start at 1:45 p.m., followed by the girls at 2:30 p.m.

Darien won the Class L boys championship on Saturday at Wickham Park, which is unavailable for the state Open because of damage it suffered in Saturday's snowstorm.

The Open competition will determine which runners qualify for the  New England championships Nov. 12 at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, R.I.

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Boys soccer

Staples 1, New Canaan 0 (3-2 penalty kicks), FCIAC semifinals

Girls soccer

Fairfield Warde 1, New Canaan 0 FCIAC quarterfinals

Field hockey

New Canaan 1, Norwalk 0 FCIAC quarterfinals

THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE

Field hockey

New Canaan vs. Wilton, 7 p.m., at New Canaan, FCIAC semifinals

Girls swimming

FCIAC swim trials, at Greenwich, 4 p.m.

STANDINGS

• Football

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball