New Canaan's U11 Girls Red to Battle Middlebury FC in CT Cup Championship

From a field of 66 teams in the CT Cup’s U11 age group, only four remained this past weekend to square off in two semi-final games. Playing at home Saturday in front of a large crowd, New Canaan’s U11 Girls Red soccer team faced Ridgefield Black to determine who would be heading to the finals from their side of the bracket. In their most impressive victory this season, New Canaan defeated Ridgefield by a score of 2-0, earning them a trip to the CT Cup finals on Saturday, November 1st, in Farmington. They will face Middlebury FC in the championship game.

First half action was back and forth, with a lot of the plays being made around the mid-field. While the front line squad – Kiki Brainard, Jade Lowe, Dillyn Patten and Caitlin Tully - applied great pressure on the ball and consistently challenged the Ridgefield defense, outstanding goalkeeping denied New Canaan any scoring opportunities in the half. Equally tough, however, was the New Canaan defense, led by the impenetrable Kaleigh Harden and rotating teammates Emma Lamaker, Katie Perlitz, Angelica Megdanis and Madeleine McLaughlin. They did their job by preventing breakaways to the goal and any easy scoring opportunities for Ridgefield. The half would end scoreless.

With the gravity of the situation not lost on the U11 girls or their coach, Gwyn Jones, New Canaan set in motion a plan to dominate second half action with superior ball control, unrelenting pressure on the defense and unselfish teamwork. Poise and patience finally paid off when Brainard slipped one by the Ridgefield keeper in a stunning display of precision and control. A few minutes later, it would be Patten’s turn to score, adding a much needed insurance goal for New Canaan. New Canaan keeper Ashley Barton remained calm and composed throughout the game and preserved the shut out.

New Canaan’s weekend was not over with the dramatic win against Ridgefield, as they had to face Wilton Blue on Sunday in a regular season game. Having already beaten Wilton twice this season at home, the U11 girls were confident in their chances to defeat them one more time. With Jade Lowe in goal and Harden, McLaughlin, Avery Minter and Grace Crowell holding Wilton at bay in New Canaan territory, mid-fielders Hadley Beiles and Hollis Mulry put on another impressive show of teamwork and moved the ball beautifully around the field. New Canaan’s first goal was scored by Kiki Brainard who lobbed it gracefully from the corner of the field.

New Canaan continued to be in command during the second half, with Katie Perlitz sneaking one in the net off a dazzling cross by Brainard. Wilton immediately answered back with their only goal of the game, a high shot that just brushed the fingertips of keeper Madeleine McLaughlin. Later in the half, Perlitz would find the net again with a breakaway shot on goal; and Caitlin Tully would add a fourth goal after finishing a gorgeous pass sequence from Lowe. The 4-1 victory against Wilton keeps New Canaan in first place of the Southwest District A Division.

In addition to the CT Cup finals next Saturday, November 1st, New Canaan faces Fairfield Riptides on Sunday, November 2nd, in their last regular season game before the division playoffs.

Pictured above:  The U11 Girls Red team celebrates their semi-final victory on Saturday