Norwalk Scores And Standings, Nov. 4

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

1. Former Norwalk standout Jake Zuniga on Fairfield's soccer team

Former Norwalk standout Jake Zuniga is a freshman on the Fairfield University men's soccer team, which has earned the top seed for the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament.

Zuniga has played in six games for the Stags this season, registering a goal in his only shot.

Fairfield, which won the MAAC regular season title, faces Rider or Canisius in the quarterfinals on Friday at 1:45 p.m. The tournament is taking place in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

The Stags enter the tournament with a 9-4-1 overall record, including a 8-0-1 mark in conference play. Fairfield is on a 9-0-1 tear since a 1-0 loss to Yale on Sept 23.

If Fairfield advances, the Stags would play in the semifinals on Sunday at 11 a.m. with the finals set for Monday at noon. The winner receives an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

Zuniga garnered All-State and All-FCIAC first team honors last season, pacing the league in goals with 27 while leading Norwalk to the FCIAC regular-season title.

In his four seasons at Norwalk, he helped lead the Bears to 38 victories and four state tournament appearances.

2. McMahon football at Greenwich on Saturday

The McMahon football team looks to rebound from last week's tough 14-13 loss at Ridgefield when the Senators visit Greenwich on Saturday in a 2 p.m. kickoff.

McMahon scored a touchdown in the final minute at Ridgefield, but went for the win instead of kicking the extra point and possibly going to overtime. The gamble backfired as the Senators' two-point conversion attempt failed.

It marked the second time that McMahon (3-4) has lost a game in the final seconds this season. Staples kicked a 19-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to defeat the Senators 24-21 on Oct.1.

All four of McMahon's loss this year have come by seven points or less. The Senators opened the season with a 22-15 defeat at Fairfield Warde, then squandered an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter a 36-33 setback to undefeated New Canaan the following week.

Of course, the Senators have no time to feel sorry for themselves as they are preparing for a 6-1 Greemwich team that has been on a roll.

The Cardinals are coming off Monday's 41-7 win over Westhill in a game that was postponed from Saturday because of the snowstorm so if there is one thing working in McMahon's favor, it's that Greenwich has had a short.

Still, Greenwich has been showcasing a potent offense, led by Shane Nastahowski, who rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings. For the season, Nastahowski has amassed 750 yards and 14 TDs on the ground.

Norwalk, which improved to 6-1 with a 42-20 win over Harding on Monday, has a bye this week.

3. Sticks For Soldiers Lacrosse Tournament

The Fairfield Ludlowe High School Lacrosse team and the local lacrosse community will host the sixth annual Sticks for Soldiers Thanksgiving Charity Lacrosse tournament on Saturday, Nov. 26 at the Fairfield Ludlowe High School Campus.

This year’s efforts will support three severely-injured servicemen: USMC Sgt. Liam Dwyer of Litchfield, Connecticut; Army Pfc. Josh Budd of Cheshire, Connecticut; and USAF Tech Sgt. Joe Wilkinson of Troy, New York. They each suffered injuries in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan or Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This past year, Sgt. Dwyer (30) and Pfc. Budd (19) were injured in separate IED explosions within Afghanistan. Each soldier lost his left leg and received injuries to other limbs, along with extensive soft tissue damage from the shrapnel. They are both being treated with additional surgeries, rehab and prosthetic therapy at the new Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.

Veteran Tech Sgt. Wilkinson (32) has progressive leg paralysis and strength loss as the result of a compromised spinal cord with an unclear diagnosis or cause. He served in the USAF Security forces for 12 years from 1997 to 2009.

Since returning in 2006, he has endured 2 spinal surgeries and many months of therapy and rehab at Walter Reed and the VA Hospitals in Albany and Syracuse. He is mostly confined to a wheelchair, and struggling to support his wife and three young children in a house needing improved accessibility.  

Mike Voucas, the  founder and Jim Tommins, the tournament chairman agree, “Fairfield Ludlowe Lacrosse is once again proud to host the Sticks for Soldiers event this Thanksgiving weekend. 

"As we mark the 10th anniversary of 9/11, showing our appreciation and  raising awareness of the sacrifices made by our service men and women, is especially focused. We are also grateful for the outpouring of support from the teams and all the donors and sponsors.   We encourage all players and teams to add to the fundraising efforts and help us to help these three fine young men. Last year saw our five-year effort exceed $105,000, and we were able to help our  2010 honoree  Brendan Marrocco move into a completely accessible home. Brendan helped us to identify this years’ recipients.”  

Varsity teams from area high schools will participate in a 7- on -7 tournament game format. More than 30 teams are expected this year with more than 450  athletes involved.

 Participating schools include host Fairfield Ludlowe, Fairfield Prep, Fairfield  Warde, Ridgefield, Weston, Brien McMahon, Hopkins, Amity, Hamden, Westhill,  Newtown, Guilford, Hall- West Hartford, Stamford and Norwalk.  Team entry fees, raffles, and silent auction proceeds will be shared with each soldier for several needs like adaptive housing, transportation, care-giver expenses, and visitation travel.  The tournament opening will start at 9 a.m and each team should play at least three games. A mid-day ceremony will recognize the honorees.

Donations may be sent to: Tom Mason, Treasurer, payable to: “Sticks for Soldiers”, 134 Old Orchard Park, Fairfield CT 06824. For updated tournament information, schedules, location and history, please see   www.sticksforsoldiers.org , and Facebook.

4. Start of state tournaments delayed

The CIAC announced Thursday it has postponed the start of its state tournaments to allow extra time for conferences to complete their own playoff tournaments.

State tournaments in soccer, field hockey, volleyball and swimming, scheduled to start on Monday, now will be begin Thursday. Pairings will be announced Wednesday.

Volleyball and field hockey state championship games now will take place Nov. 18-19. Girls and boys soccer championship games will be played the following weekend.

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

No games scheduled

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE

Girls swimming

FCIAC diving finals, 5 p.m., at Westhill

SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE

Football

McMahon at Greenwich, 2 p.m.

Girls swimming

FCIAC finals,  4 p.m., at Greenwich

STANDINGS

• Football

2-5

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball