Ridgefield Boys Hockey Falls To St. Joseph In Division I Quarterfinals

Nate Gliedman gave up two goals on the first three shots he faced Saturday as the Ridgefield boys hockey team suffered a 3-2 loss to St. Joseph in the quarterfinals of the Division I state tournament at Terry Conners Rink.

It was a disappointing end of a successful season for the Tigers, who finished the year at 17-6-1, but Ridgefield coach Shaun Gallagher had more important matters on his mind.

Gallagher left immediately after the conclusion of the game to be with his wife, who was expected to give birth to the couple's fifth child at any moment.

As St. Joseph coach Marty Crouse said, the result of the game took a back seat to Gallagher's family situation.

The Tigers did play well after falling behind 2-0 in the game's first five minutes. They just couldn't overcome the early deficit.

St. Joseph (20-5) advanced to the semifinals to face undefeated New Canaan for the fourth time this season.

Conor Crouse scored two goals and Zach Carrano recorded 33 saves for the Cadets, who also beat Ridgefield 3-2 in the FCIAC semifinals.

The Cadets started strong Saturday,  as Crouse and Pat Corcoran each beat Gliedman to the stick side in the first five minutes.

Ridgefield (17-6-1) settled down after Gallagher called a timeout and out-shot St. Joseph 10-4 in the first period. Carrano made some big saves early to allow the Cadets to hold on to their 2-0 lead after one.

"We know we can always count on Zach," Conor Crouse said. "We know he can't do it all, but he always finds a way to play spectacular in net. There's no greater time for him to be be hot right now. We need this coming into the game against New Canaan."

After recording four consecutive scoreless periods in the state tournament, Carrano finally allowed a goal, as Ridgefield's Matt Flanagan banged in a rebound to pull Ridgefield within 2-1 1:43 into the second.

The contest then settled into a goaltending duel. Each team had 10 shots in the second period before the Tigers out-shot the Cadets 15-9 in the third for a game edge of 35-23.

The Tigers nearly tied it a minute into the third period, but Carrano made a diving glove save on Sean Wilkinson, Ridgefield's best player, from close range.

"The third period put me in the zone," Carrano said. "The third period, they just pelted me. It kept me in the zone, it kept me focused, which I need."

At 6:43, Conor Crouse scored the eventual winning goal off a strong individual effort. He picked up a loose puck  inside the Ridgefield blue line and used his speed to cut around a Tigers' defender. Crouse then broke in alone and beat Gliedman hit to the stick side.

The Cadets needed the extra goal because Wilkinson made things interesting when he scored on a breakaway with 3:39 left to pull Ridgefield within 3-2.

Ridgefield didn't apply a ton of pressure after pulling Gliedman, but Carrano did make a pad save on Ryan Parsons' drive from the left faceoff circle with a minute left.

"He's just a great athlete," Marty Crouse said. "He makes the athletic saves. There's no style. I  don't care how he does it, just as long as does it."