Girls Soccer Looking To Continue Winning Trend in Even Years

During Scott Neumann's tenure as Wilton's girls soccer coach, even years have been good to the Lady Warriors, who won CIAC Class L state championships in 2006 and 2008.

Could that trend continue in another even year?

If it does, it will have to happen without high-scoring Lauren DeCarlo, who registered 12 goals as senior in 2009 on a team that struggled through an up-and-down 5-7-4 campaign and was eliminated by Avon, 3-2, in the first round of the state tournament.

DeCarlo, who recorded 30 goals and 15 assists in her career at Wilton, now is a freshman at Syracuse, where she actually is playing on defense.

Neumann has to find a way to replace those 12 goals, although the strength of this year's team appears to be on defense with the return of experienced senior Brynn Hansson, sophomore Nicki Rutishauser and junior Colleen Deardoff.

However, Deardoff has been sidelined after tearing her ACL during her summer premier league season and it is not clear  when she will return. If she is sidelined for any extended time, her absence could become a major concern.

The last line of Wilton's defense will be the junior goalkeeping tandem of starter Liz Reda and backup Kasey O'Brien. Reda helped lead the Warriors to the state title two years ago as a freshman after winning the job midway through the year.

The trademark of Neumann's teams have been their strong defense, as the 2008 squad surrendered only 23 goals in 22 games en route to the state title. In five tournament games, Wilton allowed just three goals, registering shutouts in the semifinals and finals.

Last year, Wilton surrendered three goals in one state tournament game, but with the trio of defenders leading the way - assuming Deardoff is healthy enough to play - the 2010 club could be another stingy group.

When the Lady Warriors do need offense, it likely will come from sophomore midfielder Casey Pearsall, a three-sport star at Wilton. Basketball and lacrosse are her other specialties.

Senior forward Olivia Herlyn and Vicky Cassone also should provide some scoring punch for the Warriors, who kick off the season Tuesday at Staples (4:15 p.m.).

Wilton, of course, has come to expect state titles, having won 11 of them since 1986. Actually, the Warriors have gone all the way in each of the last three even years, a streak that started in 2004.

Two years ago, Wilton blanked Barlow, 1-0, for its last state crown. Reda's sister, Rachel, scoring the winning goal for the Warriors.