Sports
Warriors' Season Ends In Double-OT Loss To Darien
The WHS girls field hockey team gave Darien all they could handle on Thursday, but lost on a last minute goal in the second overtime to bring their season to an end.
The WHS girls field hockey team had played Darien twice this season before Thursday's quarter final CIAC match, losing both by three goals; but neither game could foreshadow their third meeting, where neither team was able to score in regulation or the first overtime. Finally, in the second overtime, the Warriors' season ended on a single Darien goal.
The Warriors pressured the ball from the start in what Warrior Coach Deirdre Hynes described as "hoping to take away their passing game which is their strength." Wilton did a good job of it with Amy Drummond and Allison Rutishauser setting the tone.
If the game were a boxing match, Darien would have won the first half on points; but this was field hockey, and the only points would come on goals. Darien had two quality opportunities. The first came on a loose ball in front of the Wilton cage where the ball "died" about an inch from the goal. And the second on what Darien's Coach Minicus thought was "a goal for sure" but was called back when the referee ruled it was scored with a high stick that was over the shooter's head.
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Wilton did a good job in changing defenses.
"We went from a 4—2—4 to a 5—2—3, and it helped generate more offense as well as throw them off their rhythm," said Hynes.
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In the first half, Darien had 11 shots-on-goal and seven penalty corners, to one and one for Wilton. But in the only stat that matters, it was 0—0 on the scoreboard.
In the second half, it was more of the same. Wilton continued to pressure the ball, keeping Darien at bay with well executed block tackles. Darien, again, played most of the half on Wilton's side of the field but neither team could score. For the first time this season, Darien didn't win in regulation time.
Final stats: Wilton had only two shots on goal to Darien's 17 and only one penalty corner to Darien's twelve.
In overtime, the teams play a seven against seven, ten minute period sudden death. Darien had a golden opportunity to score when Leslie Gill stick handled past the last Wilton defender on a breakaway, but on an attempted pass to the wing, the Darien lost possession. The Warriors came right back with a chance of their own, but they couldn't convert either. It was still scoreless after one overtime.
In the second overtime, two-and-a-half minutes in, Ellie Riegal found a loose ball near her stick in front of the Warriors goal and was able to hand Wilton a heart-breaking loss.
"I wasn't aiming for any spot, just for anywhere in the goal," said Riegal.
Wilton gave a superb effort in a game they weren't supposed to win, but almost did, against undefeated Darien, who now advance to the CIAC semifinals against Daniel Hand on Tuesday.
