Boys Soccer Secures FCIAC Playoff Spot

The Wilton boys soccer team is headed to the FCIAC playoffs for the first time in a decade.

Evan Owen and freshman Kyle Dedrick scored in the second half, as the Warriors blanked Bridgeport Central, 2-0, Tuesday night to clinch their first appearance in the FCIAC playoffs since 2000.  

The Warriors, who concluded the regular season with an 8-3-4 record,  will play in the first round of the playoffs Friday afternoon against an opponent to be determined.

Wilton's seeding will be known after the regular season is completed on Wednesday. The Warriors will get a home game in the first round if Fairfield Warde and Ridgefield lose to Greenwich and St. Joseph, respectively.

After a scoreless first half, the Warriors received offense from unlikely sources, as Owen and Dedrick are not known as goal scorers.

In a tightly played, physical battle contested  in a warm mist, Owen opened the scoring at the 21-minute mark. Dedrick provided insurance six minutes later.

The first Wilton goal was controversial because the through ball scored by Owen - off an assist from Dedrick - was an obvious offside that was missed by the referees. 

Even the Wilton faithful on the sideline were incredulous that it was not called.

The second goal came after a set play, caused when one of the Central coaches  received a yellow card for arguing with the referees.  

The ball was sent into the box,  where a couple of players knocked it around until it landed on the foot of Dedrick, who buried it into the back of the Hilltoppers' net.

Still,  Central never quit and had chances to score, but were unable to put a shot past Wilton goalkeeper Mike DeSantis, who, along with his defense,  came up big in both halves.

The Hilltoppers came close on a ball missed by DeSantis,  but Wilton's Johnny Prinner cleared it off the goal line with a Central attacker on his back. 

In the second half,  DeSantis made an incredible save on a breakaway, sticking out his leg and deflecting the ball away. 

"We knew they were fast and I just told our guys to stay in front of them and DeSantis came up big when they slipped through," Wilton coach Jim Lewicki said.

"I just reacted and stuck out my leg," DeSantis added. "My defense bailed me out more than one time tonight."