Big win puts Cardinals back on track
GHS rebounds to hand Wilton its 1st loss
A decisive loss to Darien last week didn’t dampen the Greenwich High School field hockey team’s spirits.
Instead, the setback served as sort of a rallying point for the Cardinals.
“The team worked really hard the past two practices after that and we have been getting better,” Cardinals coach Ally Orrico said. “It was like everyone had a bad day on the same day against Darien and even though we did fight to the end, our fundamentals were poor that game. But our last two games, we refocused on getting back to the basics.”
Greenwich got back on the winning track when it posted a 5-4 come-frombehind win in overtime against Norwalk on Monday, then defeated another successful FCIAC foe on Wednesday.
Receiving two goals apiece from seniors Courtney Swift and Demi Janis, the Cardinals dealt Wilton its first defeat of the season Wednesday, registering an impressive 6-2 road win.
“We had a very good win against Norwalk, it was a crazy battle against them,” Orrico said. “It was a big win for us in overtime and gave the team confidence after that (7-2) loss to Darien. Against Wilton, it was a total team win. Every player I put in was awesome.”
The Cardinals’ record
stands at 8-4 overall and 8-3 in FCIAC play, good for second place in the conference’s West Division with 16 points. Wilton is 10-1 overall and is tied atop the standings with Darien at 8-1 in the FCIAC’s East Division.
The Warriors scored the game’s first goal Wednesday, with senior Robin Clasby tallying 2:24 into the opening half. Yet the Cards responded with three straight goals.
Senior Courtney Swift scored the equalizer at the 22:40 mark, then sophomore Augustina Ferrario tallied with 20:01 remaining in the first half, giving the Cardinals the lead for good at 2-1.
Janis scored off an assist from Ferrario with 4:12 to go in the first half, making it 3-1. Swift struck again with 23:30 left in the second half and Janis notched her second goal just under 10 minutes later. Freshman Zita Cohen had the assist
on Swift’s goal, while senior Jennifer Kelly set up Janis’ tally.
Cohen capped Greenwich’s scoring by rattling the cage with 5:13 remaining. Wilton’s second goal was scored by Isabella Rende with 1:20 left to play.
Maria Clara Pereira, a senior, made seven firsthalf saves, while sophomore Jorja Pastore stopped two shots in the second half.
“Our goalies did a great job and Katie Walko (senior) and Abril MartinezArraya (senior) were great, as was our whole team,” Orrico said. “Everyone did what they were supposed to do.”
Orrico saw the team gain much-needed momentum in its win against Norwalk.
“That was a game that put us on a path of realizing that when we play as a team and everyone across the board is on the same page, our team is capable of great things,” Orrico said. “I like the direction we are heading.”
Seniors Paige Finneran, Zoe Metalios and Sam Chabot have fulfilled their duties as captains on and off the field.
“Paige, Zoe and Sam are extremely dedicated athletes, who lead by example,” Orrico said. “They give this program everything they have.”
Greenwich’s challenging week continues, as it hosts Ridgefield at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
“We have to get right back at it in practice and prepare for them, it’s going to be another tough game,” Orrico said. “We need to bring our ‘A’ game.”