CIAC GIRLS LACROSSE PREVIEW STORYLINES AND GAMES TO WATCH

UNLIMITED POWER

New Canaan and Darien went wire-to-wire as the top two teams in the weekly coaches poll last year and are once again on an elite level as the 2022 season begins. Each team has numerous Div. 1 commits, including New Canaan’s Kaleigh Harden (North Carolina) and Dillyn Patten (Cornell), and Darien’s Ceci Stein (Michigan) and Shae Dolce (Boston College) just to name a few. Last year, the rivals faced each other four times, with the Rams winning thrice, including 7-4 in the FCIAC final for their first conference crown since 1993. Darien avenged that loss with an 8-4 victory in the Class L semifinals, and then won its eight state crown in nine seasons. They have one regularseason match-up, on April 13 in Darien, but seem destined to meet again in the postseason. To win an FCIAC of Class L championship, opponents will have to beat at least one, if not both, of the powers.

SWC MAYHEM

Trying to predict what will happen in the SWC is likely futile. Which is to say it’ll be a lot like last spring. New Fairfield, a perennial power, came out of the gates with seven straight wins including a one-goal decision over Newtown, before the Nighthawks returned the favor in another one-goal game less than a week later. Joel Barlow then beat both teams in the SWC tournament and won the league title. All three teams are top contenders again, and that’s without even mentioning Pomperaug, Weston, and Masuk, all of which have the potential to upend the standings. The only thing predictable about the SWC is its unpredictability.

GRIZZLIES GROWL

Guilford was the toast of the SCC last season, rolling through the conference schedule unbeaten and winning its second consecutive league championship. The Grizzlies didn’t stop there, beating each of their first three Class M opponents by at least nine goals, before squeaking out an 11-10 win over a tough Joel Barlow team in the final for the program’s first state title. With five All-SCC first team players back, including two-time All-SCC Player of the Year Maddie Epke (James Madison), and veteran goalie Sydney Widlitz, the Grizzlies appear poised to defend their SCC Div. I and Class M crowns. Perennial contender Cheshire and last year’s conference runner-up Daniel Hand will have a say in the final SCC Div. I picture.

WARRIORS COME OUT TO PLAY

While much of the FCIAC talk centers around New Canaan and Darien, Wilton is not far behind and appears to be the team most likely to knock off one of those two on a given day or night. The Warriors again feature Princeton-bound goalie Amelia Hughes in the net, along with middie/ defender Catherine Dineen (Bucknell), midfielder Bella DiNanno (Michigan), and attacker Molly Snow (Lehigh). Wilton opens the season with a rush of good matchups, including Greenwich Academy, SCCchampion Guilford, Rye (NY), New Canaan, Ridgefield and Sacred HeartHempstead (NY). It wouldn’t be at all surprising to see the Warriors standing toe-to-toe with the Rams and Wave at season’s end.

RUNNING REBELS

Don’t look now, but New Fairfield is in the midst of one of the longest state title runs in CIAC girls lacrosse history. The Rebels have won the last four Class S titles, beating Weston 11-9 in 2017, East Catholic 9-6 in 2018, Stonington 18-5 in 2019, and Weston 11-8 in 2021. And until someone knocks them off their perch, the Rebels would have to be considered the favorite in the class once again. The longest state title streak since the CIAC sanctioned the sport in 2004 belongs to Darien, which won five straight Class L crowns from 2013 to 2017. The Wave also won three straight Div. I titles from 2007 to 2009. One of the Rebels’ biggest obstacles to another state title would seem to come from within the SWC, as Weston has been the runner-up in Class S twice in four tournaments. There’s also North Branford and Old Saybrook, who mnet for the Shoreline title last year, as well as East Catholic and Stonington, who have the talent to make a run.

GAMES TO WATCH

North Branford at Old Saybrook, Tues., April 5, 3:45 p.m.: Old Saybrook defeated North Branford twice in the 2021 regular season, but it was the Thunderbirds who claimed their third straight Shoreline championship with a 9-3 win in the final. They’ll meet twice again this year, starting with this contest in the season’s first week.

Manhasset (NY) at Darien, Wed., April 6, 6 p.m.: The Darien-Manhasset series makes an early return with the Blue Wave hosting. The last two meetings have resulted in one-goal Manhasset wins, including a 12-11 OT game in 2019. The Indians are 5-0-1 in their last six games against the Wave.

Ludlowe at Guilford, Sat., April 9, 4 p.m.: This FCIAC-SCC match-up was a barn-burner last spring, with Ludlowe winning 12-11 in OT. Top guns Maddie Epke of Guilford and Kaleigh Sommers of Ludlowe each had six points, and Sommers scored the game-winning goal. This will be a big early-season test for both teams.

New Canaan at Wilton, Wed., April 13, 6 p.m.:

Wilton was ranked third behind New Canaan and Darien for much of last season before being displaced to No. 4 in the final top 10. The Warriors, who feature Princeton-bound goalie Amelia Hughes, have plenty of depth and the talent to possibly knock off the Rams or Blue Wave. They’ll play at Darien on May 2.

Wilton at Ridgefield, Sat., April 16, 11 a.m.:

Three days after facing New Canaan, Wilton heads up Route 7 to take on its rival in the north. Visitors always have a tough time winning at Tiger Hollow and Ridgefield is a steady contender every year.

New Canaan at Darien, Tues., April 19, 4 p.m.:

THE game on the schedule. The two rivals are both ranked in the top 10 nationally, and are heavy favorites for FCIAC and Class L championships again this year. They’re both loaded with Div. I talent and are deep all over the field. Have at it.

New Fairfield at New Canaan, Sat., April 30, 4 p.m.:

Last year’s Class S champion from the SWC plays on the home turf of the defending FCIAC champion. It’s a big step up in size for the Rebels, but they have the talent to make a run at the Rams.

Newtown at Joel Barlow, Mon., May 2, 7 p.m.:

A rematch of last year’s SWC championship game, which Barlow won in a defensive battle 7-4. Newtown had taken the regular-season contest 7-6, and both the Nighthawks and Falcons will be in the tite hunt again this spring.

Simsbury at Glastonbury, Tues., May 3, 4 p.m.:

A battle at the top of the CCC North. Glastonbury won last year’s contest 13-12 and this again figures to be a close one.

Staples at Guilford, Thurs., May 12, 6 p.m.:

Guilford lost just two games last season and both were narrow defeats to FCIAC teams. After their early-season game against Ludlowe, the Grizzlies will host a mid-May showdown with the Wreckers, who took a 12-10 decision last spring.