CIAC state tournament predictions
For three months, we’ve followed 98 teams’ battle to get to McMahon in midJune. In a week, we’ll be down to 12. Who’ll be the three celebrating CIAC boys lacrosse titles?
Class L Overview: Darien had looked like the odds-on team to beat, falling only to a few nationally ranked teams, until Andrew Calabrese and Wilton’s defense shut the Blue Wave down in the FCIAC semifinal. It may still be Darien’s to lose, but it feels a lot more uncertain.
The FCIAC semifinalists can’t quite be the Class L semifinalists; New Canaan could face Wilton, the team the Rams beat for the FCIAC championship on Friday, in the quarterfinals. Glastonbury could have a say about that. Darien could get another shot at defending champion Ridgefield in the semifinals, or other teams could stick their noses in.
Seeded upsets on the horizon?: No. 5 Darien against anybody 1 to 4? Solid bet. No. 10 Newtown has to visit Xavier but could get that done. No. 3 Glastonbury is no slouch, but having to go through No. 19 Wilton and likely No. 6 New Canaan in the first two rounds is no reward for a 13-3 season.
The final four: No. 1 Ridgefield, No. 4 Darien, No. 2 Fairfield Prep, No. 6 New Canaan.
Champion: It might not be a classic Blue Wave team, but it finds a way to get it done.
Class M Overview: New Fairfield sits atop this division, one of only two state teams to get through the regular season with one loss, and that came to St. Anthony’s (N.Y.), one of the top teams in the country; it’s the only team left without a loss in-state. The Rebels beat a couple of good Class L teams at the end of the regular season. Most of last year’s championship team returns. Good luck.
There are several other talented teams in here, though, including the team that played the Rebels in last year’s final, Hand. For good or ill, those two teams are lined up to meet in the quarterfinals. ECC champion Waterford has talent. Guilford boasts some offensive firepower.
Seeded upsets on the horizon?: No. 10 Notre Dame-West Haven of SCC Division I gets No. 7 Branford of SCC Division II to start. The Green Knights lost to No. 2 Waterford by one goal around midseason.
The final four: No. 1 New Fairfield, No. 4 Guilford, No. 10 Notre DameWest Haven, No. 3 Weston.
Champion: Unless someone’s got something up their sleeve, it’s New Fairfield’s for the taking. Class S Overview: One of the great disappointments of this postseason, as the seeding came into focus this week, was realizing that last year’s finalists, champion St. Joseph and runner-up Somers, were targeted to meet in the quarterfinals. That’s a bit of a rough break.
That’s not to take away from the rest of the bracket, though East Catholic and St. Paul should probably meet a little later than the first round, too; they played a one-goal game early in the season. Granby, Bacon Academy: they’ve had big wins this season.
Seeded upsets on the horizon?: No. 11 Granby, the only team to beat Somers, looks from common opponents to have an edge on No. 6 Stonington. No. 19 Northwest Catholic played a close one with No. 3 Bacon Academy early in the season.
The final four: No. 8 St. Joseph, No. 4 Sheehan, No. 2 St. Paul, No. 11 Granby.
Champion: St. Joseph repeats by a similar score to the 13-7 victory it took from St. Paul in Trumbull last month. Though if both of them are out in a week instead, it won’t be a shock.