CIAC FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP CAPSULES
CLASS L NO. 1 DARIEN (22-0) VS. NO. 2 WILTON (18-2-1)
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Wethersfield High.
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, Senior Citizens $5, Children five and under; military in uniform or with I.D., Free. Digital Tickets Only (no cash sales at event) can be bought in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/ CIAC
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (Subscription required)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES — Darien: 15th appearance, 10-4 overall. Class L — 1981 def. Simsbury 1-0; 1982 lost 2-1 to Greenwich 2-1 (PS); 1984 def. Cheshire 1-0; 2012 def. Cheshire 4-0; 2013 def. Cheshire 3-1; 2014 co-champs with Glastonbury 1-2 (2OT); 2016 co-champs with Staples 0-0 (2OT); 2017 lost to Staples 1-0; 2019 lost to Staples 4-2; Class M — 2004 lost to Branford 3-1; 2007 def. Pomperaug 3-2; 2008 def. Wilton 2-1; 2009 def. New Canaan 3-0; 2010 def. Hand 3-2.; Wilton: 11th appearance, 6-4 overall. Class L — 1976 def. South Windsor 2-1; 2015 def. Cheshire 1-0 (OT); 2021 lost to New Canaan 3-1; Class M — 2003 lost to New Canaan 2-1; 2006 def. Hand 2-0; 2008 lost to Darien 2-1; 2011 def. Branford 2-1; 2012 def. Guilford 3-0; 2013 def. Lauralton Hall 1-0 (OT); 2014 lost to Hand 2-1.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: Darien, which defeated Staples 3-0 in the FCIAC final, is dominating both ends of the field and has outscored opponents 114-6. …The Blue Wave defense has produced 14 shutouts. …In the regular season, Darien defeated FCIAC rival Wilton 4-1. …The Warriors lost to FCIAC tournament runnerup Staples in the semifinals. …Wilton also excels on both ends of the field, outscoring opponents 100-16 with 11 shutouts.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: The Warriors had to beat three FCIAC rivals to get to the final — Trumbull in the first round, Ridgefield in the quarterfinals and New Canaan in the semifinals. After losing to Darien 4-1 on Oct. 4 the Warriors have gone 10-1-1, including postseason games.
CLASS M NO. 6 NEW MILFORD (13-4-3) VS. NO. 9 BRANFORD (15-5-1-1)
When: Saturday, Noon.
Where: Wethersfield High.
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, Senior Citizens $5, Children five and under; military in uniform or with I.D., Free. Digital Tickets Only (no cash sales at event) can be bought in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/ CIAC
ON THE AIR/WEB: NFHS Network (Subscription required)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES — New Miilford: 5th appearance, 0-4 overall. 1978 lost to Cheshire 1-0; 1980 lost to North Branford 2-0; 1981 lost to Cheshire 1-0; 1983 lost to Enfield 1-0 (OT). Branford: 15th appearance, 10-4 overall: Class L — 1987 lost to Cheshire 2-1; 1995 lost to Amity 1-0; Class M — 1984 lost to Enfield 2-0; 1985 def. Stonington 1-0; 1986 def. East Lyme 1-0; 1988 def. Pomperaug 2-0; 1989 co-champs with Pomperaug (1-1); 1990 def. Pomperaug 2-0; 1991 def. Stonington 2-1; 2001 def. Pomperaug 4-1; 2002 def. Farmington 2-0; 2004 def. Darien 3-1; 2005 def. Hand 1-0; 2011 lost to Wilton 2-1.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: This shapes up as a game destined to go to overtime with both defenses hitting another gear in the Class M tournament. Neither team has allowed a goal on the way to the final. New Milford beat East Lyme 4-0 (first round), Fitch 1-0 (quarterfinals) and Wethersfield 2-0 (semifinals). Branford defeated Brookfield 1-0 (first round), pulled off an upset with 1-0 win over SCC rival and three-time defending Class M champion Guilford 1-0 (quarterfinals) and had a 1-0 win over SCC rival Hand (semifinals) . … Branford entered the CIAC tournament with 11 shutouts and New Miilford had nine.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: The Hornets prepared for the postseason with a strong regular season schedule with its four losses against some notable competition. They opened the season with a 3-0 loss to FCIAC power New Canaan, lost 2-1 to three-time defending champion Guilford, lost 3-0 to Class L finalist Wilton and lost 1-0 to recent SCC tournament champion Cheshire. The Hornets also had a 3-2 overtime loss to North Branford, a Class S finalist.
CLASS S NO. 1 NORTH BRANFORD (20-1) VS. NO. 3 STONINGTON (15-2-1)
When: Saturday, 10 a.m.
Where: Wethersfield High.
Tickets: Adults $10, Students $5, Senior Citizens $5, Children five and under; military in uniform or with I.D., Free. Digital Tickets Only (no cash sales at event) can be bought in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/ CIAC
ON THE AIR/WEB:NFHS Network (Subscription required)
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME APPEARANCES — North Branford: 8th appearance, 5-2 overall. Class M — 1980 def. New Milford 2-0; 1987 lost to Stonington 2-1; Class S — 1981 co-champions with Pomperaug (0-0); 2006 def. Haddam-Killingworth 1-0 (OT); 2017 def. Granby 2-1; 2019 lost to Granby 1-0; 2021 def. Stonington 2-0. Stonington: 7th appearance, 2-4 overall. Class M — 1985 lost to Branford 1-0; 1987 def. North Branford 2-1; 1991 lost to Branford 2-1; Class S — 2012 lost to HaddamKillingworth 2-0; 2013 def. Granby 1-0; 2021 lost to North Branford 2-0.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR: This will be an interesting game with two veteran coaches facing off (North Branford coach Babby Nuhn and Stonington coach Jenna Tucchio) with a smidgen of motivation thrown in for players on both teams. North Branford closed its regular season against the Bears and Stonington won 1-0. You might have noticed in the championship game appearance section above that the Thunderbirds defeated the Bears in last season's Class S final.
YOU SHOULD KNOW: In that regular season matchup, Stonington goalie Madi Allard had nine saves and North Branford goalie Madi DiStefano had six saves. The goalies and on-field defense dominated the game with Marina Lewandowski providing the game-winning goal in the fourth quarter.