NC 6 Red Shines in Lacrosse Jamboree
–submitted by Darleen Ferraro
Front row L to R: Katharine Byrne, Izzy Schuh, Caroline Langford, Grace Crookenden, Kate Caione, Stella Nolan, Katherine O’Connell, Shawna Ferraro, Molly Reed. Second row L to R: Elizabeth Miller, Katherine Wronski, Kate Warner, Ella Imbruce, Kate Barnard, Polly Parsons-Hills, Caroline Underwood, Nola Kammerer, Reagan Bailey, Abby Richardson, Tessa Cosco
The day was filled with brightness and not just because of the amazing weather that beamed down on the Water Tower Fields on Saturday, June 10th. The NC 6 Red proved once again they are in it to win it. Not only did the team shine, but they were very lucky to have NC’s own shining star, Elizabeth Miller (Boston College) to coach them for the day.
As we all know, Miller may have the wow factor on the field, but she also brings the same energy to her coaching. The girls showed one of their best displays of what it means to work together as a team: passing the ball and utilizing each and every player’s determination to pull together as one to get the job done.
Polly Parsons-Hills with her head up and ready to charge the net for her first goal of the day.
The first game of the morning was against Fairfield 6. Besides the clumpy grass that the girls had to run through, that seemed to be their only obstacle, for the NC 6 Red came out on top with a score of 4-2. Stella Nolan took the net by storm and scored two goals. Katherine O’Connell and Polly Parsons-Hills both picked up one goal. Caroline Underwood had a nice shot on net. As always, Katharine Byrne and Tessa Cosco displayed nothing but complete control of their sticks and did whatever it took to get the ball in the offensive zone. Katherine Wronski had four saves. This win helped to set a precedent for how the rest of the day was going to play out.
Caroline Langford not letting anything stand in her way as she gets around a defender.
The second game of the day was against Ridgefield 6 Black. Miller’s magic remained and so did the girls’ effort since this was one of their best displays of passing. Passing in lacrosse is one of the fundamentals of the game, and, if done right, usually leads to a successful win. This team was successful and their passing paid off, for they came out with another victory, 5-2. Polly Parsons-Hills scored two goals and had another shot on goal. Caroline Langford, Stella Nolan, and Katherine O’Connell all took away one goal. Grace Crookenden and Shawna Ferraro had a strong shot on goal. Reagan Bailey and Kate Barnard both showed their aggressiveness by getting a few take-aways which helped the team to score.
Kate Caione showing her strength and skill; no one pushes her around.
The third game of the day was against Ridgefield 6 Orange. NC Red must like the number five since they took away another win 5-0. The sun was hot; the turf was hot and the girls were hot. The heat did not seem to affect them as they continued to play extremely-well together by passing the ball to get it downfield. Shawna Ferraro, Ella Imbruce, Nola Kammerer, Polly Parsons-Hills, and Molly Reed all scored one goal. Caroline Langford, Stella Nolan, and Kate Warner all had a great shot on the net. Kate Caione and Abby Richardson played top-notch and fierce, as usual, with their skill and drive to defend by keeping the offense away from the net.
Grace Crookenden, #33, shooting a fast one into the net.
The last, and final game of the day, was against Simsbury. NC 6 Red started the day with a 4-2 win and that’s the same way they ended it: with a 4-2 win. By this time of the day, you would have thought that the girls were too hot and too tired to keep the momentum going; however, that was the complete opposite of what actually happened. Miller knew how to work the lines all day to keep the energy level up. The girls switched lines often and this must have been the trick as to why they continued to hold-up and dominate. Shawna Ferraro, Molly Reed, Izzy Schuh, and Caroline Underwood all had one goal. Katherine O’Connell had three attempts on goal. Grace Crookenden had two shots on goal. Shawna Ferraro, Ella Imbruce, Nola Kammerer, and Caroline Langford each had one shot on goal. Molly Reed and Kate Warner picked up a nice assist. Wronski saved an impressive five shots for the game.
The girls were all smiles as they ran off the field for the very last time together as a team. It was a great season and they all improved their game. As they started each game with the chant, “NC Pride,” the true meaning seemed to resonate with them and was definitely a contributing factor as to why they had such a great, successful season.
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New Canaan Boys 07 White Trounces Trumbull with a 9-4 Win
–submitted by Anne Walker
Parker Della Bitta makes a run on goal.
Sunday’s game against the Trumbull United Tigers at Indian Ledge got off to a brisk start with Simon Tchakarov scoring the first goal within the first few minutes. While Trumbull answered back with two rapid goals, it would be the only point in the game that they would be ahead. After Oliver Sturn scored the next goal with an assist from Christian Crovatto, New Canaan unleashed a barrage of shots on Trumbull. Crovatto scored the third goal, Liam Cannon the fourth, Crovatto the fifth, with an assist from Ellis Frey, and Frey the sixth. At half time, the score was 6 to 2 in New Canaan’s favor. Trumbull scored twice in the second half but was unable to recover the ground they had lost. The boys continued to put the pressure on and Finn Arrix in goal blocked any further attempts from Trumbull. Gregory Martin scored New Canaan’s next goal, followed by an eighth and ninth goal by Tchakarov, to end the game with a definite 9 to 4 win. Great job boys!
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Brewers Win 4-2 in New Canaan Major Division Rec League Championship Game Against Cardinals
–submitted by Jim Higgins
From left to right: Top – Phillip Ettinger, Ryan Smith, Luke Van Dussen, Justin Higgins, Sam Bisesi, Marc DeGaetano; Kneeling: Henry Silva, Jack Jensen, Brian Balkun, Thomas Ziegler; laying in front: Luke Hickey
For the Brewers:
Marc DeGaetano and Thomas Ziegler led the Brewers offense with two hits each. Luke Hickey had a key double to the left/center gap to drive in a run. Justin Higgins and Jack Jensen combined to pitch a 1-hitter. Justin Higgins was the starting pitcher, pitched three innings and had 4 strikeouts. Jack Jensen pitched the last three innings and had 7 strikeouts. Higgins, Hickey, Bisesi and Jensen each had 1 RBI. Brewers won 4-2.
For the Cardinals:
from left to right: Peter Cioffi, Robbie Hellmann, Colin Tiscornia, Johnny Maechling, Cullen McCarthy, Nick Burns, Eoin Mueller, Jack Lenihan, Alex Benevento, Nate Rucci
Jack Lenihan hit a towering double to left field and pitched first three innings and struck out 4 batters. Nick Burns pitched two innings and gave up only two hits. Cullen McCarthy had 1 RBI.