U-13 Division A Co-Championship for New Canaan FC’s 2004 Girls Red
—submitted by Amy Lamaker
New Canaan FC’s 2004 Girls Red team won a co-championship
On a brilliant Sunday afternoon, the 2004 Girls Red soccer team, coached by Dan Clarke, earned a U-13 co-championship by tying Weston 1-1 in the Division A finals. As the top seed in the playoffs, New Canaan was eager to face their chief rival for a third time this season.
In a tense first half, the two teams battled fiercely for possession of the ball, keeping most of the action in the middle of the pitch. New Canaan’s unflappable mid-fielders Hadley Beiles, Jade Lowe and Hollis Mulry, controlled the contest in middle with their skillful passing, while forwards Kaleigh Harden and Caitlin Tully consistently challenged a tough Weston defense. Although outstanding goalkeeping by Weston denied NC any scoring opportunities in the half, our own defensive line, anchored by Emma Lamaker and Molly Wunderlich in the center and Avery Minter and Angelica Megdanis on the outside, did an impressive job protecting keeper Jasmine Mansourov. The half would end scoreless.
With tensions mounting in the second half, both teams continued their assault on the ball, each taking several quality shots on goal. The scoreless tie was broken in the sixtieth minute when Weston finally found the net with a high chip into the right corner. For the New Canaan team, poise, composure and determination kicked into high gear to find a way to tie up the match…with about eight minutes left in the game Tully penetrated the Weston defense and slipped one past their keeper.
Although both teams gave it their best effort, neither could find the net again in the remaining minutes. With no overtime available in division finals, New Canaan and Weston would be named Co-Champions.
New Canaan earned a place in the finals after handedly beating #4 seed Fairfield in the semi-final game on Saturday. An early goal by Beiles off a gorgeous cross by Anna Barnard put New Canaan up 1-0 by halftime. In the second half of play, New Canaan dominated the action with superior ball control, unselfish teamwork and confidence. Forwards Bella Licata and Kaleigh Griffiths and mid-fielder Grace Flatow tested the Fairfield goalie and defense with their continued pressure, while defender Meghan Driscoll supported the back line squad with her tenacious defense. Harden would add two more goals and Tully one of her own, for a final score of 4-0.
The 2004 Girls Red team finished the regular season with a first place record of 7-1 and 39 goals scored. Awesome season girls!
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Jr Rams Wrap Up Season
—submitted by Ashley Burr
New Canaan Football Club 2010 Junior Rams
New Canaan Football Club 2010 Junior Rams closed out a fantastic season Saturday. The program nurtures the foundational soccer skills that will be the building blocks for development of Kindergarten through 2nd grade aged soccer players. The program is designed to prepare prospective players for the transition into travel play or to continue to develop within the New Canaan F.C. Academy program.
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Furious Last Minute Comeback Victory Caps 8-1 Season for 2007 NCFC Boys Red
— submitted by Ed Ho
Courage in the face of near certain defeat is not uniquely British. But, there is no denying that Sir Winston Churchill’s unforgettable exhortation to the British people in their darkest hour gives the “never quit” attitude a revered, British quality.
Top row, L-R: Brooks Walker, Sajan Shah, Max Maggard, William Arnold, Jackson Mountford, Javier Minuesa, Coach Dan Clarke, Bottom Row: Joaquin Blanco, Dylan Ho, Shane McMahon, Chase Harden, Drew DeGaetano
“Never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” —Sir Winston Churchill, 29 October 1941
NC Coach Dan Clarke, a native of England, must have been channeling Sir Winston to his New Canaan boys as they found themselves down nearly the entire match. We all sensed a bigger, stronger, faster and more aggressive Shelton side from the opening whistle. They won the ball when it mattered, they knocked our boys to the ground and created many chances to open a commanding lead. Despite missing four open goal chances, three saves from Dylan Ho’s feet as a defender and half a dozen sure handed saves from Drew DeGaeatano in goal, the Shelton onslaught still opened a 2-0 early first half lead for the visitors. The NC boys have fought hard all season and parried back with great open field play from Sajan Shah and William Arnold. Finding a soft spot in Shelton’s defense near the end of the first half, Chase Harden fired a mighty shot from the top of the box into the goal to restore a ray of hope amongst the anguished New Canaan supporters.
Shelton led 2-1 at half.
Both teams came out in the second half with an even greater sense of mission as this was the last match of the season. Shelton seemed to have one extra man at times; they closed on our attacks, they counter-attacked and applied constant pressure to the backline of Chase Harden, Joacquin Blanco and goalkeeper Brooks Walker. Shelton scored late in the second half to widen their lead to 3-1. From here, down two goals to a determined and talented challenger, the NC Boys began mounting their comeback with ten minutes to play.
Once again, Javier Minuesa took the team on his back and with his play symbolically said, “We will not lose, not on this field, not on this day!” Dashing down the field with his own fierce determination, Max “Ocho” Maggard drew the defense and passed off to Javier who converted to once again bring New Canaan within 1. However, the Shelton attack scored another goal and restored their lead to two goals – 4-2 Shelton late in the 2H. Within minutes, Jackson Mountford and Javier Minuesa dribbled and passed through the Shelton defense leading to Minuesa’s second goal. Still 4-3 Shelton with under 3 minutes to play.
The tension the NC parents had throughout the match reached a boil. Two parents got called out by Coach Dan to settle down – to let the boys display their pride and passion free of parental interference in the final minutes of the season. We, and most especially yours truly, obliged. And what we witnessed will form the most lasting memory of this wonderful season.
The entire team rallied in the closing two minutes to put enormous pressure on Shelton’s defense. Crosses and shots flew but no goal. Time was running out. And then, succumbing to New Canaan’s relentless pressure, Shelton scored an own goal to tie the match. It seemed like the final whistle could blow at any second. Immediately winning the ball of the Shelton kickoff, the New Canaan boys saw fit to end the season in dramatic fashion. Denied earlier by hitting the top crossbar, Jackson Mountford would not allow that to happen again. In a moment of sublime athleticism, Jackson made his and the team’s final shot of the season count. From 15 yards out, he made his best strike of the season. GOAL NEW CANAAN! 5-4 VICTORY!!
Thank you Boys for a wonderful season. Thank you Coach Dan for your leadership and tutelage of our boys. Thank you parents for your craziness, your passion and support.
And to you Sir Winston, let it be known that this brave and courageous group of young boys from New Canaan found their good sense and their honour this final Sunday afternoon.
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Girls U-11 White Closes Season With Win Over Fairfield
—submitted by Brendan McGurk
New Canaan’s U-11 Girls White Team finished their regular season Sunday with a decisive victory over Fairfield, 7-1.
Girls U-11 White Team – picture by Kara Gilliam
The make-up game saw New Canaan dominate play from the opening whistle, with Lily Magliacano beating several defenders and ripping a shot to score in the 2nd minute. Magliacano scored the second goal 15 minutes in, on a pass from Sloane Griffiths. Magliacano made it a hat trick 20 minutes in with another strong individual effort. Any attempts by Fairfield to control the ball were promptly ended by Logan Severance and Campbell McGurk, who fed Sarah Marshall and Ella McDonnell on the wings for multiple dangerous runs. The first half ended with Anne Gilliam scoring twice, beating the Fairfield keeper one-on-one each time.
New Canaan began the second half much like the first, with Magliacano tallying her fourth goal of the day, making the score 6-0. New Canaan then shifted to possession, with Dianna Luccarelli, Danielle O’Malley, and Lindsay Zaffino working together to control the ball.
Fairfield managed a late goal, which was promptly answered by Lily Bradley, who struck a rebounding ball past the goalie to end the game 7-1.