U10 Red Boys Dominate SCOR Tourney
U10 Red Boys Soccer team competed in the SCOR tournament this weekend, defeating all four opponents. Each game demonstrated the U10 boys’ skills in dominating the ball at the net and down the field. Two of the exciting games were shutouts with finishing of 3-0 and 6-0.
From left to right: Henry Silva, Ted Werner, Will Langford, Augusto Baldini, Jayden Oyekanmi and Max Lowe. Jayden Oyekanmi (27) with ball had a total of 6 goals for the U10 Red Boys Soccer team. Contributed
New Canaan only allowed in two goals for the entire tournament, winning those games by scores of 6-1 and 5-1.
Jayden Oyekanmi led the scoreboard with six goals for the day. All the boys were rotated in different positions throughout the day demonstrating their ability to be flexible and execute whatever was asked of them by coach Darren Kelso.
***
New Canaan U14 Girls Red Travel Soccer Team Recap of the Annual Ridgefield SCOR Columbus Tournament
New Canaan’s Division-A U14 girls travel soccer team participated in a picturesque 4-game Columbus Weekend SCOR Tournament on Sunday in Ridgefield where they posted a very solid tournament record of 1-1-2 against their competitors who were all from higher Premiere Leagues.
Team photo left to right; (bottom row) Natalie Lopez, Katie Dunn, Sophie Potter, Michelle LaBadie, Sophie Curcio, Emma Achille, and Maddie Otero, (top row) Assistant Coach James Nicholas, Allison Leopold, Lizzie Kuchinski, Caroline Wilson, Charlie Gardner, Riana Afshar, Katherine Lisecky, Emily Baker, Kearney McKirrnan, Elizabeth DeMarino and Head Coach Barry Beattie. Not pictured are players Jane Charlton, Taylor Frame and Sophie Smith. Contributed
New Canaan’s tenacious rotating defensive back line anchored mainly by Sophie Potter, Elizabeth DeMarino, Natalie Lopez, and Caroline Wilson as well as goalkeeper Michelle LaBadie were kept very busy during the entire day. Their combined efforts were directly reflected on the scoreboard as NC only allowed in one goal against total over all four 40 minutes matches.
In the morning, NC started off the tournament by playing the Farmington Valley Rebels. The first half ended knotted at nil-nil but then Farmington went up 1-nil at the 25 minute mark as their free kick from outside the 18 yard box found its way into the top right corner of the nets which was the only goal of the day that beat NC goalkeeper LaBadie. NC with two of its key strikers presently on the disabled list was unable to draw level with Farmington which resulted in NC’s only loss of the day.
NC then played both the Mamaroneck Pumas and South Central Surge level to identical nil-nil draws improving on their 1-nil loses to both teams from last Columbus Day. In the afternoon, NC played East Fishkill Phoenix in their final match of the day and similar to the other matches the first half ended nil-nil.
The New Canaan midfield showcased their collective talent and was handsomely rewarded for their collective efforts twice.
First at the 26-minute mark, NC midfielder Rina Afshar delivered a strike into the 6 yard box which the Phoenix goal keeper spilled back out that was then tidied up nicely by an alert Emily Baker putting NC up 1-nil. Then at the 33 minute mark, NC midfielder Sophie Curcio crossed a pass into the 18 yard box that ignited a free for all that the Phoenix goal keeper couldn’t smother whilst lurking NC midfielder Charlie Gardner fired it into the back securing NC’s 2-nil victory.
***
U11 Red Boys Take Home Championship Trophy at Ridgefield
The weather was near perfect and the U11 Boys Red Team’s play followed suit. In a great display of passing, teamwork and an impermeable defensive wall, New Canaan won all three games of the A division bracket to earn a spot in the Championships.
They began the day with an impressive 5-1 win over Burlington Ajax. Ethan Crawford got things started with a great corner kick to Connor O’Donnell who finished it with a shot into the back of the net. Defensive stalwarts of Aidan McLaughlin and Travis Sturcke gave Ajax few looks on goal. Ajax tied things up with a tricky deflection in front of the goal, but New Canaan went back to work with goals from Blake Wilson and Jeronimo Marsili who curled it in from the left wing.
Crawford set up Wilson for his second goal with his smart chip pass in front of the goal. Cooper Jessup shut down Ajax the rest of the game and the win was sealed with a strike from Sturcke near midfield.
Game 2 against East Fishkill was tight till the end. The score was nil-nil until late in the second half thanks to excellent play by the goalie duo of Tristan Burt and Jessup. Charlie Vincent thwarted any East Fishkill attacks and got it back to midfield where Declan Ratner displayed great ball control skills to work it back to the offensive end. Finally, Wilson was able to put one in for the 1-0 win.
NC Red faced New Milford in the last game of the bracket round in another tight game, but the team stayed positive. Hari Joshi started the scoring with a strike from the right of the goal. Matching his brother’s great play, Lorenzo Marsili sailed a shot into the net to put NC up 2-1. New Milford tightened things up with a shot over the goalie’s head in the second half, but once again New Canaan answered the call and O’Donnell curled one in from the left post to bring seal the win 3-1.
The Championship game was a rematch against division rivals and hometown favorites Ridgefield Black. The first half was well played by both teams, but New Canaan’s strong defensive backs McLaughlin and Sturcke kept things under control. New Canaan worked the give and go’s and had some good looks at goal but with minutes left to play Burt struck one past the goalie to put NC up 1-0.
Tight play continued but with a minute to go Sturcke got the call to take a free kick from the far left sideline near midfield. The goalie had no chance against his booming shot which curled over his head and into the back of the net. A well-earned Tournament Championship title; truly a full team effort beginning to end.
The U11 Boys continue their pursuit of the CT Cup in a rematch against Old Greenwich this coming weekend.
U9 White New Canaan FC Team Picture with Coach Matt Taylor (Eric Huang and Alex Russey missing). Contributed
***
Soccer Club of Ridgefield 2015 Columbus Day Tournament: Saturday, Oct. 10th—2 wins, 1 tie, 1 loss.
Game 1 – U9 Boys White New Canaan FC vs. Ridgefield Hawks
The game was evenly matched with New Canaan keeping strong pressure on Ridgefield’s goal during the 1st half. And in the 2nd half, U9 White took multiple shots on goal. Goalie Oliver Sturn made some terrific saves keeping New Canaan in the game. Ended with a tie score of 0-0.
Game 2 – U9 Boys White New Canaan FC vs. New Milford Galaxy
Great energy and momentum with scoring goals by both Brooks Thompson and Sajan Shah. U9 White won 2-1.
Game 3 – U9 Boys White New Canaan FC vs. Chappaqua Gold
Another great game with good communication and foot skills by U9 White. Thompson scored the first goal in the first half. And in the second half, goals were scored by Ellis Frey, Thompson and Finlay Arrix with a final win over Chappaqua of 4-0.
Game 4 – U9 Boys White New Canaan FC vs. John Jay Titans (A) Team
The last game proved to be a tough one for U9 White, playing John Jay’s A Team, the Titans. However, U9 White fought hard and never gave up with Sturn making some nice saves. However, John Jay took the game with a 3-0 win over New Canaan.
Great playing and team spirit demonstrated by U9 Boys White New Canaan FC!
***
New Canaan U11 White team wins SCOR tournament in Ridgefield with a 4-0 day
New Canaan U-11 White team kicked off a perfect October Sunday against Chappaqua Energy in the Ridgefield SCOR tournament.
New Canaan U11 Girls White Team. Contributed
New Canaan’s offense started in high gear with sustained pressure from Ava Dunn and Peyton Franz. Abby Richardson got things going and bounced a shot over the keeper’s head to put the girls on the board 1-0.
Abby contributed again with a perfect crossing pass that Jocelyn Riley parked high in the corner of the goal to put NC up 2-0.
Sweeping defense by KK Mottolese and Natalie Plosker helped keep Chappaqua away from keeper Bella DeFelice who didn’t let up a goal for the 2-0 win.
Game two against home team Ridgefield saw New Canaan’s Riley return the favor from game one with an assist to Richardson for the first goal of the game. Franz muscled one in, getting her own rebound to put NC up 2-0 before the half. The addition of Amanda Benson on defense helped keep the game 2-1 for the New Canaan win.
Game three had the White team excited to play against a tough Wilton team that had beaten them once this season. The game saw Riley develop into the White team’s corner kick specialist as she put a number of strikes in front of the goal throughout the day and put that foot to use with a long goal from the right side to open the scoring for New Canaan. Delaney Hoey got into the action with a strong goal assisted by Richardson to put NC up 2-0. Dunn and Kelly Marchiony worked hard to keep the ball in the offensive zone, while the tough NC defense cleared the ball to set up Hoey for breakaway score to put the game away 3-0. Emily Fox in goal kept Wilton off the board for the shutout win.
Game four turned out to be the championship game with The White team going into the game 3-0 and John Jay 2-1 on the day. John Jay got on the board first with an early goal, but Hoey showed her speed with another breakaway to tie the game at 1. Plosker stood out on defense in game four, ably supported by Mottolese and Benson. Fox made a jumping save over her head to keep the game knotted at 1-1, and Franz salted it away spinning one past the goalie for the 2-1 lead. NC White would hold on to win 2-1 and take the SCOR championship
New Canaan Football Club U11 Girls Red Team. Contributed
***
The New Canaan Football Club Girls U11 Red Team Wins the SCOR Tournament
The New Canaan Football Club’s Girls U11 Red Team came up big this weekend at the SCOR (Soccer Club of Ridgefield) Tournament in Ridgefield on Sunday.
The tournament was a full day event consisting of four games and featured teams from around the area. New Canaan finished the day shutting out all their opponents for a 4-0 record to win the Division A championship.
The first game played was against the John Jay Strikers. Impenetrable defense and goals from Caroline Underwood, Ava Gizzie, Addie Cannon and Katie Polacek allowed New Canaan to chalk up a 4-0 score and their first victory of the day.
Next, the New Canaan team faced the Wilton White team in another high-energy game. This time, Gizzie added three more goals to her tally for the day and Underwood added one as well. Once again the Red Team’s defensive play shut down their opponent and the game ended in another 4-0 victory.
The third game of the day turned out to be a very physical competition played against the Ridgefield Black Team. In a defensive battle the two teams struggled for possession of the ball and remained tied for most of the first half until Gizzie scored on a breakaway goal. With the score 1-0, the defense led by Nola Kammerer and Kate Caione closed out Ridgefield and the game ended with New Canaan’s third shutout of the day, 1-0.
Finally the last game played was against the Ridgefield Orange Team. This game, like the others, had a high energy New Canaan team dominating the field position with ball control and sharp passing. Gizzie scored two more goals for the day, Cannon and Polacek each added one and Ella Patterson got her first of the tournament. The game ended with 5-0 shutout win and sealed the tournament victory for New Canaan. All totaled the Red Team scored 14 goals on the day and allowed none to take home the title.