Girls Ice Hockey Drowns the Tigers in FCIAC Finals

by Mary Brown

On Saturday, March 1st, the Blue Wave Girls Ice Hockey team took on the Ridgefield Tigers in the FCIAC Championship. For the second consecutive year, Darien took home the title as FCIAC champs with a dominant 8-1 win over the Tigers.

Sophomore Marissa Baker started things off right by scoring the first goal early in the first period, assisted by fellow sophomore Georgia Cassidy.  “Our momentum started in the first three minutes with a goal that set the tone for the rest of the game,” Cassidy said. At the end of the first period, Darien had a comfortable 3-0 lead.

Coming back on the ice into the second period, the Tigers managed to make it a little more difficult for the team, although the Blue Wave was still able to end the period with a 4-0 lead. The passing throughout the team was extremely impressive and notable as something that Darien was able to do very well.

In the third period, Darien was able to gain complete control over the game, scoring four more goals and allowing Ridgefield only one, ultimately giving the Blue Wave a victory with a final score of 8-1. The squad played with such high intensity and aggression that allowed them to rise to a higher level than their opponents. Seniors Ellie Bennett and Sage Thacher, juniors Sammy Nielsen and Julia Arrix, and sophomores Chandler Kirby and Katie Zaro all gave it their all and fought their hardest at every moment, a collective mentality that truly showed in the end result.

Senior goalie Shannon Hall had seven saves throughout the game, a great performance aided by additional help from her defensive teammates. In the end, sophomores Baker and Cassidy both scored two goals each, junior Amanda Sload also had two, and junior Lauren Cicero and sophomore Schuyler van den Broek each had one.

Sload also had two incredible assists and after a superb overall performance, she was named MVP of the game, a well-deserved honor for this hardworking player.

Vote for the Darien Girls Ice Hockey Team for the Ruden Report Team of the Week (voting closes Wednesday, March 5th at noon) and come support the team in the first round of States against Hamden on Tuesday, March 4th at the Darien Ice Rink.

Juniors Izzy Scribano, Julia Arrix and Sammy Nielsen (left to right)
wear their medals proudly after the game.