Darien Girls Hockey Dominates in FCIAC Semis

Wednesday (2/26), the Darien Girls Hockey team took on Wilton/Norwalk in the FCIAC Semi-finals. The Blue Wave was the first seed and had just seen the other semifinal of New Canaan vs. Ridgefield go into overtime with Ridgefield victorious. Darien was determined to continue their undefeated FCIAC season and advance to face the Tigers in the final.

Darien was focused from the start. 30 seconds into the game, junior Amanda Sload scored from the point off a pass from senior captain Ellie Bennett. The following two shifts also led to goals. Sophomore Schuyler van den Broek put it in with help from fellow sophomores Georgia Cassidy and Marissa Baker, and sophomore Hannah McLane made it 3-0, assisted by freshman Cassidy Schiff and Sload. The first three goals all were scored in the first two minutes of the game.  Junior Sammy Nielsen extended the lead to 4, assisted by Bennett, and sophomore Chandler Kirby took it end-to-end to finish the first period with Darien leading 5-0. Wilton didn’t have any shots in the period.

Darien kept the momentum going in the second period. Sload put the puck in the net after an impressive look by junior Allegra Molkenthin. Later in the period, Bennett scored off the bench with a pass from junior Christy Conley. Senior captain Shannon Hall was strong, stopping the one shot she faced.

In the third period, Wilton got a few chances, but junior Izzy Scribano, who replaced Hall in goal, was strong against the five shots. Cassidy scored from in front of the net, assisted by Baker. Baker then took the puck from the red line after a pass from junior Lauren Cicero and deked the Wilton goalie to bring the final score to 9-0. Overall, the Blue Wave put on a dominant performance with 50 shots to Wilton’s six.

Bennett was complimentary of the team’s effort and hopes for similar success on Saturday. “I think we came out the strongest we ever have and we're excited to play. This determination to win showed when we scored three goals on our first three shifts and setting the tone early on in the game. It will be important to come out with that same fire and determination tomorrow and ensure that we are working at 100 perfect throughout the whole game,” Bennett said.

Come support the girls as they defend their FCIAC title against Ridgefield on Saturday (3/1) at 12:30 at Terry Conners Rink.

Senior captain Sage Thacher passes the puck up the ice. Photo credits: Darien AF