Zero hours: Wave shuts out record 14th at FCIACs

Written by Steven Buono
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 19:15

In shutting out a school — and maybe FCIAC record too — 14 opponents so far this season, Darien could not defensively be putting a better first step forward.

That’s a no-brainer.

But there’s still more to think about this historic season, now that the Wave is knocking on destiny’s brittle door, only one win away from taking an uprecedented-for-the-program third straight conference crown.

Because according to coach Mo Minicus, the Wave’s best foot forward is coming from, in fact, the forwards.

“Defensively we try to, honestly, have our defense start with our forwards,” said Minicus following the Wave’s 3-0 win over Wilton, vanquishing the fourth seed for the second time this season, and by a duplicate score, in the FCIAC semifinals at New Canaan’s Dunning Field on Tuesday night. “And (we) try to teach them how to tackle back, and how to make the tackles to make our defenders’ job that much easier.”

Darien led 2-0 at the half, and had one goal each from Sophie Doering, Anna Heck and Ellie Riegel. Riegel, Doering, both juniors, and Sam Johnston had an assist each.

The Wave (17-0) put 12 shots on goal.

Aimee Rich (17-0) made one save for her 14th shutout, more than any other Wave configuration or goalie has come close to delivering for the twice-league and state title-defending crew.

Top seed Darien clashes with second seed New Canaan, oddly enough at the lower seed’s home field at 6 p.m. Thursday in the final.

The Rams are one of only three teams to score a goal on DHS this season, losing 4-1 two weeks ago at Darien.

Darien has only been scored upon four times all season, by three different teams, letting in a match-high of just two goals to Trumbull.

The Wave’s roving moat, and mobile wall of a defense is made up of Ella Heck, Taylor Wells, Alex Bair and Courtney Wynne.

“I just can’t say enough about how tough they are,” said Minicus. “How quick they are, how poised under pressure — you know, they are a great unit.”

And they take great looks.

“They cover each other,” Minicus added. “If it gets past one person, you know their teammate is going to be sprinting back covering for them.”

The layered Wave defense is even more tightly stitched than in the past two championship seasons that also saw plenty of opponents’ zeros on the scoresheet.

“It’s just teamwork,” Minicus said. “Everyone working hard to do their job, but then cover if their teammates get beat.”

Rich has not needed to show her full array, yet. She rarely has seen more than several shots a game.

But what’s even more daunting for Darien’s competition is that she is as good a goalie as there is in the league too. Both on the angles and on reaction stops.

“And certainly Aimee in cage is just, you know, steady back there and confident,” said Minicus. “And we have confidence in her. And that helps, because we can take, a few more, chances.”

Chances being something Wave foes have seen precious few of. Like with the Warriors on Tuesday night.

“It was great getting on the board early,” said Minicus. “Just to ease the tension, and relax the girls a little bit so they can get into their game.”

Ease in the girls did, but despite the shutdown score, easy it was not.

“It was a battle,” said Minicus. “We were able to execute well inside of the circle, but it definitely was a battle in between the two 25’s.

“Even with a one goal lead, it is nothing in games like this.”

Darien made it 2-0 late in the first-half.

“I think it was actually key scoring in the last three minutes of the first-half,” Minicus said. “Just to get that nice cushion going into the second-half.”

Thriving on its corners, Darien delivered the decisive blow forcing the play.

“Ellie executed that corner play perfectly,” Minicus said. “Very poised.”

If that was not the decisive goal, though, then the next one must have been.

“Certainly a 2-0 lead means nothing,” Minicus said. “So to get on the board in the second-half (for a 3-0 lead), with that beautiful goal by Anna Heck, was just another great security goal.”

Security goals, blanket defense, the Wave is taking no prisoners going for the rare league three-peat.

“You know, in games like that, one more goal always helps,” said Minicus.

Darien will need to go for those security goals on Thursday — as many as they can get.

“New Canaan has a lot of seniors, they’re on a roll,” said Minicus. “And in between the two 25s they’re tough.

“We just have to play our game, keep them out of our defensive circle, and attack inside.”

Top Rams threats: scorer Maggie Burke and center midfielder play-maker Betsy Hart, according to the Darien coach who sees that pair as the backbone of their team.

“They are going to be tough, they really are,” Minicus said.