Never say die Rams beat Greenwich in final minute, 35-34

Written by Dave Stewart
Saturday, 07 November 2009 00:14

The situation was certainly dire for the New Canaan Rams as they faced a 13-point deficit to Greenwich, on the road, in a hostile environment at Cardinal Stadium and with fewer than nine minutes remaining on the clock.

But while the hometown crowd was celebrating what looked like a sure victory, the Rams’ bench was surprisingly confident.

“If you came up and down our sidelines, all you heard was ‘We will win this football game. We are going to win this football game.’” quarterback Turner Baty said. “I don’t think there was any doubt in our minds. We were praying a lot, but we knew we could do it. It was just unbelievable.”

The confidence proved to be well-founded.

Rams gear up for State tournaments

Written by Dave Stewart
Friday, 06 November 2009 14:49

New Canaan's field hockey and soccer teams will be battling for State playoff supremacy when the CIAC tournaments get underway next week.

The girl' soccer team kicks off the Class L tournament by hosting East Haven at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at Dunning Field. Click here for the complete tournament bracket.

The boys' soccer team will be traveling upstate for the first round of the Class L tournament. The Rams play at Woodstock Academy at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10. Click here for the complete tournament bracket.

The Rams' field hockey team will host Enrico Fermi in the first round of the Class M tournament at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 10, at Dunning Field. Click here for the complete tournament bracket.

Football Preview: New Canaan ready to tackle Greenwich

Written by Dave Stewart
Friday, 06 November 2009 06:06

The Greenwich Cardinals went 8-3 last fall and have started the 2009 high school football season by winning six of their first seven games. That’s a winning record of 14-4 and, for just about any other team, would be cause for celebration.

But this is the Greenwich Cardinals we’re talking about — a program steeped in tradition and one which is used to hanging championship banners in its gymnasium, not sitting at home during the postseason.

The Cardinals will also be battling for their playoff lives when they host the New Canaan Rams in a key FCIAC clash Friday night at 7 p.m. in Cardinal Stadium.

Wave crashes down on New Canaan in field hockey championship game

Written by Dave Stewart
Friday, 06 November 2009 05:58

When Erin Gildea took over the head coaching reins of the New Canaan Rams’ field hockey team two weeks before the start of the preseason, she inherited a program which was a shadow of its former self.

Once mainstays in the FCIAC semifinals and finals, the Rams struggled just to qualify for the tournament, and often departed in the first round. New Canaan hadn’t even won an FCIAC tournament game since legendary coach Sue Schwerdtle retired after the 2003 season.

So when first-year head coach Erin Gildea spoke were her understandably disappointed team following a 3-0 loss to Darien in Thursday’s FCIAC championship game at dunning Field, she tried to put things in perspective.

Football: Baty's six TDs help Rams take care of business vs. Wilton

Written by Dave Stewart
Friday, 06 November 2009 06:05

The New Canaan Rams have faced several challenges during this football season, and each time they’ve managed to persevere and get a victory.

So when the New Canaan offense sputtered on its first couple of drives and Wilton took a 7-0 lead in the opening quarter of last Friday’s game, the Rams did what they always do: They turned to each other.

“We didn’t talk about Wilton, we talked about what we can do better and what we had to fix,” senior co-captain Geoff Young said. “One thing we can do very well, probably better than any other team, is stick together when something goes wrong.”

New Canaan, Ridgefield share FCIAC girls' soccer crown after scoreless tie

Written by Dave Stewart
Thursday, 05 November 2009 06:28

For 100 minutes Wednesday night in Norwalk, the New Canaan Rams and Ridgefield Tigers girls’ soccer team put on a competitive display which showcased the best the FCIAC has to offer.

And when the final horn finally sounded at the end of a second overtime, the Rams and Tigers were still deadlocked and this were declared FCIAC co-champions for 2009.

Mitch Hoffman named New Canaan baseball coach

Written by Dave Stewart
Wednesday, 04 November 2009 13:08

New Canaan’s boys of summer have been pretty active during the past few years, as the local All-Star baseball teams have gone deep into tournament play, making regular trips to the States, Regionals and even the Cal Ripken World Series.

Mitch Hoffman knows the talent at the town’s youth level well, having worked with New Canaan baseball players through camps and clinics for the past 10 years.

Now, Hoffman has been afforded the opportunity to take on an even greater role on the baseball scene, as he was named the new head coach of the New Canaan High School varsity team earlier this week.

Girls' Soccer: Rams taste sweet semi victory over Ludlowe

Written by Dave Stewart
Monday, 02 November 2009 22:58

Kirk Bamford knew he had a pretty good collection of soccer players when he got his first look at the New Canaan girls in action during the preseason. But reaching the championship game of the FCIAC tournament? That was a difficult wager to make.

“If I knew that, I’d be on a desert island somewhere with a lottery in my back pocket,” Bamford said with a smile.

Girls' Soccer: No trick, just a treat as Rams blank Warde in playoffs

Written by Dave Stewart
Saturday, 31 October 2009 18:31

New Canaan rebounded from its first loss of the year and defeated the Fairfield-Warde Mustangs, 1-0, in the first round of the FCIAC girls’ soccer tournament Saturday afternoon at Dunning Field.

Junior striker Caroline Murray scored the game’s only goal when she caught up to a loose ball to the right of the Warde net and fired a shot to the left, beyond the grasp of Mustangs’ keeper Ali Rocchi late in the first half.

Field Hockey: Defense rules as Rams shut out Ridgefield in FCIACs

Written by Dave Stewart
Saturday, 31 October 2009 01:48

Nearly two weeks ago at Dunning Field, the New Canaan High field hockey team played a strong game against rival Greenwich, only to surrender the game’s only goal and fall, 1-0. Now, the Rams have earned a rematch.

Senior co-captain Betsy Hart scored 10:32 into the game and the Ram defense delivered an outstanding performance as New Canaan defeated the Ridgefield Tigers, 1-0, in the first round of the FCIAC tournament Friday at Dunning Field.