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.

The win gave second-seeded New Canaan a record of 13-1-2 and a berth in the FCIAC semifinals. The Rams will face No. 6 Fairfield-Ludlowe (10-5-2) at 5 p.m. Monday at Wilton’s Kristine Lilly Field. Ludlowe defeated No. 3 Westhill on a late goal in the quarterfinals Saturday. The Rams tied Ludlowe, 1-1, during the regular season.

New Canaan and Warde had played to a scoreless tie earlier this season, and the Ram defense again kept the Mustangs off the board on Saturday. Goalie Holly Burwick made 4 saves, while senior co-captains Freddie Kemp and Kacey Pippitt, along with Kelsey Durkin and Kelly Armstrong helped anchor the back line.

Murray’s goal came in the 39th minute, after striker Liz Bruno had won a ball against a defender about 30 yards from the Warde goal. Bruno worked the ball over to the left.

After a brief skirmish, the ball bounded free to the right, where Murray chased it down and fired a perfect shot to the left.

New Canaan outshot the Mustangs 8-4 and held a 4-2 advantage in corner kicks.

The Rams turned away the final threat after Warde earned a corner kick with 1:36 remaining. Kat Young sent the ball into the box, but Ashforth booted it away and Murray caught up to it and cleared the zone.