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Instant 3-Play: Darien And New Canaan Reach Class M Final With Easy Wins
Dave Ruden
06.11.2014
FAIRFIELD — Let the hype begin.
The much-anticipated Class M championship game between the Darien and New Canaan boys lacrosse teams went from the conceptual stage to becoming a reality on Wednesday night, as each advanced easily in their semifinal games at Fairfield Ludlowe.
After the top-seeded Blue Wave dominated Daniel Hand, 18-3, the third-seeded Rams fulfilled their part of the equation with a 15-1 rout of Joel Barlow, avenging a semifinal loss a year ago.
The Rams now get the opportunity they have spoken about since the tournament began: the chance for payback against a Darien team that has defeated them twice in overtime, most recently in the semifinals of the FCIAC Tournament, ending their hopes of a three-peat.
Moments after Wednesday’s game ended, the New Canaan players quickly turned their attention to the Blue Wave.
“They beat us twice and it’s rare to beat a team three times,” said Cole Turpin, who had one goal and two assists against Barlow. “We want to win a championship and they want to end a season perfectly, and we will end it.”
The Blue Wave are 22-0. If they were to sweep the Rams, given the strength of their schedule, a discussion of whether they had the best season ever by an FCIAC team in any sport would not be hyperbole.
“We know we’ll have a dogfight and we’ll have to be ready,” Darien coach Jeff Brameier said. “These kids, when they play their game, they are tough. We have to make sure they stay focused and not just get caught up in the nervousness or hoopla.”
The one constant for the Blue Wave this season has been playing at a consistent level no matter the quality of the competition, and that was the case against a very young Hand team.
John Reed scored the first of his two goals less than two minutes in, and by the end of the quarter the Blue Wave had built their lead to 6-0 when Colin Minicus scored on a feed from Jack Kniffin with one second left.
It was one of Kniffin’s seven assists on the night.
Peter Lindley then opened the second quarter with a hat trick in a span of 1:53, including a goal right off the opening faceoff. Darien led 14-0 at the half.
“We came out firing with shots from all over the field,” Reed said. “We had a good set offense.”
Kyle Cornell also scored three times for Darien. Minicus had two goals and two assists, while Harry Gillespie and Brendan Seiler each finished with two goals and one assist.
“This was a big game,” said Brameier, whose team was also eliminated in the state semifinals last year. “You have to get the kids to realize you lose and you’re out. You have to have respect for what a team can do.”
Reed said the Blue Wave continued on what has been a steady line all year in terms of effort and execution.
“We’re playing very well as a team,” he said. “We’re getting great effort on offense, defense and the faceoff guys. We played really well today. We are clicking on all cylinders.”
The same can be said for New Canaan (17-4). Despite dominating time of possession, the Rams did not score until Justin Meichner, who finished with a team-high four goals, converted a pass from Michael Kraus with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter.
By halftime the lead had swelled to 5-1, despite a strong effort from Barlow goaltender Max Mossa.
“We got kind of a slow start buy once we got the first one we rolled; that’s what we do,” Turpin said. “Once we’re in the water we’re going to swim.”
New Canaan broke the game open in the third quarter, led by Harry Stanton, who scored twice, including once from behind his back. He finished with three goals and two assists. Kraus added two goals and two assists.
“It was a good team effort,” Buzzeo said. “And I thought our defense was unbelievable.”
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