DARIEN — Persistence paid off for the Darien field hockey group. Or, in the case of junior Blake Wilks, it used to be “risk.”
Wilks fired in a couple of blistering objectives and Raina Johns and Ryan Hapgood each and every scored as soon as because the Blue Wave earned a decisive 4-1 victory over Wilton in a combat of unbeaten teams Tuesday in Darien.
Both of Wilks’ objectives got here all over chaotic eventualities close to the Wilton cage, and he or she used to be fast to indicate it used to be all about simply taking the shot.
“I actually really didn’t see anything,” Wilks mentioned with fun. “I was kind of taking a risk and shooting on goal whenever I had the opportunity to.”
The victory places Darien firmly atop the Class L and FCIAC playoff races with data of 8-0 total and 6-0 in the convention. Wilton fell to 8-1.
The Wave has outscored warring parties 47-3 this season, and so they and North Branford, which is 10-0 in Class S, at the moment are the one ultimate undefeated and untied teams in the state.
Outside of the data, Tuesday’s sport had added which means for Darien, which used to be eradicated from closing fall’s Class L playoffs with a loss by the use of shootout in opposition to Wilton.
“Since we lost to Wilton last year, we definitely had the fire to come back and beat them,” Wilks mentioned. “We practiced really hard for this, we worked well, and we deserved this.”
“We were ready for the challenge today,” Darwin trainer Mo Minicus mentioned. “We knew it was going to be a great game and I’m proud of the effort my girls had. We just played it one quarter at a time, regardless of what the score was, and they put on some really great pressure.”
That force helped create a 24-8 photographs merit for the Wave, which used to be relentless.
Wilton senior goalie Eva Filipponi used to be exceptional whilst holding the rating shut, accumulating 16 saves, many of them eye-openers.
“She’s awesome,” Wilton trainer Leon Kerr mentioned. “She is one of the best goalkeepers in the state, frankly. She has been our savior over and over, last season to this season.”
For Wilton, which had outscored its warring parties 42-4 prior to assembly Darien, the sport merely were given out of hand.
“We didn’t play our very best,” Kerr mentioned. “Because we have such a packed schedule, we’re just going to focus on the next game. This one is over, and we’re moving on to the next one because there’s nothing we can do about this one.”
Darien broke on best when Johns scored on a penalty stroke 4:35 into the second one quarter.
“That was huge,” Wilks mentioned. “When she put us on the board, it gave us the motivation to get back out there and score another goal.”
Wilks made it 2-0 when she scored all over a scramble 6:29 prior to halftime.
In the 3rd quarter, Johns despatched an extended go from midfield forward to Kate Bock, who were given the ball into the circle. Hapgood in the end cashed it in for a 3-0 lead.
Wilks completed the scoring when she stuck as much as a rebound, and spun and fired in one transfer for the 4-0 lead.
Wilton’s Hannah Fitzgerald have shyed away from the shutout, scoring on a penalty nook with 1:18 left in the sport.
PLAYER OF THE GAME
Blake Wilks, Darien: The Blue Wave confused the Wilton circle for a lot of the day and the junior used to be in smack the center of it, scoring two times all over scrambles to steer the offense.
QUOTABLE
“Their defense is crowded in there, it’s hard to get stuff, so you’ve got to get corners. Their goalie (Filipponi) is very, very good. She really kept them in the game. So you have to be persistent, find the holes and not be afraid to shoot.” – Darien trainer Mo Minicus
David.Stewart@hearstmediact.com; @dstewartsports