By Caroline Coffey

In pursuit of the FCIAC field hockey championship, one thing is certain: Staples and Darien, the conference’s two biggest rivals, will face each other.

The Blue Wave’s all-around dominance proved insurmountable, as Darien defeated Staples 2-1 on Nov. 2 in the semifinals of the conference playoffs. 

From start to finish, Darien dominated possession time, keeping the ball away from Staples for long stretches of time. 

In the first quarter, both teams played tentatively, but Darien’s patient control of the ball put them in control of the game.

Raina Johns took advantage of a penalty corner in the middle of the second quarter, giving the Blue Wave the edge with a finish off of a scramble in front of the goal. 

Three minutes later, Jess Leon showed life for the Staples attack and breached the Darien defense. After an outlet pass from Sofia Fidalgo, Leon dribbled into the circle and took a long shot from the perimeter which rocketed off the left post to tie the game. 

Early in the third quarter, in a play akin to Johns’s goal, Ryan Hapgood scored on a ball deflected off goalie Ella Williams after a penalty corner, giving Darien a 2-1 lead. 

Hapgood’s goal deflated the Wreckers, as Staples could not find a way to penetrate the Blue Wave in the circle.

Darien has now notched three straight conference titles (sharing the 2019 championship with Staples). While the Wrecker’s run for the FCIAC crown has ended, the state tournament–and a potential rematch with Darien–is on the horizon. 

And Staples field hockey are the reigning four-time state champions.