By Caroline Coffey

In the final game of the regular season, a clash between two FCIAC field hockey powerhouses did not disappoint. 

New Canaan rallied from a one goal deficit to defeat Staples 2-1 to remain unbeaten in a preview of a possible conference championship matchup.

The Wreckers were dominant in the first half, and in a dramatic shift of momentum, the Rams started the third quarter with newfound energy that remained throughout the remainder of the game.  

Staples got on the board early to put New Canaan in an unfamiliar position as Tyla Ozgen scored after Sofia Fidalgo’s pass bounced around in traffic. 

Throughout the second quarter, athletic saves in goal and lockdown defense stumped both offenses as Staples maintained their 1-0 lead. 

Early in the third quarter, Zoey Bennett made a leading pass to Shawna Ferraro, who broke away from the Wreckers defense to put the Rams on the board for a 1-1 tie. 

Bennett’s goal instilled new life into the Rams offense. To break the stalemate, Polly Parsons-Hills capitalized on a pass inside from Isabelle Schuch, scoring on a high flying shot to give the Rams a 2-1 lead.

New Canaan nearly ran away with the game in the fourth quarter, but Ella Williams held her own in the goal with four saves on four hard hit, elevated shots on goal. In the end, defensive stops could not translate into offensive success as Parsons-Hills’s goal proved conclusive. 

The Wreckers ended the season with a 12-2-1 record and secured the third seed in the conference playoffs. The Rams clinched the top seed in the conference playoffs and the FCIAC field hockey regular season title with a perfect record. 

In the quarterfinals of the FCIAC tournament, the Wreckers will face sixth seed Wilton at home tomorrow at 10 a.m.