Greenwich High field hockey team shuts out Wilton in FCIAC quarterfinals; Cardinals playing Darien in semifinals

By David Fierro on October 30, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Contributed photo: The Greenwich High School field hockey team was victorious in the FCIAC quarterfinals vs. Wilton.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Greenwich High School’s field hockey team certainly found its form in the second quarter during this past Friday’s FCIAC Tournament quarterfinal-round game against Wilton.

Behind two goals from Clara Ojea Quintana, the fourth-seeded Cardinals scored three times in the second quarter on their way to earning a decisive 7-0 win over fifth-seeded Wilton at Cardinal Stadium.

Greenwich plays top-seeded Darien in today’s 5 p.m. FCIAC Tournament semifinals at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk.

Contributed photo: Greenwich High’s field hockey team celebrates a goal during a game against Ridgefield earlier in the season. The Cardinals defeated Wilton in the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals this past Friday.

Ojea Quintana recorded a game-high four goals for Greenwich, which held a 3-0 halftime lead on Wilton and was ahead 5-0 after three quarters of action.

“Friday’s playoff game against Wilton was a great one,” Greenwich coach Megan Wax said. “The first quarter, both teams were evenly matched both with offensive pressure and defensive sets that withstood the attacks. We had focused a great deal on defending against transitions and also circle defense, so it was great to see the girls apply that to the game.”

“In the first quarter, we were just short on connecting on some passes and shots, but in the second quarter our timing was right and it resulted in three goals,” Wax continued.

Contributed photo: Greenwich High School’s field hockey team in action during a game against Ridgefield earlier in the season. The Cardinals won their FCIAC Tournament quarterfinal-round game against Wilton and play Darien in the semis.

Emi Arroyo, Julia Lattuada, Kate Donnellan and Stella Thibeault added one goal apiece for Greenwich, which is 11-2-0-2 on the season and finished in first place in the FCIAC West Division regular season standings.

Ojea Quintana started the scoring against the Warriors, knocking the ball into the goal off a rebound with 5:48 left in the second quarter. Her second goal came at the 4:11 mark of the second quarter off an assist from Donnellan, making it 2-0.

Arroyo capped the Cardinals’ second-quarter scoring, tallying with 2:02 to go in the second quarter.

Contributed photo: Greenwich High School’s field hockey team continued its winning season in the FCIAC quarterfinals.

“We continued to apply full pressure offensively and moved the ball as fast as we could to not allow them to set up their defense,” Wax noted. “We tried to take early shots and play the goalie saves, which helped result in another two goals in the third quarter and two more in the fourth.”

Lattuada scored off a penalty corner with 11:04 remaining in the third quarter, tapping the ball in off a shot that deflected off the goalie’s pads. Ojea Quintana then scored off an assist from Thibeault with 56 seconds to go in the third quarter, giving GHS a commanding 5-0 advantage.

In the fourth quarter, Donnellan tallied at the 5:24 mark. Ojea Quintana posted her fourth goal with 3:24 remaining, sealing the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinal-round triumph.

Contributed photo: Greenwich’s field hockey team has advanced to the FCIAC Tournament semifinals.

“I am super proud of the girls with not only the heart and hustle they played with but the way in which they enacted everything we had talked about needing to execute before the game to be successful,” Wax said. “We are all really excited for Monday’s game.”