Cardinals field hockey team defeated by unbeaten Staples in FCIAC semifinals

By David Fierro on October 28, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Greenwich High School’s field hockey team in action against Wilton in the recent FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals, won by GHS, 1-0. Greenwich was defeated by Staples in the FCIAC semifinals, 3-0.

After earning a one-goal victory against Wilton in the FCIAC Tournament quarterfinals, the Greenwich High School field hockey team was eliminated in the tournament’s semifinals with a tough, 3-0 loss to undefeated Staples in a matchup held on Wilton High School on Oct. 26.

The Cardinals have an overall record of 13-5 and will now get ready to play in the CIAC Class L Tournament. They lost to Staples in the regular season, 2-0, at Cardinal Stadium. Cardinals coach Megan Wax was pleased with the team’s performance against Staples in Saturday’s FCIAC Tournament semifinal.

“It was a really tough battle against an incredibly hard team,” Wax said. “It was a fast game played by excellent players on both teams.”

Staples generated 15 shots on goal for the game and took 20 penalty corners. The Wreckers kept the Cardinals under pressure and held possession of the ball the majority of this semifinal-round matchup.

“We struggled to keep the ball in our offensive end for any real length of time and unfortunately, didn’t get any corners until the last second of the fourth quarter,” Wax noted. “We did a great job of withstanding their 20 offensive corners and only letting in three goals.”

Freshman goalie Tatum Wunderlich had a great game in goal for Greenwich. Wunderlich made 15 saves for the Cardinals, who lost to Staples, 2-0, during the regular season.

Junior Mary Stevens gave the Wreckers a 1-0 lead, scoring off a rebound on a penalty corner with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter. The score remained 1-0 in the second quarter due to stellar defensive play by the Cardinals. Senior Alex Hackett put Staples on top, 2-0, putting the ball in the cage off a rebound with the Wreckers on a penalty corner as time expired in the third period.

In the fourth quarter, Stevens tallied again, scoring off a penalty corner with 7:22 to go in the fourth quarter. Tyler Ozgen, a senior, assisted on the goal.

“Tatum was great in goal,” said Wax, whose Cardinals had won three straight games. “Confident and strong, especially for a freshman. “I’m really proud of the resilience, heart and hustle my team played with every second of the game.”