The home-opening game for the Greenwich High School varsity lacrosse team was a tense, exciting, back-and-forth battle against FCIAC rival Staples, with both squads matching each other goal-for-goal for the majority of the matchup.

The damp, chilly weather conditions didn’t prevent the Cardinals and Wreckers from displaying their strengths and as is usually the case when these FCIAC foes duel, the game was decided in the closing minutes.

Building a three-goal fourth quarter lead before holding on in the final seconds, Staples earned a tough 12-11 win over Greenwich at Cardinal Stadium in the home-opener for the Cardinals on April 7. Despite the loss, there were obviously, plenty of positive aspects the Cardinals emphasized following the game.

“The last two minutes we played really strong, we really wanted it,” Greenwich senior attack/captain Aubrey Roth said. “But unfortunately, we were unable to capitalize, so we need to use that for motivation for our upcoming games.”

“We played hard, it opens up things that we need to work on, so that we can keep improving,” Greenwich first-year head coach Makenna Warminsky said.

Warminsky replaces Tara Clough, who served as coach of the Cardinals for five successful seasons. The 2024 season saw Greenwich register a record of 13-8 and advance to the semifinal-round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament and the FCIAC Tournament semifinals. In the Class LL Tournament semifinals, the Cardinals were edged by Darien, 7-6. Clough is now the head varsity girls lacrosse coach at St. Luke’s School.

“I’m really excited to build off last year,” said Roth, who scored one goal in the home-opener versus Staples. “We had a really successful season and I think even though we have a very young team we’re really strong and we are looking to progress even more than that.”

In the Cardinals’ matchup against the Wreckers, junior attack Dillon McFerran had a sensational game, scoring a game-high seven goals for the hosts. Junior attack Giselle DiPietro scored two goals and dished out six assists, while Sophie DiPietro, her twin sister, had one goal and one assist for the Cardinals.

Roth, McFerran and the DiPietro sisters should pace Greenwich’s attack this spring, while senior captains Graycen Aslansan and Flynn Tauber will be looked upon to lead the Cards’ defensive unit.

“Defensively, the team played really well,” Aslansan said of Greenwich’s season-opening game. “Half of the defense is mentality and half is skill. We lacked a little bit on the mentality part. Overall, if we went out stronger on the defensive side, we could have definitely stopped a lot more unnecessary plays on offense.”

Tauber began her Cardinals lacrosse career as an attacker before transitioning to defense.

“This year is especially special because it’s my last season and I’ve been here since I was a freshman,” Tauber said. “I started as an attacker and now I’m playing defense and I think that shows what Greenwich lacrosse is and how they find the perfect spot for everyone.”

“I’m really happy to be a part of the team and be a captain and hopefully, lead team to a successful season, just like last year,” Tauber continued.

Freshmen Livia Binick and Georgia Sessa saw plenty of action on defense against Staples and will also be among some of the athletes that will be looked upon to lead the defensive group.

“Defense was our strongest suit last year and we lost two of our starting defenders, so me and Graycen are trying to help the freshmen play at the varsity level,” Tauber noted.

Rachel Civitillo, a senior captain, provides leadership to the Cardinals at the midfield position.

“I think we came out strong,” Civitillo said of the home-opener against the Wreckers. ” I’m kind of new to the offense, so I’m learning how to work with these girls on offense, learning the plays. We’re a young team and we’re looking to grow. We’re a young group and a new group and we lost some really strong players work hard.”

Staples’ offense was propelled by Noelle Tybur and senior Chloe Smith, both of whom recorded timely goals throughout their game against Greenwich. Senior Kali Kneisch, sophomore Bryn Morris and senior Katie Fitzgerald also ignited the Wreckers offensively.

The visiting Wreckers were tied at 3-3 with Cardinals after the first quarter, were ahead at halftime, 7-5, before GHS tied the score at 8-8 following three quarters of action.

“Greenwich was a first tough game coming out,” Staples coach Nicole Gerosa said. “They’re always a tough team, the game was back-and-forth the entire time and we just put a little extra fight in the end.”

Giselle DiPietro scored the game’s first goal, giving Greenwich a 1-0 lead with 8:17 remaining in the opening quarter. After Staples knotted the score at 1-1, McFerran tallied at the 5:17 mark of the first quarter, putting GHS ahead, 2-1.

Tyber converted an 8-meter shot with 4:37 left in the first period, then tallied again for the Wreckers with 51.4 seconds to go, making it a 3-3 game after the opening quarter. After Staples took a 4-3 edge, McFerran posted two straight goals, giving the hosts a 5-4 advantage with 6:56 left in the second quarter.

The visitors concluded the first half with three consecutive goals to take a 7-5 halftime advantage.

McFerran cut Staples’ lead to 7-6 with a goal at the 8:10 mark of the third quarter. Following a goal by Tybur, McFerran and Sophie DiPietro notched goals for GHS, evening the score at 8-8 heading into the final quarter.

The Wreckers scored the first two goals of the fourth quarter and took a 12-9 edge with 3:55 left to play. Greenwich responded with goals from Giselle DiPietro and Roth to close to within 12-11. Roth’s goal came with 2:56 remaining in the game. The Cardinals had chances to tally the equalizer in the closing minutes and seconds, but Wreckers goalie Audrey Wood, a sophomore, made a pair of clutch saves.

“Two great saves by our goalie, especially with time and clock management, were key,” Gerosa said. “It’s an exciting first win, we have a long season and this is just the start. It’s tough to start a season with another FCIAC team, especially Greenwich.”

Said Tybur, Staples’ leading goal scorer against Greenwich: “I think settling it down and staying calm on the attack end was really key, because we were able to make plays and easily feed it to each other and make space. It was all about our energy and having that fight – just bringing energy and confidence to the field.”

Sophomore Finley DeGennaro started in goal for Greenwich and played the first half. Charlotte Marek, also a sophomore, played in goal during the second half for the Cardinals, so GHS will rely on two goalies this season.

Anabelle DeGennaro had three draw controls for the Cards, who began their 2025 campaign with a 13-8 road victory against Daniel Hand on April 5.

“Today was the first time implementing our zone into an actual game and I think it definitely progressed throughout the game,” Tauber said of Greenwich’s game versus Staples. “But we definitely have a lot to work on to get back to the level we were last year.”

Gaining draw controls so the team can have more possessions is an aspect the Cardinals are especially emphasizing.

“We need to work on the draw,” said Civitillo, who played in the midfield along with sophomore Lily Nogaki and junior Lindsay Messer against Staples. “We’re trying to work on it in practice and figure out who’s our draw taker, who’s good on the circle, who’s greedy for the ball.”

Emma Abbazia, Cate Adorney, Mary Kate Frey and Grace O’Connor each served as Greenwich’s 2024 senior captains. Abbazia was a 2024 CHSCA/USA All-America selection and is playing lacrosse at the University of Maryland. She registered 79 goals and 39 assists for the Cardinals last season and concluded her outstanding lacrosse career at GHS with more than 200 goals.

Giselle DiPietro, Aubrey Roth and Leighton Collier were each CHSCA/All-State Class LL First Team honorees in 2024 and O’Connor was a USA Lacrosse Connecticut All-Academic recipient. Additionally, Abbazia, DiPietro, Collier, Roth and Tauber earned All-FCIAC Team honors for the 2024 season.

Greenwich is on the road for its next three games, visiting Bronxville (April 15), Darien (April 17) and Horace Greeley (April 19) next week. As always, the Cards will play a challenging schedule.

“I’m of the belief that tougher competition makes you a better team, so we’re gearing up for it and thinking about things that we can improve and get better,” Warminsky said.

Warminsky previously coached at New Canaan High School, serving as a freshman coach.

“I would like us to build a foundation for our program, so that not just this year we can be successful, but hopefully in the years to come we can build a solid program that more girls will want to be a part of and that the girls now will look back on and cherish the time that they had,” Warminsky said.