Cardinals girls lacrosse team upended by Darien in a road FCIAC matchup

By David Fierro on April 21, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Anabelle DeGennaro of the Greenwich High School varsity girls lacrosse team gets ready to take a shot on goal during a game against host Darien in an FCIAC game held on April 17, 2025. Also on the scene for the Cardinals is Aubrey Roth. Darien won the game, 20-0.

Scoring early and often, there was no stopping Darien High’s girls lacrosse team during its game against FCIAC rival Greenwich – especially in the first half.

In a rematch of the 2024 CIAC Class LL Tournament semifinal, which they Blue Wave won by just one goal, host Darien made sure early on this game wasn’t close, capitalizing on its opportunities with outstanding execution, while clamping down on defense.

Ten players generated goals for Darien in its resounding 20-0 win over Greenwich on April 17. Senior Annabell Adams paced the Blue Wave offense, recording five goals with one assist. Junior Anna Von Kennel registered a hat trick with one assist for Darien, which jumped out to a 10-0 lead after the first quarter, then entered halftime with a 14-0 advantage. The triumph improved Darien’s record to 4-1, which they improved to 5-1 by beating Manhasset (N.Y.) High School on April 19, 14-9. Darien also has a 2-0 mark in the FCIAC.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Giselle DiPietro of Greenwich High School’s varsity girls lacrosse team, left, goes after the ball, as does Sophie Haas of Darien. The host Blue Wave were victorious, 20-0, in an FCIAC matchup.

“We played such a high level game on Tuesday (a 13-8 loss to St. Anthony’s High School from N.Y.) I was a little concerned about them being off a little bit,” Blue Wave legendary coach Lisa Lindley said following her team’s game against the visiting Cardinals. “I thought we were a little bit tired, but overall, we did well. It was good, because we got our second ones in and they did a good job as well, so we were able to play a lot of kids.”

The Blue Wave outshot the Cardinals, 22-2, in the first half. Greenwich sophomore goalie Charlotte Marek made five saves in the opening half. In the second half, Finley DeGennaro, also a sophomore goalie, stopped seven shots for the Cardinals.

“I think they kind of got a sense of the intensity of the game,” Greenwich High first-season coach Makenna Warminsky said of her young squad. “If anything, it shows us where we need to be and the steps we have to take to get there.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich’s defensive unit gathers during its road game against Darien.

Senior Adrian Gromelski tallied two goals, three draw controls and one assist, sophomore Faye Bepler notched two goals and one assist, senior Hope Hapgood had two goals and senior Kate Walsh also scored twice for the victors.

“They moved the ball well,” Lindley said of her athletes on offense. “We have certain sets that we play against a zone and they were executing it well.”

Juniors Morgan Hite and Cameron Pokorny each added one goal and one assist, while Grace O’Neil, also a junior, had one goal for Darien, which had possession the majority of the game, making Greenwich’s defenders work hard.

**Photo courtesy of Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Greenwich senior attack Aubrey Roth moves down the field with the ball while being pursued by Hollis Hagen (No. 21) and Isabel Alini (No. 16) of Darien on April 17, 2025, at Darien.

“What I like about this team is they share the ball and they get along,” Lindley said. “My defense is strong, my offense is coming around and we seem to be jelling.”

Following their road loss to Darien, the Cardinals traveled to Chappaqua, N.Y., to face Horace Greeley High School. Greenwich posted 11 goals, but dropped an 18-11 decision. Up next for the Cards is a home game on April 22 against Sacred Heart Academy at 5 p.m.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Graycen Aslansan of the Cardinals girl varsity lacrosse team (No. 5) defends Darien’s Annabel Adams (No. 3) during an FCIAC game held on April 17, 2025, at Darien High School. The Blue Wave won.

“They did a good job of shutting us down and we weren’t able to capitalize on it,” Warminsky said after the Cardinals’ game versus the Blue Wave. “We got in our heads too and it didn’t help us be successful on the attacking end. We have a younger team, we have a lot of talent and we have to see how we can capitalize on our strengths.”

Darien visits Rye (N.Y.) High School on April 22.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Darien High School attack Morgan Hite (No. 11) moves toward the goal while being defended by Greenwich’s Graycen Aslansan during a varsity lacrosse game. In goal for Greenwich is Charlotte Marek.

“I think there’s always room for improvement and as long as we can keep the intensity level and keep our heads on straight, we should be good at the end,” said Lindley, whose Blue Wave squad received five saves from senior goalie Julianna Bambina against Greenwich.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Host Darien defeated Greenwich in convincing fashion in lacrosse action.

**Photo provided by Antonio Monteiro**: Greenwich and Darien duel for the draw in an FCIAC varsity lacrosse game.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Katie Walsh of Darien moves down the field while being pursued by Graycen Aslansan of the Cardinals at Darien High School on April 17, 2025. The Blue Wave won the game, 20-0.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Sophia DiPietro of the Cardinals varsity girls lacrosse team in action vs. Darien.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro:** Greenwich’s Giselle DiPietro tries to move with the ball down the field while being surrounded by a group of Darien athletes during a varsity lacrosse game held at Darien High School on April 17, 2025.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** The Cardinals varsity girls lacrosse team visited the Blue Wave of Darien.

Photos by Antonio Monteiro: To the left, members of the Greenwich High School varsity girls lacrosse team gather at their road game versus Darien. To the right, the Cards’ defends in action vs. the Blue Wave.