Cardinals girls lacrosse team defeated at home by Ridgefield in FCIAC matchup

By David Fierro on April 26, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Members of Greenwich High School’s varsity girls lacrosse team’s defensive unit in action, along with the team’s goalie during a game against Ridgefield High School at Cardinal Stadium on April 24, 2025.

The momentum was on the Greenwich High School girls lacrosse team’s side after it finished the second quarter strong in its game under the lights at Cardinal Stadium against a formidable Ridgefield High School squad.

Yet the Tigers regained the momentum and seized control of this FCIAC matchup shortly after the second half began.

After falling behind by four goals in the first quarter, Greenwich rallied to close to within one late in the second quarter, before heading into halftime facing just a two-goal deficit. However, Ridgefield pulled away in the second half, which saw the visitors dominate possession time on their way to earning a 16-6 victory on April 24 at Cardinal Stadium.

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Members of the Greenwich High School varsity girls lacrosse team gather during a timeout at their game against Ridgefield High School at Cardinal Stadium on April 24, 2025. The Cardinals lost the game, 16-6.

With the win, the Tigers raised their record to 6-2 overall, which they improved to 7-2 with a 10-6 road victory over Eastport-South Manor today (April 26). The Cardinals are 3-5 so far this season, as they dropped a 14-8 decision to host Fox Lane High School today, following their defeat against Ridgefield.

Against Ridgefield, Greenwich trailed 5-2 after the first quarter, then trailed 7-5 at halftime. Sophomore attack Dillon McFerran scored two goals and senior attack/captain Aubrey Roth also tallied twice for the Cardinals.

Junior Giselle DiPietro registered one goal and two assists, while sophomore Lily Nogaki and junior Lindsay Messer each had one goal for the Cardinals, who are 0-3 in the FCIAC.

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Sophia DiPietro of Greenwich had an assist in the Cardinals’ home game against Ridgefield.

Ridgefield, which has a 2-0 FCIAC record, received a five-goal performance from junior Caitlin Michalowski, a hat trick from senior Grace Winkler and a three-goal, one assist effort from senior Gabriella Lauretani.

The visiting Tigers outscored the Cards, 9-1 in the second half following a close opening half.

“Our team came out super hard and it was really fun to watch too,” GHS first-season coach Makenna Warminsky said. “I think our effort kind of dipped after the second half. Once we get in a hole we get frazzled and we have a hard time possessing the ball and doing the lacrosse fundamentals.”

**Photo by Rachael Stover:** Greenwich High’s girls lacrosse team hosted Ridgefield in varsity action on April 24, 2025.

A man-up following a Cardinals foul, the Tigers scored the game’s first goal on a free position shot by Lauretani, making it 1-0 with 9:10 remaining in the opening quarter. Ridgefield took a 2-0 edge at the 7:17 mark of the first quarter, then Roth scored with 6:26 to go in the quarter, cutting the Tigers lead to 2-1.

The visitors went on a three-goal run to open a 5-1 advantage, but Nogaki tallied in transition, bringing GHS to within 5-2 after the first quarter of action.

At the 5:55 mark of the second period, Roth scored off a pass from junior Sophia DiPietro and Greenwich was with 5-4 of the Tigers. Following a Ridgefield goal, Giselle DiPietro converted a with 1:12 left in the second quarter, making it a 6-5 game.

**Photo by Rachael Stover**: The Cardinals defenders at work during a home loss against Ridgefield High School.

The opening half also saw Greenwich’s defensive unit play solidly against Ridgefield’s potent attack.

“We were really connecting,” Warminsky noted. “On defense, I felt that are slides were there, we were jelling together. On attack, we were seeing those opportunities where someone was open and we were hitting them and capitalizing on them.”

Said Cardinals senior defender/captain Flynn Tauber: “I think definitely that was the biggest turnaround for defense we’ve seen this season. Ridgefield is a really good, tough team. It was definitely not the turnout we wanted but I’m really proud of the defensive end for the way we came together.”

**Photo courtesy of Rachael Stover:** The Cardinals hosted the Tigers in FCIAC varsity lacrosse action. GHS lost the game, 16-6.

It was mostly Ridgefield in the second half, as it maintained possession for a good portion of the third and fourth quarters, while getting goals from Michalowski, Winkler, Lauretani and Alexandra Whitbeck.

The Tigers began pulling away toward the end of the third quarter, then opened a double-digit lead late in the fourth quarter.

“Our 1-vs.-1 defense was very strong, we played as a unit,” Tauber said. “I think at the end, the fourth quarter, we were exhausted. We got sloppy because we were tired.”

**Photo by Rachael Stover**: Greenwich hosted Ridgefield High School in an FCIAC girls lacrosse matchup under the lights.

Ridgefield hosts Norwalk on April 29, plays host to Sacred Heart Greenwich April 30 and visits Wilton on May 3. Greenwich hosts Fairfield Warde April 28 and visits Trumbull April 29.

“I always try to take what happens in our games as a lesson,” Warminsky said. “How can we learn from it, how can we get better?”