Greenwich High boys soccer team upends Ridgefield, advance to FCIAC title game

By David Fierro on October 25, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Members of the Greenwich High School varsity boys soccer team celebrate after Joseph Carroll scored a goal during the team’s 3-0 win over Ridgefield in the FCIAC Tournament semifinals.

Greenwich High School’s varsity boys soccer team hopes to keep its perfect season going in its final destination in the FCIAC Tournament.

Keeping its absolutely perfect record intact, the No. 1-seeded Cardinals are right back in the game it relished appearing in last season – the FCIAC Tournament final.

Scoring twice in less than one minute early in the second half of action, defending FCIAC champion Greenwich earned the right to defend its title with a decisive 3-0 FCIAC semifinal-round victory over fourth-seeded Ridgefield tonight at Fairfield Warde High School on Oct. 23rd.

The 16-0 Cardinals will look to repeat as conference champions when they play third-seeded Staples in Monday’s 5 p.m. FCIAC Boys Soccer Tournament final, at Fairfield Warde High School in Fairfield. Staples, one of Greenwich’s main rivals, moved on to the conference tourney’s title game by defeating second-seeded Stamford in tonight’s other semifinal matchup.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: From left to right, Lucas Luzuriaga, Manuel Bonilla and David Boside react after the Cardinals scored a goal during their 3-0 win over Ridgefield High School in the FCIAC Tournament semifinals.

Sophomore Joseph Carroll, senior captain Manuel Bonilla and Francisco Luzuriaga, also a senior captain, scored one goal apiece to ignite the Cardinals, who were victorious against Stamford, 1-0, in the 2024 FCIAC Tournament’s championship game.

Greenwich aims to win its 10^th FCIAC Tournament championship when it faces rival Staples in Monday’s title tilt. The Cardinals most recent FCIAC Tournament championships came in 2024, 2017, 2016 and 2013.

The opening half of this semifinal showdown between the Cardinals and Tigers concluded in a scoreless tie, though Greenwich held a significant possession advantage and generated numerous scoring chances and shots on goal. Luzuriaga, Bonilla and Alexander Amato paced the Cardinals up front, as they pressured Ridgefield’s defense and challenged Tigers senior goalie Jacob Hankla.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Members of the Greenwich High School varsity boys soccer team react after scoring a goal against Ridgefield High School in the semifinal-round of the FCIAC Boys Soccer Tournament at Fairfield Warde.

“The first half we played really, really well,” GHS veteran coach Kurt Putnam said. “I said to them, ‘you’ve played incredible soccer guys, but we have nothing to show for it.’ I told them they needed to go into the second half and be more ruthless.”

Carroll gave Greenwich a 1-0 lead with 35:12 remaining in the second half. Greenwich had a throw-in and senior defender David Boside got the ball to Carroll, who made a move on a defender and a nifty finish near the left post, giving Greenwich a 1-0 lead.

“David had the ball and I made a back door run and thought, I’ll see what happens,” Carroll said. “The throw went long enough, so I said let it take a bounce and I just hit it in. Luckily, it went in. No one knew it went in for two seconds, but it was a good feeling.”

Indeed, the Cardinals entered the second half with even more motivation since the score was tied at 0-0.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Members of the Greenwich boys soccer team gather during the FCIAC semifinals.

“We were told that we couldn’t be demotivated just because it was nil-nil,” Carroll noted. “They didn’t have a shot on goal, so we went into the second half calm. We had to go into the second half the way we went into the first half and then finish it off as well.”

Less than one minute later, in the 46^th minute, Bonilla registered a goal, putting GHS on top, 2-0.

“I received the ball, turned, I saw a defender on me, so I had to cut inside and you don’t score if you don’t shoot, so I shot the ball and scored,” Bonilla said of his clutch tally.

Obviously, the Cards were focused on continuing another strong run in the FCIAC Tournament – a familiar championship run.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Joseph Carroll of the Cardinals reacts after scoring a goal vs. Ridgefield.

“It is definitely a really good feeling,” Bonilla said of the team returning to the conference finals. “Being there last year, I was definitely nervous as a junior. But going in this year having the experience of being in the final already – I feel very confident in the team. The record speaks for itself.”

Greenwich had more opportunities to widen their lead, yet Hankla stood tall in net, making numerous saves on shots coming at him from all angles. The Tigers (10-5-1) have been stingy in allowing goals all season.

“I think defensively, we played well, that’s been our strong suit all season,” Ridgefield coach Paul Renouf said. “In the regular season, we only let up 10 goals. The only other team to do that actually, was Greenwich. We had a difficult time creating goal scoring opportunities. Our goalie, Jacob made some great saves and played really well.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Greenwich senior Henry Davis looks to control the ball against Ridgefield.

Securing Greenwich’s 16^th win of the season was Luzuriaga, who produced a goal in the game’s closing seconds.

“I think we started with high momentum from the start,” Bonilla noted. “That was our goal and our key to win the game. We knew if we came out stronger and louder, we were going to out compete them and beat them at their own game.”

Junior Oliver Almeida received the start in goal for the Cardinals and earned the shutout win. He and senior James Buck have combined to post 10 shutout victories for undefeated Greenwich. Senior captain Henry Davis, senior David Boside, senior Nicholas Martschenko and Jason O’Brien, were among the athletes that propelled the Cards’ stellar defensive effort – which they have been doing all season.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography:** Greenwich senior James Whiteside in action in the FCIAC semifinals.

“I just can’t tell you how happy I am right now,” Davis said. “Last year was such a phenomenal season, winning it all. To be back in the final this year, it’s such a privilege. Every single game has been a step toward this goal and now we’re going to focus on the final and give it everything on Monday.”

Putnam was especially pleased with how his squad finished its chances in the second half.

“They had a chance at nil-nil, then to score those goals early in the second half – that was huge,” Greenwich’s head coach said. “It gave us some breathing space. Their goalie made pulled off some great saves. On any other day that could have been more. I’m really proud of our team.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Jason O’Brien (No. 5) and Joseph Carroll (No. 27) of Greenwich in action during a 3-0 win over Ridgefield High School at the FCIAC Tournament semifinals at Fairfield Warde High School.

Greenwich came back from a 3-1 deficit to edge Staples, 4-3, in the regular season matchup. Monday’s championship game, should indeed, be a physical, tight match.

“Being undefeated is an incredible feat,” Davis said. “We know what we can do on the pitch, we’ve been doing it all season. We’re going to take that confidence and motivation into the final. We know we can’t be complacent. Staples is a great team, they gave us a hard fight in the regular season. We know what we have to do on Monday and we’re going to do that.”