Sacred Heart Greenwich and Greenwich Academy each enjoyed successful varsity soccer seasons this fall, with the Tigers advancing all the way to the championship game of the FAA Tournament and the Gators making it to the tournament’s semifinal round.

The Tigers and Gators played each other for the right to earn a berth in the FAA Soccer Tournament finals and as usual, the game between the rivals was a highly intense duel featuring outstanding efforts by both squads.

Greenwich Academy won the regular season matchup against Sacred Heart Greenwich by one goal, a win that went a long way to the Gators earning the No. 2 seed in the FAA tourney and a pair of home games to start the tournament, yet the third-seeded Tigers returned the favor, emerging victorious in the postseason matchup, propelling themselves into the title game.

Senior captain Arianna Chin and senior Dalia Si-Ahmed registered one goal apiece, leading third-seeded Sacred Heart Greenwich past second-seeded host Greenwich Academy, 2-1, in the FAA semifinals on Nov. 5th. Sacred Heart, which captured the FAA Tournament championship in 2023 by edging Greens Farms Academy in a game that was decided in penalty kicks, went on to the tourney’s title game where they lost to Greens Farms, 4-1, on Nov. 7th at GFA in Westport.

The Tigers finished their 2025 season with a record of 9-2-2, while the Gators went 8-2-2 in their regular season campaign.

In the FAA semifinal-round match on Nov. 5th, GA and SHG entered halftime tied at 1-1. Sacred Heart scored the game’s first goal and Greenwich Academy responded with a tally, knotting the score entering intermission.

“We had the intention of starting strong and getting an early lead, which we did,” Sacred Heart coach Stuart Smith said. “We scored within the first 15 minutes of the game. We had a couple of chances to score to make it 2-0 and we didn’t take them and then they got up the other end and got the goal back and tied it.”

“We came back, finished the half strong and then the second half was a typical playoff battle with the local rival and two teams going hard at it,” Smith continued.

Sophomore Katherine Higgs scored Greenwich Academy’s goal, which occurred in the opening half.

“Katherine Higgs scored her first goal of the season,” Greenwich Academy coach Katherine Higgs She played her best game of the season in our last game of the season. She was one of our MVPs today, she was awesome. She started playing a new position a couple of weeks ago, given some injuries she’s had and she’s been amazing.”

Chin, who helped pace the Tigers’ offense up front throughout the season, put the Tigers on top of the Gators with a goal off an assist from Jaiden Vital early in the first half.

“It was the first goal of the game, which was really exciting,” Chin said. “We scored pretty early on and it was a really good team effort. I got a really nice ball from Jaiden and I was able to finish it, so I’m really thankful for that.”

The Tigers had solid possessions throughout this semifinal game, creating several scoring opportunities in each half of action.

“Our confidence in our ball skills and our ability to stay together and keep it together and keep it moving forward were key,” Chin said.

Chin, senior Eva Wilkerson, Vital and Tessa Rigert helped lead the Tigers offensively. For the Gators, Higgs and junior Clemi Milligan were among some of the offensive standouts.

“We played them really hard and it was close,” said Sands, whose GA squad edged SHG, 2-1, on a goal by junior Maia Bostwick on Sept. 25th. “It was two really good teams going against each other.”

“Our ability to keep the ball, our defensive toughness – I thought we made a lot of adjustments that were impressive,” Sands noted.

Si-Ahmed gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead on the Gators when she recorded a goal with 19 minutes remaining in the second half, scoring off a shot from close in with plenty of traffic in front of the net.

“It is literally the biggest game of our season, this was our revenge, we were so excited to have this opportunity to play them again, especially on their field,” Si-Ahmed said following SHG’s semifinal win. “I think we did a great job of channeling our built-up frustration on to this field and giving it everything we had.”

Junior Claire McMonagle earned the win in goal for Sacred Heart, which was ignited on defense by sophomore Katherine Foley, freshman Carrie Bakker, freshman Kylie Rosabella and sophomore Katherine Petrillo.

“There was so much intensity and determination to go over the line, it wasn’t easy at all,” Stuart said of his Tigers squad scoring the go-ahead goal. “We’re really proud of the effort we put into it today offensively and defensively. For our young defenders to perform at a level like that in a game like this is unbelievable.”

Senior captain Juliana Kreuzer, senior captain Maggie Whidden, sophomore Lucre Berardi, junior Alex Piperno and freshman Yardley Brunt helped solidify Greenwich Academy’s defense as they did all season in front of goalie Lavely Corbin, a sophomore. Bostwick was active in the midfield and on offense, before she left the game after suffering a knee injury.

“This is one of the best teams to have been a part of,” Sands said. “We’ve done so well in terms of the record, in terms of the wins we’ve had, but what’s made it so special is what is a supportive, kind, close-knit, competitive group of young women this team is.”

Sacred Heart finished its season strong, winning five of its last six games, its lone loss coming to top-seeded host Greens Farms Academy in the FAA final.

“We all clicked so well during practice,” Si-Ahmed noted. “We’re there for each other, we have a lot of bonding moments and we’re always there for each other. “That strengthened our bond on and off the field. In 2023, we got to the finals and to do it again is such an amazing experience.”

“It’s been so fun, this has been such an amazing group this year,” Chin said. “I’ve love it so much.”