For Greenwich High School’s varsity lacrosse team, the FCIAC Tournament couldn’t have started in more impressive fashion.

Imposing their will from the outset against a team they lost to in the regular season, the fifth-seeded Cardinals seized an early lead and never looked back, rolling past fourth-seeded Ridgefield, 16-3, in the FCIAC Lacrosse Tournament quarterfinals on May 21.

Greenwich (8-9) advanced to the semifinal-round of the FCIAC Tournament, where it will play top-seeded Darien on May 26 at Brien McMahon High School in Norwalk. The Cardinals and Blue Wave are scheduled to play their semifinal-round matchup at 4 p.m.

With its road win against rival Ridgefield, Greenwich exacted revenge from its 17-14 regular season loss to the Tigers on April 16th. Powering Greenwich’s offense in the FCIAC quarterfinal was senior captain Dillon McFerran, who recorded a game-high seven goals to go along with one assist.

Giselle DiPietro, also a senior captain, registered three goals and two assists to also pace the Cardinals’ scoring attack. DiPietro and McFerran have both scored more than 100 goals in their respective varsity careers.

Senior captain Sophia DiPietro totaled one goal and one assist, while sophomore Mary Kate O’Connor tallied for the Cardinals, who as always, have played a challenging schedule. Sophomore Claire Campinell and Georgia Sessa, a sophomore added one goal apiece in the winning effort.

“It was one of the most complete games of the season in all facets,” Greenwich assistant coach Bill Chimento said. “Our preparation in practice and specifically, in film this week, was critical to our success. The girls were locked in and really wanted this game because of our last trip up here. They felt they were the better team then and today, they proved it to themselves that they were.”

Giselle DiPietro had three draw controls, as did Campinell for GHS in the conference quarterfinal-round triumph. while junior Anabelle DeGennaro gathered four draw controls.

Coach Chimento noted that Campinell, Annabelle DeGennaro and Giselle DiPietro were fierce on the circle and gained possession for the Cardinals the entire game. Junior Finley DeGennaro provided stellar play in goal for the Cardinals, who received strong defensive play against the host Tigers.

Now Greenwich faces a ultra-stern challenge when it goes up against Darien in the FCIAC semifinals. When Greenwich and Darien met on April 22, the Cardinals played well in a 13-6 loss to the Blue Wave at Cardinal Stadium. The Blue Wave jumped out to a sizeable lead, then the Cardinals closed to within 11-6 in the fourth quarter.

“That loss to Darien was the turning point of our season,” Chimento noted. “We competed against them very hard all game. After that, we knew we could play with anyone and it set us on a four-game winning streak and winning seven of our last 10 games.”