As the FAA Soccer Tournament semifinal-round game between Greenwich Academy and Sacred Heart Greenwich progressed, the field became muddier, the rain intensified and the competitive spirit of both teams reached a fever pitch, as the athletes put their bodies on the line in the hope of capturing the coveted league championship.

Games played in such challenging weather conditions sometimes come down to that one player who is able to create opportunities while bodies are slipping and sliding and the rain drops are falling.

Greenwich Academy senior captain Clemi Milligan created a pair of opportunities, resulting in an appearance in the FAA Soccer Tournament final for the Gators.

Milligan scored two goals, powering third-seeded Greenwich Academy past second-seeded host Sacred Heart Greenwich, 3-1, in the FAA Tournament semifinals, held at Sacred Heart’s grass field on Nov. 13th. The victory propelled Greenwich Academy (8-1-1 record in the FAA) into the championship game of the FAA Tournament, where it will visit top-seeded Greens Farms Academy in Westport on Nov. 14 at 12:30 p.m. Greens Farms Academy advanced to the FAA title game by defeating fourth-seeded Greenwich Country Day School, 6-0, in the other semifinal.

“There was so much heart, so much unity,” Greenwich Academy coach Kate Sands said following GA’s semifinal-round showdown win over SHG. “This group of seniors has never been to an FAA final, we’ve lost in the semis all three years and never made it to a final, this will be our first final.”

Maia Bostwick, a senior captain, added a goal for the Gators, who avenged a 4-3 regular season loss to the Tigers. These two neighborhood rivals are accustomed to testing their skills against each other in the postseason. In 2025, Sacred Heart was victorious against GA in the FAA Tournament semifinals, 2-1 and in 2024, the Gators edged the Tigers in the quarterfinals, 1-0, on a late second half goal by Bostwick.

“It feels amazing, it’s a dream come true,” following GA’s semifinal-round win versus host SHG. “I knew that this team had the potential, but today, this team really showed up and we played our best game.”

Sacred Heart, which finished its 2026 campaign with an overall record of 11-7-2 and an FAA mark of 7-2-1, received a goal from sophomore forward Gabi Wright, who helped spearhead the Tigers’ offense throughout the season.

“It’s hard to put words to today’s game,” Sacred Heart coach Stuart Smith said after his squad’s tough loss. “The girls did everything they could. GA came out on top and that’s the way it goes in sports. I just can’t explain it, it’s hard to give a reason to the girls as to why the girls didn’t win the game. They couldn’t’ have given any more.”

Milligan scored the first goal of this much-anticipated FAA tourney semifinal with 6:33 remaining in the first half, making it 1-0, in favor of GA. Controlling the ball off a pass from junior Juliet DeStefano, Milligan angled a high arcing shot from just outside the box. The high shot saw the ball elude the outstretched arms of Sacred Heart senior goalie Claire McMonagle, who did all she could to deflect the ball and settle into the net.

“I think it was a great connection from Juliet and I just took it down the line,” Milligan said of her first goal. “She crossed it through and I was there for the touch and I hit it. The grass definitely helped getting that height.”

“We had been pounding at the door and we finally got it in,” Milligan said regarding Greenwich Academy tallying the game’s first goal.

Prior to the Gators taking a 1-0 edge, the Tigers generated several scoring chances. Sophomore Bianca Bakker and Wright challenged GA junior goalie/captain Lavely Corbin with shots on goal early in the opening half. Corbin was up to the tough task, making several saves to keep the game scoreless.

Senior Bella Boone also applied pressure, helping Sacred Heart’s forwards to create chances in the first half. Corbin and GA’s defense was sound throughout, with sophomore Yardley Brunt, freshman Mara Kreuzer and senior Alex Piperno helping to lead the way.

“Our defensive effort was awesome, Berardi and Yarley, gave great efforts,” Sands said. “Kreuzer, a freshman and Alex a senior, they were so tough in the back. Corbin has been an anchor back there all season. She made a couple of point-blank saves and kept us in it.”

“Sacred Heart has awesome players, they are really tough, offensively,” Sands noted. “The defensive effort was awesome, I couldn’t be happier.”

A goal by Wright in the 54th minute (15:57 remaining in the second half) evened the score at 1-1, seemingly, giving the Tigers the momentum. However, the Gators soon snatched it right back.

Awarded a free kick from just outside the box after a SHG foul was called, GA went ahead, 2-1, with 12:46 left to play in the second half. Taking the free kick, Milligan directed the ball high inside the right post, for the game’s go-ahead goal.

“The only two free kicks I’ve made this season have been against Sacred Heart,” a smiling Milligan said, as she reflected on her regular season goal off a free kick versus the Tigers.

Both squads displayed their grit, determination and desire while playing a tough, physical match in the mud, cold and rain.

“I was having a lot of fun actually,” Milligan noted. “It was very competitive, the grass made it very fun. We were sliding, but it was on both sides. It created for a very equal match.”

“I definitely put my all, with the conditions, it was really hard, but everybody was putting their body on the line,” Bostwick said. “You can tell by all the dirt on our socks. It was a swamp out there, but we played our best.”

Bostwick increased the Gators’ lead to 3-1 with a huge goal off a penalty corner with just 6:19 left to play in the second half. The assist went to DeStefano, who takes all of the Gators’ corner kicks.

“I saw the ball come in, I kind of saw a gap and suddenly put a head on it. I put my body on the line again,” Bostwick said of her goal, which made it a 3-1 game.

Helping pace Sacred Heart defensively were junior Katherine Petrillo, sophomore Maggie Davies and senior captain Lucia Coviello. McMonagle made several saves for the Tigers, who won the FAA Tournament championship in 2023.

“Clemi scored a great goal in the second half,” Smith said, as he reflected on the semifinal-round matchup. “She took her opportunity and scored a great goal. We fought hard to get back into it. We had a lot of possession in both halves. It was very similar to the first game where we had the ball. We had a couple of good opportunities and didn’t take them. I don’t think the girls could have given any more.”

The Tigers coach summed up his squad’s strong, successful season.

“We graduate great players, some players that were involved in 2023 when we won the final on this field,” Smith said. “They have been really important players to our program. We had 11 wins overall, we scored over 60 goals and played unbelievable soccer. I was really proud of the way the girls played soccer. They moved the ball as a team. Every goal we scored was created. We created goals with good soccer – they love playing that way.”

Corbin rose to the all-important occasion for GA, which she has done all season, making significant saves throughout.

“I honestly think that was the best our defense played,” Corbin said. “They were so connected and we’ve really been working on that, staying connected and it has really been so good. I’m so excited for the finals.”

Here are more scenes from the FAA Soccer Tournament final between Greenwich Academy and Sacred Heart Greenwich. All photos provided by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography.

For even more pictures from the FAA soccer semifinal between Greenwich Academy and Sacred Heart, please visit: https://www.06878photography.com/girls-soccer-sacred-heart-greenwich-vs-greenwich-academy-2026-faa-semi-final-november-12th-2026