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GREENWICH, Conn. The Greenwich High girls lacrosse team was on the right side of a wild comeback in the semifinals but on the wrong side in Fridays championship game against Darien. The Cardinals nearly erased a five-goal deficit late in the second half but could not net the equalizer as Darien denied Greenwich its first title in nine years, 17-14.
Weve dug out of big holes before against [Darien], but this time we werent able to come out on top, Greenwich head coach Caitlin Keane said. You never want to be on the wrong side of the run they had.
Darien never relinquished the lead, but the Cardinals charged back hard three times. Greenwich battled back from 6-3 to tie the game in a wild first half and pulled within one goal of Darien twice.
Sophie Waine helped lead the charge, scoring three of her four goals in the second half and adding three assists. After she pulled the Cardinals to 15-14 with just less than eight minutes to play, a timeout refocused the Blue Wave.
Greenwich would not seriously threaten again. Darien added a pair of insurance goals in the final three minutes and ran out the clock on the Cardinals championship hopes.
Carolyn Paletta also scored four goals for the Cardinals. Claire Feeney and Tori Dunster each added a pair, while Emma Christie and Emily Johnson rounded out the Greenwich scoring with a goal each.
The last game it was us, but [Darien] had it more this time, Keane said. This was a physical and emotional game for the girls. Now well get revamped for the next part of our season.
Greenwich (15-3) will try to defend its Class L state championship, beginning Thursday. Seeded third in the tournament, the Cardinals will host the winner of the Shelton-Norwalk play-in game.
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