Following their successful season, the U-12 Girls Blue team was rewarded with a berth in the post-season playoffs along with teams from Darien, Ridgefield & Westport. First up in the semi-finals, Wilton took on the squad from Darien who had Wilton's number after beating them twice during the regular season. The third time was the charm for Wilton as the girls controlled the match from start to finish and had many offensive opportunities with Sara Schneidman and Francesca Goncalves finding the net for a 2-0 victory. The win set-up a finals showdown with Westport, who upset #1 seed Ridgefield.
Wilton continued the momentum into Sunday's final by taking control from the opening whistle. Caroline Hess, Bianca Reuter, Goncalves and Schneidman continuously attacked the Westport defense. Wilton had a couple of close calls...Grace Rava on the receiving end of a corner kick blasted a shot but it sailed just over the crossbar. Minutes later, Rava hit another explosive shot that bounced off the goalie and was nearly put in by Lauren Cooper. Still in the 1st half, Hess possessed the ball in the offensive zone and from about 35-yards out lofted a perfect shot...that seemed float in the air forever... before dropping behind the out-stretched arms of the Westport goalie into the back of the net resulting in a 1-0 lead.
At the start of the 2nd half, the momentum shifted and Westport went on the attack only to be turned back by the impenetrable defense of Anna Breen, Ashleigh Coltman, Chloe Sokol and Marra Woodring. On a few occasions in the flurry of activity in front of the Wilton goal, the ball came loose and appeared to be goal opportunities until Cooper (twice) and Breen swooped in to clear the ball away.
As Wilton held the 1-0 lead, they turned the tables and resumed control of the match...almost as if the girls sensed they were closing in on a victory. This resulted in a couple of close call goal opportunities by Emma Kantor on passes from Goncalves and Reuter.
In the end, Hess' dramatic goal and stellar goalie play by Kantor and Izzy Gouveia sealed the 1-0 win for Wilton. When the final whistle sounded, the U-12 Girls Blue squad celebrated as the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association Southwest District Champions!
Coach Graeme Lloyd 'molded' a group of girls into a true team that elevated their performance as the season progressed, while Team Managers Tracy Scarfi and Nicole Woodring inspired camaraderie and sportsmanship among the girls. The U-12 Girls, and everyone associated with the team, experienced a perfect end to an unforgettable season.