Darien Places 16 Players On All-FCIAC Football Teams

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Football: After an 8-2 season, a total of 16 Darien football players were recognized by the FCIAC on its all-conference teams.

Seven players were named to the first team: linebacker Corey Eppley, tackle Brett O’Donnell, running back Peter Gesualdi, quarterback Henry Baldwin, lineman Matt D'Andrea, split end Harlan Smith and kicker Chris Smith.

An additional six players earned second-team honors: safety Mike Stovall, outside linebacker Patrick McDonald, defensive lineman Jake Coughlin, linebacker Andrew Maley, fullback Christian Bognar and running back Ian Vanderhorn.

Tight end Ryan Barthold, split end Clay Barker and center Stephen Wildish were tabbed as honorable mention picks.

In addition, Barthold was selected as the FCIAC Scholar Athlete for November. Including Stephen Wildish (September) and Patrick McDonald (October),  that gives Darien three total FCIAC scholar athletes for the first time in the program's history.

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Boys soccer: Four members of Darien's boys soccer squad were honored by the FCIAC, which released its all-conference teams on Thursday.

Elliot Helgans and Brennan Branca earned first-team honors while Spencer McMullin and Geoff Hubbard were named to the all-FCIAC East team. Helgans also was tabbed as a winner of the Scholar-Athlete award.

After finishing 2-6-7 in 2010, the Blue Wave were the FCIAC's most surprising team in 2011 under first-year coach Jon Bradley, enjoying their best season in 20 years.

Darien finished third in the FCIAC during the regular season, then reached the semifinals of the FCIAC playoffs and the quarterfinals of the CIAC Class L state tournament.

In the second round, Darien dethroned archrival New Canaan as defending state champions before its season ended with a loss to Bunnell, which went on to win the Class L title and was voted the No. 1 team in the state.

Darien finished the year with a 14-4-3 record.

Youth hockey: The Connecticut Ice Cats (combined Darien/New Canaan) U14 girls ice hockey team played its best all-around game of the year in posting a 3-0 victory over the Connecticut Polar Bears.  

In a fast-paced game marked by end-to-end action and crisp puck movement, the Ice Cats outshot their opponents by a 26-15 margin.

Emma Stevens' first-period goal was the only one needed as Brooke Jonsson provided outstanding goaltending in recording the shutout. She was helped by a strong team defensive effort marked by good backchecking by the forwards and a defense that stopped multiple one-on-one Polar Bear opportunities.

Georgia Cassidy got the insurance goal halfway through the third period with a top shelf wrist shot, then added another late tally with a pretty deke on a breakaway.

 Here is a scrimmage schedule for the Darien girls and boys basketball and boys and girls hockey teams:

Boys basketball

Dec. 5 vs. Stamford Academy, 4 p.m.

Dec. 6 vs. Immaculate, 4 p.m.

Boys hockey

Saturday -- vs. Ridgefield, 8:50 p.m., at Winter Garden Arena

Dec. 10 -- FCIAC Jamboree, 6:30 p.m., at Terry Conners Rink

Girls hockey

Saturday -- Shelton Girls Hockey Jamboree, 4:15 p.m., at Shelton Rinks

THURSDAY'S RESULTS

No games scheduled

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE

No games scheduled

STANDINGS

• Football

283-347

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball