Darien Scores and Standings, Oct. 31

UPDATES

• Boys cross country: The Darien boys cross country team has added more hardware to its already-stuffed trophy case, decisively winning the CIAC Class L state championship meet Saturday.

The Blue Wave raced its way to the familiar winner’s circle by dominating a strong field of 26 teams from across the state at Manchester's Wickham Park. Darien won the meet with a low score of 46 — 40 points ahead of runner-up Naugatuck.

Darien won its second state championship under coach Tyson Kaczmarek after capturing the Class MM title in 2009.

Running under wintry conditions and the threat of snow, the Blue Wave runners didn’t miss a step. With uniformly strong individual performances, Darien put three of its runners in the top eight and five in the top 15.

Finishing first for Darien and fifth overall was co-captain Michael Johnston, who posted a time of 16:44. Second for Darien and sixth overall was co-captain Charlie Baird in 16:50.

Another co-captain, Michael Coe, who returned after a recent illness, placed third for Darien and eighth overall in a time of 16:55.

Johnston, Baird and Coe were named to the Class L All-State squad and will be honored by the CIAC for their achievement at a November banquet.

Sophomore Marshall Huffman (17:07) finished fourth for Darien and 12th overall while freshman Alex Ostberg was the Blue Wave’s No. 5 finisher and 17th overall (17:16).

Completing Darien's contingent were sophomore Peter Kreuch (31st, 17:43) and co-captain Eli Converse (45th, 17:58).

“This was a tremendous win for our program," Kaczmarek said. "We have been first or second at the class meet each of the last five years. While that is a fantastic accomplishment, nothing beats winning states. That is what we strive for every year. It doesn’t get better than this."

Baird and Johnston are the only two members of the current Blue Wave team that were also members of the 2009 squad. Darien was second in Class M in 2005, second in Class MM in 2007 and 2008, and second in Class L in 2010.

“We have been on the other side of first place at states before,"added Kazmarek, who is 137-15 in the regular-season over the last nine years at Darien. "We’ve paid our dues plenty of times. The guys know what it feels like to not win. It’s bitter. No one wanted to go home with anything but first. I’m so proud of the boys."

The Blue Wave’s victory extended the team’s 2011 season, earning the squad a coveted invitation to the Connecticut State Open championship on Friday at Wickham Park.

"Winning Class L was one of our goals from the very beginning of the season,' Baird said. "To be able to go out there and accomplish this is an incredible feeling. It hasn't sunk in yet that this is only the second state championship in team history."

• Field hockey: The FCIAC has announced that the field hockey quarterfinals will be played on Wednesday at two sites: McMahon and Fairfield-Ludlowe.

McMahon: No. 5 Stamford vs. No. 4 Staples, 5 p.m., No. 8 Westhill vs. No. 1 Darien, 7 p.m.

At Ludlowe: No. 6 Norwalk vs. No. 3 New Canaan, 5 p.m., No. 7 Fairfield Ludlowe vs. No. 2 Wilton, 7 p.m.

The semifinals at set for New Canaan on Thursday (5 and 7 p.m.) with the finals pushed back until Saturday at 10 a.m. at McMahon.

• Boys soccer: No. 3 Darien will face No. 2 seed Trumbull in the semifinals of the FCIAC boys soccer playoffs on Tuesday at Fairfield Ludlowe (7 p.m.).

Each team needed extra time to advance, as the Blue Wave ousted Westhill 3-2 in overtime and the Eagles required penalty kicks to get past Wilton, 2-1 (8-6 in penalty kicks).

In the other semifinal, which will be played at 5 p.m. at Ludlowe, defending three-time FCIAC champion Staples takes on New Canaan. The Rams advanced after stunning top seed Norwalk in the quarterfinals for the second straight year.

• Fairfield County Football League: Playoff results involving Darien teams over the weekend:

Saturday

• Junior fifth grade – DJFL White 21, Westport North 8
• Junior sixth grade – New Canaan Black 13, DJFL Wave 12
• Junior sixth grade – DJFL Blue 14, New Canaan Red 0

Sunday

• Bantam fourth grade – DJFL White vs. DJFL Blue, ppnd
• Junior fifth grade – DJFL Blue vs. Westport South, ppnd
• Junior sixth grade – DJFL White vs. Norwalk Green, ppnd
• Bantam third grade – DJFL Blue vs. New Canaan Red, ppnd
• Bantam fourth grade – Westport South vs. DJFL Wave, ppnd

• FCIAC playoff races

Girls Volleyball (final)

• 1. Darien 18-0*
• 2. Ridgefield 16-2* (beat Staples)
• 3. Staples 16-2
• 4. New Canaan 14-4* (beat Greenwich)
• 5. Greenwich 14-4*
• 6. Stamford 12-6* (beat Danbury
• 7. Danbury 12-6*
• 8. Fairfield Ludlowe 11-7* (beat Westhill)
• 9. Westhill 11-7

FRIDAY'S RESULTS

• Boys soccer: Darien 3, Westhill 2 (OT, FCIAC playoffs)
• Girls volleyball: Darien 3, Trinity Catholic 0 — The Blue Wave completed an 18-0 regular season.

SATURDAY'S RESULTS

• Football: Staples 42, Darien 23
• Field hockey: Darien vs. Westhill (FCIAC playoffs), ppnd to Sunday
• Girls soccer: Greenwich 1, Darien 0 (FCIAC playoffs)

SUNDAY'S RESULTS

• Field hockey: Darien vs. Westhill (FCIAC playoffs), ppnd to Monday

MONDAY'S SCHEDULE

• Field hockey: Darien vs. Westhill, 6:30 p.m. (FCIAC playoffs), ppnd

STANDINGS

• Football

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

• Field hockey

• Girls volleyball