Wilton Stuns Darien Girls Lax In Triple OT Thriller

Wilton senior Tessa Howard scored a sudden death goal in triple overtime as the Warriors stunned top-seeded Darien, 17-16, in the FCIAC girls lacrosse semifinals Monday night.

The Warriors (12-5-1) , who trailed, 7-0, early in the game, advanced to Friday's final against No. 2 seed New Canaan. The contest is set for 5:15 p.m. at McMahon High School in Norwalk.

"I've never been on a team that's beaten Darien in my four years until tonight," Howard said. "Wow!" 

Howard, one of the many speedsters on the Warriors' squad, scored on a free possession just over one minute into the third extra period, ending one of the most dramatic games in FCIAC lacrosse history.

Liz Calby sparked Darien's early run with three goals, and it apeared the top-seeded Blue Wave (14-4) were in control.  

"I don't know what happened to us other than some of the intensity was missing after we started out so well," Colby said.

Just past the midway point of the first half, Rachel Lowrie finished a perfectly executed fast break with assists from Laura Johnson and freshman Casey Pearsall to start Wilton's comeback.

"We're really happy to have pulled this one out," Pearsall said. "I think I'll remember this game for a long time."

The Warriors scored scored five of the next six goals. They got two more to make it a 7-3 game. After Calby got her fourth goal to make it 8-3, Wilton came back with two more, both from Lowrie, and what had looked like a runaway a few minutes earlier was hardly that at the intermission. Darien led, 8-5.

The Warriors started the second half just as Darien had in the opening half, going on a five-goal run.

Alexi Farmakis, taking a pretty feed from Pearsall, scored to make it 8-6. Howard and Pearsall then found the back of the net to tie the contest at 8. Wilton added goals from Tegan Helms and Farmakis again, giving the Warriors a 10-8 lead.

But Darien was hardly done. Ann Fucigna, Cally Seglarski, and Corrine Sommi scored consecutive goals to put the Blue Wave back up, 11-10.

Wilton tied it on a goal from Megan Boepple, and with four minutes remaining in regulation time it was 11-all. The teams traded two more goals, with Wilton scoring 45 seconds before the end of regulation to force overime at 13-13.

Pearsall, speeding by defenders, opened the scoring in the first overtime after just 11 seconds. but the Wave countered with two consecutive goals from Seglarski for a 14-13 lead with 1:34 left.

Not to be outdone, Farmakis tied the game yet again. After goalie Maddi Kratz made a terrific save on a point-blank shot, it was deadlocked through the first extra period.

The teams then went into a second overtime. Wilton scored just 12 seconds in on a goal by Helms, but Darien tied it with nine seconds showing on the clock on a goal by Taylor Hardison.

With 1:51 showing on the clock in the third overtime—this one a sudden death period—Howard buried the game winner.

"Wilton won too many faceoffs," Darien coach Lisa Lindley said.  "I'm guessing some 85 percent, and that killed us." 

"We had so many opportuities but we simply just didn't play like we could have," Calby added.