The top-seeded Fairfield Ludlowe Falcons lived up to their billing Friday afternoon, dominating the Wilton High boys soccer team en route to a 2-0 victory in the FCIAC quarterfinals in Fairfield.
The score was much closer than the disparity on the field, as eighth-seed Wilton had a difficult time getting the ball past the midfield stripe. If not for the play of goalie Will DeSantis, some body saves by Wilton defenders, and some help from the woodwork, Ludlowe could have added several more goals.
In the 12th and 16th minutes, DeSantis came up with big saves on close-range attempts to keep the game scoreless; Ludlowe had the chances because the Wilton defense was not effectively marking the Falcon players in front of the net.
“Will (DeSantis) had a great game in goal today, but for the rest of the team they were a no-show,” said Wilton head coach Jim Lewicki. “This was not the team that showed up the last two games of the season (a tie against Norwalk and a win over Danbury). We showed no intensity; we didn’t believe in ourselves.
“We came into the game with nothing to lose playing the top seed, so I told the kids to go out and have some fun — this wasn’t fun,” added Lewicki. “I’m at a loss for what I’m going to say to the team about the game.”
Unbeaten Ludlowe (14-0-3) clearly took it to the visitors. The Falcons won all the 50-50 balls, as the Warrior players seemed timid and not willing to fight for possession.
Ludlowe played composed and used its outstanding dribbling and passing skills to make it look as though the discombobulated Warriors were chasing their own tails. On offense, Wilton‘s rushes took too long to develop, giving Ludlowe time to step in and defend the attack.
Ludlowe finally broke through with a score in the 33rd minute. Niklas Stahle was left unmarked on the doorstep and put it past a defenseless DeSantis for the 1-0 lead.
Wilton had just two forays deep into the Darien defensive zone in the first 35 minutes of play, with the best chance coming on its first rush. Jack Brandt lofted a crossing pass that found the head of David Schneidman, but the Ludlowe keeper was in perfect position for the save.
After halftime, Ludlowe got an insurance goal in the 47th minute off a direct kick just outside the Wilton box. The Falcons’ Lorin Tobey blasted the kick past the Warriors’ wall, and the ball was directed into the net by Richie Bellucci.
Wilton gave it one final effort in the last four minutes of the game when the visitors basically pulled everybody past midfield. But Ludlowe held its ground for the 2-0 victory.
Wilton (8-6-3) will now move on to the Class L state tournament, which begins the first week of November.