Staples is No. 1 in final state coaches top 10 poll; Granby finishes ranked No. 4

For the second straight year, Staples is the No. 1 team in top 10 state coaches field hockey poll. The Wreckers (21-1-1), who beat FCIAC rival Darien in the Class L championship game, 4-2, beat undefeated Guilford by 10 points in voting by nine state coaches.

Guilford (23-0) beat Hand, 3-2, to win their second straight Class M championship and extend their winning streak to 31 consecutive games.

Darien (20-2-1) came in at No. 3 with Class S champion Granby (18-0-1) finishing fourth in the poll. The Bears handed No. 5 North Branford (20-1-1) their first loss of the season in the Class S championship game with a 1-0 decision.

It was Granby’s best finish in the top 10 poll since finishing third in the final poll following the 2011 season — their last state championship before Saturday. The Bears won 18 straight matches after battling to a tie with Westbrook in the season-opening contest.

Staples won their third straight Class L title and a share of their fourth consecutive championship. The Wreckers shared the 2016 title. For the FCIAC, it was the 13th time in the last 16 years that a FCIAC team was selected as the No. 1 team in the final top 10 coaches poll.

Guilford scored the first three goals of the game and held off a Hand rally to win the Class M crown. Granby scored off a penalty corner with 1:42 left in the first half to outlast the Thunderbirds.

Field hockey state coaches poll
Final, Nov. 25, 2019

Team	Rec	Pts	LW	Class
1. Staples (5)	21-1-1	154	4	L
2. Guilford (3)	23-0	144	t2	M
3. Darien	20-2-1	130	t2	L
4. Granby	18-0-1	114	6	S
5. North Branford	20-1-1	88	5	S
6. Hand	14-8	79	nr	M
7. Norwalk	15-5	68	9	L
8. Immaculate	20-2	54	7	S
9. Westbrook	15-3-3	51	12	S
10. Ridgefield	16-3-0-2	49	11	L
Other receiving votes: Newtown (18-2) 15, New Canaan (16-4) 14
Coaches voting: Matt Ariniello, Immaculate; Janet Dickey, Westbrook; Dawn Hough, New Milford; Sandy Wickman Mason, Granby; Kitty Palmer, Guilford; Maureen Perkins, Glastonbury; Kyle Seaburg, Norwalk; Jenna Tucchio, Stonington

Recent top 10 poll champions
2018: Staples; 2017: Hand; 2016: Darien; 2015: Wilton; 2014: Glastonbury; 2013: Darien; 2012: Darien; 2011: Cheshire; 2010: Darien; 2009: Darien; 2008: Darien; 2007: Greenwich; 2005: Greenwich; 2004: Fairfield Warde; 2003: Pomperaug; 2002: Pomperaug; 2001: Shepaug Valley; 2000: Granby

League tournaments

Southwest Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
Masuk 3, Pomperaug 2, OT
Immaculate 6, Bethel 0
New Milford 3, New Fairfield 0
Newtown 6, Joel Barlow 0
Semifinals
Immaculate 3, Masuk 0
New Milford 2, Newtown 1, 2 OT
Championship
Thursday, November 7
Immaculate 1, New Milford 0

Southern Connecticut Conference Tournament
Quarterfinals
Guilford 7, Hamden 1
Amity 2, Sacred Heart Academy 0
Branford 3, Mercy 0
Hand 3, Cheshire 2 (6-4 penalty strokes)
Semifinals
Guilford 2, Hand 1
Amity 3, Branford 1
Championship
Thursday, November 7
Guilford 1, Amity 0

FCIAC Tournament
Quarterfinals
Darien 4, Fairfield Warde 0
Ridgefield 1, Wilton 0
New Canaan 7, Norwalk 2
Staples 2, Greenwich 0
Semifinals
Darien 3, New Canaan 2
Staples 3, Ridgefield 1
Championship
Thursday, November 7
Darien 0, Staples 0, co-champions

Eastern Connecticut Conference Tournament
Semifinals
East Lyme 5, Killingly/Woodstock 1
Stonington 3, Fitch 1
Championship
Thursday, Nov. 7
East Lyme 1, Stonington 0, OT

Shoreline Conference
Semifinals
Westbrook 1, Old Saybrook 0
North Branford 3, Valley Regional 1
Championship
Thursday, Nov. 7
North Branford 2, Westbrook 1