With a 3-1 win over Wilton in the Class L championship game, the New Canaan field hockey team secured a state championship and the No. 1 spot in the final top 10 state coaches poll for the first time since 1997.
New Canaan was a unanimous selection as the No.1 team with all seven voters selecting the Rams as the best team in the state in 2021.
The Rams rolled through the regular season with an undefeated 16-0 record only to fall to Darien in the FCIAC championship game, 1-0, in double overtime for its lone loss of the season. New Canaan (22-1) went undefeated in the state tournament with four wins including the win over the Warriors in the title game.
FCIAC teams had three of the top four spots in the poll with Wilton finishing third and Darien (20-2) coming in at No. 4. The only losses of the year for Darien came from New Canaan in a 2-1 loss on Oct. 22 and to Wilton on penalty strokes in the Class L semifinals.
Class M champion Guilford (22-1), whose only loss was a 6-0 shutout at the hands of Darien in October, was voted the No. 2 team in the poll. The Grizzlies went 7-0 in a pair of post-season tournaments – the SCC Tournament and Class M tournament. Guilford won their final 13 games of the season.
Class S champion North Branford (18-2-2) ranked No. 5 in the final poll. The Thunderbirds shutout Stonington, 2-0 in the Class S title game.
The final state top 10 field hockey as voted by coaches from around the state.
FINAL, Nov. 22, 2021
| Team |
Rec. |
Pts |
LW |
Class |
| 1. New Canaan (7) |
22-1 |
140 |
2 |
L |
| 2. Guilford |
22-1 |
114 |
3 |
M |
| 3. Wilton |
12-5-4 |
106 |
nr |
L |
| 4. Darien |
20-2 |
99 |
1 |
L |
| 5. North Branford |
18-2-2 |
87 |
9 |
S |
| 6. Wethersfield |
18-2 |
67 |
8 |
M |
| 7. Glastonbury |
14-2-2-1 |
56 |
11 |
L |
| 8. Stonington |
18-4 |
52 |
nr |
S |
| 9. Staples |
13-4-1 |
24 |
6 |
L |
| 10. Joel Barlow |
15-4 |
20 |
nr |
M |
| Others receiving votes: Valley Regional (17-2-1) 17, Hall (15-1-2) 13, Granby (12-6) and Thomaston (14-3-2) 12, Greenwich (12-4-0-1) 8, Ridgefield (14-5-1) 7, Cheshire (16-4-1) 6 |
Coaches voting: Matt Ariniello, Immaculate; Margaret Bristol, Canton; Janet Dickey, Westbrook; Dawn Hough, New Milford; Kitty Palmer, Guilford; Maureen Perkins, Glastonbury; Jenna Tucchio, Stonington.
Poll compiled by Janet Dickey |
2021 CIAC state championship games
Class L: New Canaan 3, Wilton 1
Class M: Guilford 4, Wethersfield 0
Class S: North Branford 2, Stonington 0
Recent top 10 poll champions
2020: No poll, COVID-19 pandemic
2019: Staples (21-1-2)
2018: Staples (22-1)
2017: Hand (20-1-2)
2016: Darien (16-2-3)
2015: Wilton (17-5)
2014: Glastonbury (18-0-2)
2013: Darien (21-1-1)
2012: Darien (21-1)
2011: Cheshire (22-1)
2010: Darien (22-0)
2009: Darien (22-0)
2008: Darien (21-0-1)
2007: Darien (18-3)
2006: Greenwich (20-2)
2005: Greenwich (21-1)
2004: Fairfield Warde (17-2-0-1)
2003: Pomperaug (22-0)
2002: Pomperaug (19-0-1)
2001: Shepaug Valley (17-0-1)
2000: Granby
1999: Canton (15-2-3)
1998: Canton (18-1-1)
1997: New Canaan
1996: Cheshire
1995: Canton (17-0-3)
