There are four new teams in this week’s state coaches top 10 field hockey poll, including Canton, which is making its first appearance in the top 10 since 2007.
Southington, Masuk and Glastonbury also joined the top10 this week in voting from seven state field hockey coaches.
Undefeated Darien (13-0) is the unanimous selection as the No. 1 team in the state with Guilford moving up three spots to No. 2 and Wilton slipping one spot down to No. 3.
No. 10 Canton (10-2) is in the top 10 for the first time in 15 years since the final poll of the 2007 season. The Warriors have won eight straight games since they dropped a one-goal decision to Simsbury on Sept. 23. Canton has seven shutouts in the winning streak and has allowed just one goal in that stretch.
Including in the big run is a 2-0 win over Granby that gave Canton a share of the North Central Connecticut Conference championship for the second straight year. Canton can secure the title for their own with a win over Suffield next Tuesday night (Oct. 25) under the lights in Canton.
The Warriors beat Northwestern 2-0 on Monday and added a 2-0 decision over Westbrook/Old Lyme on Wednesday.
No. 6 Southington (11-0-1-1) and No. 8 Masuk (12-2) are in the top 10 for the first time this century. This writer has the weekly top 10 polls dating back to 2001. Could they be in the top 10 prior to 2001? Perhaps but this writer doesn’t have access to weekly polls prior to 2001.
Southington dropped a 4-3 decision in overtime to Simsbury so that counts as an OT loss in the second game of the season on Sept. 13. Since then, the Blue Knights have won 11 of 12 matches with one 2-2 tie against Conard.
The Blue Knights have won eight straight including a 6-1 win over Newington on Tuesday night.
No. 8 Masuk has dropped games to Immaculate-Danbury and Newtown. But they have six shutouts on the season and have won eight of their last nine games.
Glastonbury joined the top 10 this week but they were ranked in the final top 10 poll of the season last fall.
The state field hockey coaches top 10 field hockey poll
Week 4, Oct. 17, 2022
First-place votes in parentheses.
| Team |
Rec |
Pts |
LW |
Class |
| 1. Darien (7) |
13-0 |
140 |
1 |
L |
| 2. Guilford |
11-1-0-1 |
112 |
5 |
M |
| 3. Wilton |
10-1-1 |
109 |
2 |
L |
| 4. North Branford |
14-0 |
108 |
3 |
S |
| 5. New Canaan |
10-3 |
77 |
4 |
L |
| 6. Southington |
10-0-1-1 |
56 |
nr |
L |
| 7. Cheshire |
9-2 |
54 |
t7 |
L |
| 8. Masuk |
12-2 |
43 |
nr |
M |
| 9. Glastonbury |
9-2 |
40 |
nr |
L |
| 10. Canton |
9-2 |
38 |
nr |
S |
| Also receiving votes: Immaculate 21, Staples 19, Ridgefield 10, Branford and Simsbury 9, Greenwich, New Milford 7, Stonington 6 |
| Coaches Voting: Matt Arinello Immaculate, Margaret Bristol Canton, Janet Dickey Westbrook, Kitty Palmer Guilford, Maureen Perkins Glastonbury, Kyle Seaburg Norwalk, Jenna Tucchio Stonington. Compiled by Janet Dickey |
