Darien, which won their 11th state championship on Saturday was voted the No. 1 team in the final state coaches poll of the season. (Photo courtesy Darien High)
Undefeated Darien was the unanimous choice as the No. 1 field hockey team in the state in balloting in the state field hockey coaches top 10 poll that was released on Monday.
The Blue Wave went 23-0 on the season and captured the Class L championship and swept through the FCIAC tournament as well. Darien, which was selected by all eight coaches voting in the poll, is the first state field hockey team to go undefeated since another Darien squad in 2010 that went 22-0.
Darien is the sixth FCIAC team in the last seven years to finish the season at No. 1. Hand was the No. 1 team in 2017. It is the eighth time that Darien has been voted No. 1 in the final season-ending poll. The Blue Wave were also No. 1 in 2016, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007.
Wilton, which finished second in Class L behind Darien, was voted No. 2 with Class S champion North Branford (21-1) finishing at No. 3. Class M champion Branford (16-5-1-1), the No. 9 seed in their state tournament, came in fourth with New Canaan (16-5) rounding out the top five teams.
Canton, which was eliminated by Class S finalist Stonington in the second round of penalty strokes in the Class S semifinals, finished at No. 9 for their first top 10 finish in the final poll since 2007.
The poll is conducted by Westbrook/Old Lyme coach Janet Dickey.
Final 2022 poll
The 2022 state field hockey coaches top 10 poll .
| Team | Rec. | Pts | LW | Class |
| 1. Darien (8) | 23-0 | 160 | 1 | L |
| 2. Wilton | 18-3-1 | 134 | t2 | L |
| 3. North Branford | 21-1 | 126 | 4 | S |
| 4. Branford | 16-5-1-1 | 114 | nr | M |
| 5. New Canaan | 16-5 | 77 | 5 | L |
| 6. New Milford | 13-5-3 | 65 | nr | M |
| 7. Glastonbury | 15-4 | 56 | t10 | L |
| 8. Stonington | 17-3-1 | 53 | nr | S |
| 9. Canton | 16-3 | 42 | 7 | S |
| 10. Hand | 14-6-1 | 36 | nr | M |
| Others receiving votes: Immaculate (14-4-2) 32, Guilford (16-3-0-1) 26, Greenwich (13-5-0-1) 25, Wethersfield (12-5-2) 7, Ridgefield (13-3-1-1) 7 | ||||
| Coaches Voting: Margaret Bristol, Canton; Janet Dickey, Westbrook: Kitty Palmer, Guilford; Maureen Perkins,Glastonbury; Kyle Seaburg, Norwalk; Jenna Tucchio Stonington | ||||
Previous polls
Week 6, Nov. 1, 2022
Week 5: October 24, 2022
Week 4: October 17, 2022
Week 1-3: October 10, 2022
League tournaments
2022 Southern Connecticut Conference (SCC) Tournament
Saturday, Oct. 29
Quarterfinals
(1) Guilford 8, (8) Lauralton Hall 0
(4) Branford 1, (5) Amity Regional 0
(2) Cheshire 4, (7) Hamden 0
(3) Daniel Hand 5, (6) Sacred Heart Academy 0
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Semifinals
Branford 3, Guilford 2
Cheshire 1, Hand 0
Thursday, Nov. 3
Championship
At Amity
Cheshire 2, Branford 1
Southwest Conference
Thursday, Oct. 27
Quarterfinals
(1) Pomperaug 2, (8) New Fairfield 1
(7) Weston 3, (2) New Milford 2
(6) Brookfield 2, (3) Newtown 1
(5) Masuk 4, (4) Immaculate 1
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Semifinals
Brookfield 2, Weston 1
Pomperaug 2, Masuk 1, OT
Thursday, Nov. 4
Championship
Pomperaug 1, Brookfield 0
2022 FCIAC Tournament
Friday, Oct. 28
Quarterfinals
(1) Darien 9, (8) Fairfield Ludlowe 0
(3) Staples 2, (6) Greenwich 0
(2) Wilton 4, (7) Norwalk 1
(4) New Canaan 3, (5) Ridgefield 2
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Semifinals
Darien 2, New Canaan 0
Staples 3, Wilton
Thursday, Nov. 4
Championship
Darien 3, Staples 0
2022 Shoreline Conference tournament
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Semifinals
(1) North Branford 1, (4) Westbrook/Old Lyme 0
(2) Old Saybrook def. (3) Valley Regional
Wednesday, Nov. 3
Championship
North Branford 1, Old Saybrook 0
2022 Eastern Connecticut Conference tournament
Tuesday, Nov. 1
Semifinals
(1) Stonington 3, (4) Waterford 2
(2) Fitch 1, (3) East Lyme 0
Wednesday, Nov. 3
Championship
Stonington 1, Fitch 0
NCCC, Berkshire League and the CCC don’t have league tournaments
