#Repost from The New Canaanite (Written by Donovan West) - A 4-0 loss to St. Luke’s in their first scrimmage of the year wasn’t an ideal start for the New Canaan Girls Soccer team. Losing two of their first three official games only made things worse.
At that moment, the season seemed destined for disappointment.
Yet the girls took control of their own narrative and flipped a switch, winning 18 of their next 20 games and then riding off into the sunset, holding high both the FCIAC and CIAC trophies.
New Canaan Girls Soccer was crowned as champions once more.
“It was a perfect ending,” senior captain and defenseman Kate Kupchak said. “I’m really proud of the work we put in at every practice and every game, and it’s amazing to see it all pay off in the end, winning the two championships.”
In the CIAC Class L Championship, the Rams defeated Sacred Heart Academy 1-0 to win the program its eighth state championship, the first since 2009.
“It’s honestly hard to describe the emotion I felt in that moment,” senior captain and goalkeeper Chrysi Gabriel said about winning the state championship. “It was surreal. The feelings after the final whistle blew were unlike anything else; it was a moment of pure happiness. Holding up that trophy with all of my teammates validated the work we had put in and is a testament to how good of a team we were.”
The only score of the CIAC championship game came from sophomore striker Claire Greisen, her ninth goal of the tournament. Senior captain and midfielder Paige Place had the assist on the goal, passing the ball across Sacred Heart’s box onto Greisen’s waiting foot.
“Claire and I have had a special connection all season,” Place said. “When I crossed the ball in, I knew she was going to score. I have total trust in her.”
Greisen, Place, and senior captain Sydney Patten received All-FCIAC First Team honors for their play throughout the season. Gabriel received All-FCIAC Second Team honors.
The CIAC win was one for the history books, but the girls’ biggest achievement of the season may have been winning the FCIAC Championship. Their opponent, St. Joe’s, had previously been on a 57-game win streak and were trying to become the first team in nearly 20 years to win their third straight FCIAC title. In the game, the Rams and Cadets threw punches back and forth for 90 minutes, and remained knotted at one at the end of regulation. After 20 minutes of scoreless play in extra time, it was decided: the FCIAC Championship would come down to a penalty shootout.
“There were a lot of nerves before the shootout, but we tried our best to stay calm,” Kupchak said. “We reassured the entire team that we would stand with each other no matter what. This support helped me stay confident throughout it all.”
As her team faced a 2-0 deficit after two rounds of the shootout, Kupchak led by example and calmly put the ball in the back of the net to turn the tide of the game. The following missed shots by St. Joe’s and clutch kicks from Place and Patten secured the Rams the comeback 3-2 penalty shootout victory, pulling off the historic upset in a game Kupchak described as “unforgettable.”
“[St. Joe’s] is a really good team with a lot of great players,” Gabriel said of the FCIAC win. “To be able to pull through like we did is amazing. We entered the game as underdogs, but we were confident that we had a chance to win. And we took our chance.”
Despite the struggles to start the season, the Rams turned things around and finished with their hands on gold, thanks to their team’s camaraderie.
“We stood by each other and acted as family throughout the season,” Place said. “I love everyone on this team, and I think our chemistry is a big reason why we were so successful.”
Looking back on the season, the Girls Soccer Class of ‘25 hopes to have left a mark on the program.
“We wanted to create a positive and loving environment that will come to characterize New Canaan Girls Soccer,” Gabriel said. “I want our legacy to be not only that we won both championships but also the closeness that the entire team acted with throughout the season, which put our dreams in reach.”
Rams celebrating state championship win. Greg Horowtiz photo https://greghorowitzphotography.com/b/
L-R: Ceci Patterson, Julia McPhillips, Sydney Patten, Emma Row, Kate Kupchak. Greg Horowtiz photo https://greghorowitzphotography.com/b/
Seniors Sydney Patten (left) and Emma Row (right) celebrating CIAC championship with their team. Greg Horowtiz photo https://greghorowitzphotography.com/b/