FCIAC Schedule Released — Big Changes Ahead For Wreckers
The 2015 schedule has been announced. At least 2 things will be very different this season.
With the departure of Bassick and Harding from the FCIAC, the schedule is finally balanced. When those teams (and Central) entered the league 20 years ago, the FCIAC grew to 19 schools. However, state rules prohibit more than 16 regular season matches. So each team did not play 2 opponents each year. In 2015, the Wreckers will face Stamford for the 1st time since 2010. They’ll also play Darien, whom they missed in the regular season last fall. (The teams met in the state quarterfinals; the Blue Wave won 2-0.)
Also, for the 1st time ever, tryouts will begin on a Thursday — not a Saturday. August 27 is also the 1st day of school. So — also for the 1st time in history — candidates will meet for the 1st time in the afternoon, after school. Double sessions will wait until Saturday, August 29.
Trumbull is the 1st regular season opponent, on Friday, September 11. The Golden Eagles thrashed Staples 4-1 last fall (a match that ignited Staples’ late-season surge). “We’ll be ready for that game,” guarantees head coach Dan Woog. “It’s the 1st of the season, away, against a team that’s had our number for a while. It should be a great one.”
The 8 home matches are Stamford, Greenwich, St. Joseph, Fairfield Ludlowe, Norwalk, Darien, Witon and Trinity Catholic. Besides Trumbull, away games are at Ridgefield, Central, Westhill, Brien McMahon, New Canaan, Fairfield Warde and — on the final day of the regular season — Danbury.
There are 5 pre-season scrimmages. Following tradition, all are tough. Staples is at Fairfield Prep on Monday, August 31. The Wreckers then host South Kent (Wednesday, Sept. 2) and Choate (Friday, Sept. 4), before traveling to the Wethersfield Jamboree on Saturday, Sept. 5. Martin Luther King marks the final pre-season game, on Labor Day (Monday, Sept. 7).
“All of it’s a challenge — pre-season, and the regular season,” Woog says. “Then comes the post-season, really quickly. But that’s why we do what we do. We love those challenges.”
Grant Sirlin broke his nose last fall at Choate. He’ll return as a Staples senior — but the Wreckers won’t face Harding. (Photo/Kim Lake)
