2026 CIAC girls field hockey Class L tournament first round is complete. What you need to know
A look at what occurred in the opening round of the 2026 CIAC Class L field hockey tournament.
The first round of the Class L CIAC field hockey tournament concluded on Wednesday, with the Blue Wave from Darien topping No. 16 NFA 10-0. This victory extends the Blue Wave's impressive streak of overcoming early-round defeats in CIAC tournaments, which has spanned over two decades. The last time Darien lost in the first round was in 2003, when they were eliminated by Granby Memorial in the Class S tournament.
The program saw a significant shift in 2000, when Mo Minicus was appointed head coach, following her time as the head coach at Bowdoin College. Minicus led the Blue Wave to their first CIAC championship in 2007 and has since claimed 10 titles in Class L, including last year's championship. Since 2016, Darien has reached the semifinals every season.
The Blue Wave haven't conceded a goal in the first round of any Class L tournament since 2018, showcasing a strong defensive record. Minicus, who achieved her 500th career victory in the FCIAC quarterfinals against Ridgefield, has twice been named CHSCA Coach of the Year and was recognized as NFHCA National Coach of the Year in 2010.
Darien, which hadn't entered a championship game from 1984 to 2004, now enters the quarterfinals against No. 9 Greenwich. Seven of the final eight teams in Class L originate from the FCIAC, with only Hall from the CCC breaking through in the recent tournament by defeating Farmington in double overtime.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
