In a highly contested matchup, the New Canaan Rams delivered a commanding victory on Saturday, defeating archrival Darien 8–4. Rarely in the rivalry between the two towns is such a dominant performance delivered.
The Rams came out firing in the first quarter, netting five goals while limiting the Blue Wave to just one. That opening burst set the tone for a wire-to-wire victory that left little doubt about which team left the least on the field.
“The Darien game brings a lot of emotions for everybody,” said New Canaan head coach Chip Buzzeo. “For the community, for the players on the field, for the coaches in every sport. It’s a big game. Of course I was happy. But more than anything, I was happy with our execution.”
New Canaan executed its game plan with precision, outshooting Darien 38 to 27 and winning 36 ground balls to Darien’s 22. The Rams also dominated the faceoff circle, winning 19 faceoffs to Dariens 2, thanks in large part to a standout performance from JT, who controlled the X from start to finish.
“JT dominated at the faceoff,” Buzzeo said. “That really set the tempo for us. Our defense took advantage of their matchups and controlled the game, and our goalies played great. It was a complete team effort.”
Goalie play was indeed another strong point in the game. JC registered 10 saves, while Cam Lyden added 4 more for a combined 14 stops—two more than Darien’s 12. Even in unsettled moments, the Rams held firm, forcing Darien into 16 turnovers while committing the same number themselves. Defensively, New Canaan gave up just three goals over the final three quarters.
“We’ve been playing against top-tier teams and our guys are getting better every week,” Buzzeo said. “They’re going up against the number one defense in the state every day in practice, and they’re starting to reflect that intensity and intelligence in games.”
Offensively, New Canaan displayed the balance and depth that comes from having such a deep bench. While Grey Wildman drew extra attention following a massive outing against Iona Prep, it was Cole Campisi and Finn Rotor who exploded out of the gates.
“They had a plan to slow down Grey, and that opened the door for other guys,” said Buzzeo. “Cole and Finn had an incredible first quarter. Once they started making adjustments, other players stepped up. That’s what makes this group special—anyone can hurt you.” Compared to other teams in the FCIAC, the New Canaan team’s greatest strength comes from having several extremely strong players, rather than concentrating all the talent of the team into a single player.
Despite their offensive prowess, Buzzeo isn’t calling this a one-dimensional team. On multiple occasions this season, New Canaan has allowed defensive midfielders, poles, and even a goalie to push in transition and take scoring chances.
“As a coach, I’m giving these players more freedom than ever before to go to the goal,” he explained. “Whether it’s our defensive midfielders, our defensemen—even our goalie Jack shot and scored earlier in the year. We have incredible athletes on the defensive side of the ball.”
The team’s experience with New York programs who operate with a shot clock may also be paying off. While the FCIAC does not mandate one, the Rams’ early-season contests against shot-clock opponents forced them to play faster—and that urgency has carried over.
“I like playing faster. Every year, you evaluate your team and decide how you can best succeed. This year, we have the athletes to push the pace, and we’re doing it.”
Darien made adjustments in the second half, outscoring New Canaan 1–0 in the fourth quarter, but by then the damage had been done, with Darien’s momentum already shattered. Buzzeo praised Darien’s talent and ability to adapt, but noted that New Canaan had answers for every look.
“We made them uneasy and forced them to do things they’re not used to,” he said. “They made good adjustments, but ours were better.”
When asked what moment stood out the most, Buzzeo pointed to the game’s opening minutes.
“We won the faceoff, had a good possession, and even though their goalie made a save, we got the ball back with a 10-man ride. Then another save, another ride, another possession. I think we had the ball for the first four minutes. That told our guys, ‘we own this game.’ Even when they scored in transition, we never flinched.”
Looking ahead, New Canaan will face Greenwich, Ridgefield, and Don Bosco before postseason play begins. Buzzeo sees these matchups as important tests for the team.
“We haven’t built the scouting report yet, but Greenwich has some talented offensive players and a great goalie,” he said. “They rely heavily on momentum. We need to do what we did against Darien: start fast, finish our shots, and build a lead early.”
Despite graduating several defensive anchors like JP, Buzzeo remains confident in the team’s future.
“Our pipeline’s the strongest it’s ever been,” he said. “I coach the seventh and eighth graders, and I can tell you—we’re not taking a step back. We have young talent that’s been waiting for their turn.”
