The New Canaan girls’ lacrosse team saw its bid for a second straight FCIAC championship come to a dramatic end on Tuesday, falling 9–8 to Wilton in the semifinal round at Brien McMahon High School.
The loss was close, emotional, and loaded with historical symmetry. Wilton is the alma mater of New Canaan head coach Kristin Woods, a former All-FCIAC First Team midfielder who starred for the Warriors in the late 1990s. Nearly three decades later, it was Woods’ current team—the defending FCIAC and Class LL state champions—on the losing end of a playoff matchup with her past.
Woods, a fierce competitor during her own playing days, has transformed the Rams into one of the premier programs in Connecticut. Under her leadership, New Canaan captured last year’s FCIAC title by defeating Darien 7–2, then followed it up with a commanding 10–5 victory over the same rival in the state championship game. The Rams entered this year’s tournament looking to defend both crowns and had all the pieces to make another deep run.
The 2025 regular season was a test of endurance. New Canaan finished 10–6 overall, securing the No. 3 seed in the FCIAC bracket thanks in part to a dominant 17–6 win at Ridgefield to close the season. While they fell to both Darien and Wilton during divisional play, the Rams found their rhythm late in the season, riding a four-game winning streak into the playoffs.
Their quarterfinal matchup against No. 6 Greenwich showcased their postseason potential. Sydney Patten, Ashton Pinkernell, and Emma Row each recorded four goals, and Allie Cicia added a goal with five assists in an 18–4 rout. The Rams looked primed to defend their title.
Then came the semifinal rematch with Wilton. It was the kind of matchup that makes the FCIAC tournament one of the most competitive in the state: two top-five ranked teams in the state poll, meeting for the second time in just three weeks. In their regular-season clash, Wilton had edged New Canaan 8–7—a win that helped the Warriors leapfrog the Rams into the No. 2 state ranking and lock in the No. 2 FCIAC seed.
Tuesday’s game played out with similar tension. Tight defense, measured possessions, and playoff-level physicality defined the night. Ultimately, Wilton found one more answer in the closing minutes, sealing the 9–8 victory and advancing to the FCIAC final for the first time since 2016.
For New Canaan, the loss is a gut punch—but not a collapse. The Rams were part of a brutal bracket where the top four FCIAC seeds were also the top four teams in the state, and they proved they could play with any of them.
