The first round of the CIAC girls field hockey tournament just delivered an absolute shocker in Class S: No. 13 Suffield took down perennial powerhouse No. 4 North Branford, ending a first-round winning streak that North Branford has held since 2015. Yeah, you read that right. Since 2015. North Branford has been to five finals and grabbed four titles in that time, with their last championship coming in 2023. This isn’t just a loss, folks, this is an earthquake.
Amelia Shanks Stuns a Dynasty in Two Seconds Flat
If you missed it, you missed everything. Suffield’s Amelia Shanks wasn’t just good, she was clutch, scoring the game-winning goal with a mind-blowing two seconds left on the clock. Two. Seconds! She also kicked off the scoring in the first quarter, proving she was dialed in from the jump. For a team that hasn’t seen a first-round exit in over a decade, this has to sting. Hard. The Thunderbirds are out, and it’s all thanks to one player’s incredible performance under pressure. What a way to make a statement in the tournament.
Road Warriors and Other Upset Specials
It wasn’t just North Branford feeling the heat. In Class S, No. 10 Stonington is proving they’re ready to put in the miles, literally. They traveled “across the state” to beat No. 7 Lakeview 2-0. Guess what? They’re doing it again, heading “border-to-border” to face No. 2 New Fairfield in the quarterfinals. That’s a whopping 394 miles in round trips just to play a couple of games. Talk about dedication! Also in Class S, No. 9 Northwest Catholic joined the upset club, knocking out No. 8 Somers 1-0 in double overtime. That’s grit right there.
Over in Class M, the only seeded upset came from No. 10 Pomperaug, who got sweet revenge on No. 7 New Milford with a 1-0 victory. New Milford actually beat Pomperaug twice in the regular season, so this win had to feel extra good. Pomperaug now moves on to face No. 2 Wilton in the quarterfinals.
Stops and Scores That Made the Difference
Beyond the upsets, we saw some massive individual efforts. Fiona Scozzafava for No. 8 Nonnewaug was a brick wall, making 15 saves and stopping three shots in an overtime shootout to secure a 1-0 win over E.O. Smith. That kind of goalkeeping is game-changing. And, of course, Amelia Shanks from Suffield, with her two goals, including that unbelievable game-winner, is absolutely the MVP of the first round.
So, what’s next? Class L is finally getting started Wednesday, and with how Tuesday went, you know anything can happen. Pomperaug has a tough matchup against No. 2 Wilton, and Stonington’s cross-state trek continues against No. 2 New Fairfield. If these first-round games are any indication, we’re in for one wild tournament. Don’t blink, folks, because these teams are just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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