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The New Canaan U13 girls soccer team picked up a 7-4 win over Easton/Redding on Sunday.

New Canaan got strong defensive contributions from Fiona DeMott, Kearney McKiernan, Natalie Lopez and Charlie Gardner.

The offense of Georgia Stewart, Sophie Gardner and Sophie Curcio worked hard passing to each other until Curcio was able to get a breakaway and score the first goal for New Canaan.

Near the end of the first half, Ellie Perlitz and Lauren Gilbert made an overlap pass to Curcio, who scored again. ERU was able to get a ball in through goalie Belle Broll to end the first half.

In the second half, Kearney McKiernan and DeMott came off the defensive line to play offense, and both scored a pair of goals.

Because of the mercy rule, New Canaan was only allowed to pass, which allowed ERU to get three by goalie Lauren Gilbert.

With a minute left in the game, New Canaan was permitted to shoot, and Curcio scored the final goal.

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New Canaan played a competitive first half in a Saturday game with Darien at Conner Field, but its lack of scoring punch resulted in a 4-0 loss.

In the first half, left defender Corban Basile turned back several Darien scoring chances, and forward Francisco Gonzalez made some excellent runs up the left sideline, but the Reds could not score, and the half ended with Darien up 1-0.

There were multiple scoring chances for New Canaan in the second half, as forward Sam Rhodes had two good chances, and Andrew Weitz had a hard shot deflected by the Darien keeper.

Center midfielder Teddy Greenspon and center back Spencer Frye each put in a solid performance, but the game slipped away, and the Reds were defeated 4-0.

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The U13 New Canaan girls Black soccer team notched its second straight shutout with an easy 3-0 away win at Darien. The victory boosted the team’s record to 2-1.

New Canaan dominated possession and the result was never in doubt.

Sixteen minutes into the game, Chloe McAuliffe found the net after a good left-footed cross from Nichole Labadie near the end line, only to be disallowed for outsides.

New Canaan continued to push and was rewarded at 36 minutes, with Labadie once again providing a diagonal cross to McAuliffe, who patiently approached the keeper and then firmly struck the far post with a firm right-footed strike.

After the break, Alana Tonghini netted New Canaan’s second goal, tapping in McAuliffe’s rebound off the keeper. Labadie’s left-sided cross set up McAuliffe’s shot.

Four minutes later, McAuliffe scored her second goal, a nice left-footed finish after a fast series of passes from Becca Walshin to Tonghini to McAuliffe. Midfielders Anne Johnston, Labadie, Niki Orndahl, Lexi Smicka, Tonghini and Walshin helped keep McAuliffe busy in Darien’s side of the field all day.

The back line of Abby and Nicole Weiss, Katie Kennelly and Annabella Zannini were once again rock solid, as Darien did not have a single shot on goal. Goalkeeper Skylar Severance was never seriously tested.

New Canaan hosts Bethel next week.

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Members of the Whirlwind National Team accept the championship banner. From left, Kyle O’Donnell , Kirsten Parkinson, Sean Burston, Allie Coleman and Joe Somma. Back row from left, Adam Genuario, Allie Courtney and Andrew Bologna. Front row from left, Kylie Towbin, Rachel Burston and Ariana Ross.

Just two weeks removed from its strong performance at Junior East Nationals and seven weeks from its team victory at Junior Region 1 Championships, the Whirlwind Dive Team returned home from the 2013 YMCA Nationals Championship with another overall team victory.

Under Joe Somma and his coaching staff, it was the fourth consecutive year that Whirlwind has claimed the top spot. As in years past, the annual competition was held at the International Hall of Fame Pool in Fort Lauderdale. Ninety-one divers from five states – representing six different YMCA programs – competed against a backdrop of sun and palm trees for bragging rights and the chance to pre-qualify for this summer’s USA Diving Junior National Championships to be held in Minnesota in August.

Whirlwind sent 22 divers to compete and 15 of them medaled by reaching the finals in at least one event: Allie Courtney (Wilton), Andrew Bologna (Greenwich), Annabelle Pollack (Greenwich), Anne Farley (New Canaan), Cameron Rhind (New Canaan), Genevieve Angerame (Orange), Jake Bowtell (Darien), Kevin Bradley (Norwalk), Kirsten Parkinson (Stamford), Kylie Towbin (New Canaan), Owen Stevens (Darien), Rachel Burston (Stamford), Sean Burston (Stamford), Timmy Luz (Darien) and Tom Kalinowski (New Canaan).

Courtney, Rhind, Bowtell (silver and bronze), Bradley, Parkinson, Burston (gold and silver) and Kalinowski were double-medalists. Bologna, Andgerame (two bronze), Towbin (bronze), Stevens (three silver), Burston (gold and two bronze) and Luz (silver and bronze) all won three medals.

The Burston siblings, Sean and Rachel each earned one of the coveted automatic berths to Junior Nationals this summer with their gold medal performances.

Whirlwind was able to achieve the first place finish thanks to the determination and effort of all of its divers.

The other members of Whirlwind’s YMCA National Team who contributed to the team victory are Claire Ross (New Canaan), Sophia Rapp (Weston), Caleigh Kupersmith (Greenwich), Ariana Ross (New Canaan), Kyla Pech (Darien), Kyle O’Donnell (Darien), and Tanner Blank (Westport).

Topping off this great team performance was the celebration of Allie Coleman, Whirlwind’s Associate Diving Director. Coleman was honored with the prestigious Robert “Moose” Moss award given to the coach, athlete, or administrator who embodies the values of the YMCA and best encourages the development and growth of the sport of diving.

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The New Canaan U14 boys soccer team lost 7-4 against Ridgefield on Saturday in a game at Conner Field, despite four second-half goals by Sam Rhodes.

The first half ended with Ridgefield leading 3-0, despite the excellent defensive play of Corban Basile and Alex Greer and solid goalkeeping by Jake Neuberger.

New Canaan stepped up its play in the second half, however, as Rhodes scored four straight goals, helped by the accurate passing of forward Henry Baer and the midfield play of Wyatt Spangler.

New Canaan closed to within two goals late in the game, but gave up the final goal to lose 7-4.

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New Canaan’s Nora Belodeau fights for control of the ball during the first half.

On Sunday, the New Canaan girls U12 Black girls soccer team shutout Wilton 5-0.

Jessie Svagdis was in goal for New Canaan in the first half. She was helped with strong defense from Nora Belodeau, Meghan Kloud, Karlijn van der Loo and Kelly Barker.

Other supporting players in the midfield were Ella Goodman, Katie Miller and Cait McCarthy. Kaitlyn Moussignac scored an early goal to give New Canaan a 1-0 lead. New Canaan’s Julia Tamburro also shot high over the net. Midway through the first half, Moussignac scored again to give New Canaan a 2-0 lead.

With less than a minute left in the first half, New Canaan’s Caitlin Lefferts scored her team’s third goal.

New Canaan’s Lauren Canet was in goal for the second half and waited quite some time being tested. Ella Goodman and Nora Belodeau each played well in the second half.

Goodman had a solid shot to the left side of the net to put New Canaan in front 4-0. Nora Belodeau led from the back of the field. She was aggressive and pushed the ball with passes and dribbling up the field.

Julia Tamburro scored later in the game with assistance from Meghan Kloud and Karlijn van der Loo.  Other players who had shots on goal included Katie Miller, Natasha Tchir, Jessie Svagdis and Jessie Boolukos.

New Canaan’s Ella Goodman controls the ball.

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The U13 New Canaan girls Black team evened its record at with a tough 1-0 home win over Fairfield’s FUSA Blue Team to move to 1-1 on the season.

Strong midfield play led by Niki Orndahl and Nichole Labadie allowed New Canaan to dominate possession and keep the ball on Fairfield’s half of the field much of the game.

Chloe McAuliffe scored the game’s only goal at 17 minutes by way of an unassisted strike just beyond the keeper’s reach to the left side of the net.

Cali Brannan, Paulina Cortina, Emma Smith, Alana Tonghini and Rebecca Walshin added some offensive spark, with some also providing midfield help to Anne Johnston, Orndahl and Labadie. Abby and Nicole Weiss anchored a strong defense at left and right back, with Katie Kennelly, Lexi Smicka and Annabella Zannini contributing in central defense.

Skylar Severance shined in goal with several good saves and hustle to grab any ball within the box for the shutout.

New Canaan travels to Darien next week.