Wilton outlasts defending CIAC Class M field hockey champion Branford in OT behind Casey O'Connor
· Yahoo Sports
WILTON - Senior Casey O'Connor was confident heading into overtime that her Wilton field hockey team would eventually find the back of the net, even with Branford's All-State goalie Lily Panuccio standing on her head making saves all night.
Panuccio faced 26 shots from Wilton and turned back 24 of them. But O'Connor's final shot, off an assist from Clara Fielden, finally beat Panuccio to give Wilton a 2-1 season-opening win in a game featuring two teams viewed as CIAC title contenders in Class M.
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"We knew this was a highly anticipated game as it was said in the newspaper, they were supposed to be favored to win over us and we really came out here and proved to people what we are capable of," O'Connor said. "The goalie was phenomenal, she's great but we talked about taking those shots and moving to where they are going. We didn't get down on ourselves, we just keep shooting because the more shots you take, the more opportunities you are able to create."
O'Connor and Panuccio were both among GametimeCT's 25 Players to Watch this season.
Wilton has been a Class L semifinalist every year since 2021, reaching the final in 2022 and 2023. Now that they have dropped down to Class M where Branford is the defending champion and has reached the last two finals.
"It's a good start to the season and we got the jitters out," Wilton coach Leon Kerr said. "We tell them to keep shooting and try to pass around the goalie and not take a direct shot because she is going to save it. But if you pass it around her, we can get the goals then."
O'Connor scored the game's first goal with 7:35 left in the second quarter. Branford tied it with 40 seconds left in the half on a goal by junior Savannah Johnson.
The score remained tied until O'Connor won it in overtime, largely due to Panuccio's effort in goal, which included several point-blank stops and a few where she was at full extension.
"That is one of the best games by a goalie I have ever seen," Branford coach Pete Frye said. "We have a lot of things to build on tonight with an extremely young team with three freshmen starters tonight."
Class M has belonged to the SCC. Branford's title last year extended the conference's championship streak to eight seasons, four of which have been won by Guilford. Hand won in 2017 and 2023 with Branford taking home the title in 2022 and last season.
Branford has won 12 CIAC titles and has appeared in three Class M title games since 2022.
Wilton has won six CIAC championships, but none since 2015.
Player of the Game
Casey O'Connor, Wilton:The senior scored two goals against two-time GametimeCT All-State First Team goalie Panuccio.
Quotable
"Casey has been phenomenal for us over the years and the top goal scorer most of the time. We try to get her the ball and she always is in the right spot at the right time." – Wilton coach Leon Kerr.
Wilton 2, Branford 1 (OT)
BRANFORD 1 0 0 - 1
WILTON 1 0 1 - 2
Scoring: W-Casey O'Connor 2g; Clara Fielden 1a. Branford-- Savannah Johnson 1g
Goalies: W-Ava Salvino 2 saves; B-Lily Panuccio 24 saves
This article originally published at Wilton outlasts defending CIAC Class M field hockey champion Branford in OT behind Casey O'Connor.