Freshman Jack Kniffin lets fly. (Darien Times/Steven Buono photo)
BOYS SOCCER
Losing its fourth straight, Darien is encouraged to know it’s still looking at a trip to states with another two wins.
We’ll certainly knuckle down, continue to work hard.
— Jon Bradley
“The program is making huge strides compared to over the last decade,” said Wave boys soccer coach Jon Bradley, in his second year, and with DHS hosting Trinity on Friday. “And it’s a learning curve for us. We’ll start (Friday) with three freshmen and two sophomores on the field.”
After the Crusaders (0-7), Darien (5-6) will have remaining regular season games vs. FCIAC No. 1 Norwalk (9-1), Bassick (2-6-1), fifth place Stamford (7-2-2) and 11th place Trumbull (4-4-3).
“Obviously we started the season expecting to make the state tournament,” Bradley said. “FCIAC’s will be tough.”
Bradley said that seven wins, basically, will get the Wave into the state tournament.
“We’ll certainly knuckle down, continue to work hard,” Bradley said. “Back to basics. And we’ll look to put a good run together over the month.”
Darien lost its fourth in a row 4-1 at Staples on Wednesday.
Scoring for Darien, freshman Bartosz Dziedzic.
“It was a very good goal,” said Bradley.
Otherwise, having lost the three previous weighed on the team, and they came out without much steam.
“Flat. Too many mistakes,” Bradley said. “It put us down at half time.”
Dziedzic scored to break the shutout early in the second half.
“The best goal of the season so far,” Bradley said. “About 25 yards out, he just volleyed it in — a great strike into the corner of the goal.”
Darien followed on with another chance that if the Wave scored would have put them back by just one at 3-2.
“But, it seems to be — I am trying to put my finger on it — as to why we come out flat in games,” added Bradley.
Three goalies played for Darien, Jack Fisher, Jeffrey Sload and Aiden Rischmann.
