New Canaan (Conn.) is coming off a banner season — even if the Rams fell short of the literal championship banner they could have lifted. 

And with a strong senior class returning, New Canaan enters the 2022 season in slightly unfamiliar territory — as favorites. 

The Rams have been in the conversation, usually behind rival Darien and alongside Wilton, but this year, New Canaan is considered the team to beat. 

Being the favorite in 2022 was born early in the 2021 season, when New Canaan came off a 12-day quarantine, and after just one practice, defeated Darien 7-5, snapping the Blue Wave’s 20-game Connecticut winning streak. It was New Canaan’s first win over Darien since the 2018 state Class L semifinals. 

Consider it the shot heard ‘round the Nutmeg State. 

“That set the tone for the rest of our season,” senior Kaleigh Harden said. “It was really big. It showed everyone that we were here to play and that we were ready for any challenge.”

If any doubters thought that was a fluke, New Canaan did it again, beating Darien a second time in the regular season and then again in the FCIAC championship game. It was the Rams’ first FCIAC title since 1993 with New Canaan coach Kristin Woods proclaiming “the curse of the FCIAC is over” after that win. 

While the FCIAC has been an elusive title to win, New Canaan has captured six state championships since Woods took the program over in 2007. But the Rams fell short of winning No. 7 last spring, falling to Darien in the semifinals. That was the only loss of the season for New Canaan, which won its first 20 games. 

Considering those milestone victories over Darien, Harden called the season a success, one of the greatest in program history. But the sour taste at the ending carries over to this spring. 

“I think what we did last year, we want to do again and we obviously want to finish it off,” Harden said. “We want to win FCIAC and states. Despite everything we did last year, this is a new year. We’ve just got to work to accomplish our goals. Everyone who was on the team last year doesn’t want to feel that way again.”

Last year’s squad was right up there with some of New Canaan’s state championship teams. Woods said the 2012 squad, with a pair of future Tewaaraton Award top five finalists in Sarah Mannelly (Boston College) and Olivia Hompe (Princeton) on the roster, also finished the season with one loss.

“It was a great year. It was really the senior leadership and really excited junior class because they missed their sophomore year,” Woods said. “My senior class this year is probably the strongest group I've ever had.”

Leading those seniors this year is Harden, the North Carolina commit who had 26 goals, nine assists and 64 draw controls in 2021. She’s joined by Dillyn Patten (Cornell), who had 53 goals a year ago and was the MVP of the FCIAC final, Hollis Mulry (USC), who struck for 43 goals, Brown-bound goaltender Claire Mahoney, defenders Carolyn Baran and Jade Lowe (Williams) as well as attack/midfielder Caitlin Tully (Cornell). 

“Every year I feel like we’re a strong contender, but I think there's been more consistency in the past few years,” Woods said.

Junior Stella Nolan (Michigan) will play a large role in the midfield, as will sophomore Devon Russell, while Abby Richardson will see time as a draw specialist. 

“They've got a real team mentality,” Woods said. “It’s evenly distributed scoring on attack. Our motion offense is always really strong. And there really are no individuals out there on this team. They really play together and cohesive, and they genuinely just get excited about each other's success.”

Woods said she’s known most of these players since they were third graders coming up in the town’s youth setup that has served as a feeder program. 

“It says a lot about our youth program and all the people that help volunteer and coordinate,” Woods said. “I work really well with them. So, that is definitely a huge bonus.”

With restrictions lifted this year, New Canaan is also playing an aggressive non-league schedule, highlighted by a showdown against Northport (N.Y.) at the Gains for Brains Showcase in late April. 

Of course, the regional games, which also include Eastport-South Manor (N.Y.), Victor (N.Y.), Bronxville (N.Y.) and Longmeadow (Mass.), are meant to prepare New Canaan for the rigors of league play and perhaps back up the preseason accolades with postseason glory. 

“We're hungry for those title games and those big games that we want to get to,” Harden said. “We’re ready to fill that role and take it on and lead this team and do whatever we can possibly to make it the best season yet.”