The deepest league in the CHSGHA is probably the Central Connecticut Conference. Last year, the CCC sent four teams to the state quarterfinals and two to the semis. This year, those four — Hall/Conard and the East Catholic, Avon and Suffield Co-ops — are in another race for the league crown. Hall/Conard won it last...
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The deepest league in the CHSGHA is probably the Central Connecticut Conference.
Last year, the CCC sent four teams to the state quarterfinals and two to the semis. This year, those four — Hall/Conard and the East Catholic, Avon and Suffield Co-ops — are in another race for the league crown.
Hall/Conard won it last year, and Jared Cohane’s team is currently our highest-ranked CCC team. But East, Avon and Suffield are close behind, and what’s more: On Wednesday, Avon will host H/C while Suffield hosts East.
It’ll be a crucial day for the landscape of the CCC in 2025-26.
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Let’s dive into our rankings.
1. New Canaan (7-0-1)
Previous rank: 1 Conference: FCIAC Coach: Rich Bulan Next: at West Haven, Jan. 13, 5:30 p.m.
The reigning state runners-up have settled into their season after the statement win over Darien, with a solid 2-0 victory over the Suffield Co-op preceding straightforward victories over Ridgefield and Hamden. Senior captain Izzy Janiga scored both goals in that victory over Suffield, with freshman goalie Reeve Burley earning the shutout. Burley stopped 22 of 23 shots against Ridgefield before junior Macyn Callahan assumed the net against Hamden and stopped 23 of 24. A plucky West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy team awaits Bulan’s group on Tuesday.
Since the 4-1 loss to New Canaan on Dec. 22, no one has stopped the Wave — Weicker’s team is outscoring opponents 34-4 in its last five games, including a 9-1 win at Ridgefield and a 5-0 victory at Greenwich on Monday. Star junior forward Adriana Gromelski (11 goals, 11 assists) has been as advertised, while fellow forward Ella Harrison (nine goals, six assists) has popped in her sophomore season. Darien looks like a clear title contender again — about the only thing left for the Wave to do is beat New Canaan. They’ll travel to the Rams on Feb. 7.
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3. Amity Co-op (6-0-2)
Previous rank: 3 Conference: SCC Coach: John Peschell Next: vs. West Haven/Sacred Heart Academy, Jan. 14, 8 p.m.
The Blades were tested twice over their last three games — first by the Avon Co-op (5-1-1), where they left with a 2-2 tie (senior captain Taylor Higgins and sophomore Eva Hall scored); then by rival Hamden and star goalie Kyra Sweeney on Saturday, which finished a thrilling 4-3 victory for Peschell’s group. Star senior Maybelle Caron scored the winner with 28 seconds left after the Blades blew a two-goal third-period lead. It’ll have to clean up the two turnovers that led to both of Hamden’s third-period tallies, but the Amity Co-op is still rolling.
4. Hall/Conard (7-2-0)
Previous rank: 5 Conference: CCC Coach: Jared Cohane Next: at Avon Co-op, Jan. 14, 4 p.m.
H/C junior assistant captain Mia Longman might be the hottest player in the state right now. In a pivotal CCC showdown with the Suffield Co-op last Wednesday, Cohane’s group was largely outplayed before Longman took over in the third period, assisting sophomore Mairin Curran’s go-ahead goal before burying two backhanded goals to salt the game away. She’s got four goals and two assists over the last three games (a 5-3 win at Guilford and a 3-1 win at Daniel Hand to go along with the victory over Suffield). H/C, which has won seven in a row after an 0-2 start, gets another critical CCC test when it travels to the Avon Co-op on Wednesday.
5. East Catholic Co-op (6-1-0)
Previous rank: 4 Conference: CCC Coach: Frank Usegglio Next: at Suffield Co-op, Jan. 14, 4:20 p.m.
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Usegglio’s team rebounded from a 4-0 pre-Christmas loss to Darien with three straight CHSGHA victories, the latest a 6-1 win at the Stamford Co-op on Saturday. East did fall 4-1 to Pope Francis (Mass.) on Friday, but out-of-state games don’t count towards state tournament seeding (an earlier 2-2 tie with East Green (N.Y.) doesn’t count either, so East’s record stands at 6-1-0). Usegglio’s top line — seniors Deirdre McKiernan and Charlie Laramee and freshman Ally Dudzinski — is still rolling, now with a combined 29 points, as East prepares for a CCC tilt with the Suffield Co-op. Between that game and Hall/Conard’s trip to the Avon Co-op, Wednesday will be an enormous day for the CCC picture.
Dropped out:Â None
In the hunt: Avon Co-op (5-1-1), Suffield Co-op (5-3-0)
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1. New Canaan (7-0-1)
