Ridgefield's Boys Hockey Team Ends Darien's Long Unbeaten Streak

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- Darien High School’s boys hockey team hadn’t lost a regular season game in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference in three years. But Ridgefield High School and senior Liam Smith saw to it Monday night that the streak would finally end.

Ridgefield senior Liam Smith scored two goals Monday night to help the Tigers end Darien's 40-game regular-season unbeaten streak against league opponents.
Photo Credit: *Ridgefield High School Hockey website*

Tom Renner

01/14/2015 4:00 a.m.

Smith scored a pair of goals in the third period to help the Tigers beat Darien, 4-1, at Winter Garden Rink. Darien had been 38-0-2 since losing to New Canaan on Feb. 14, 2012.

Alec Knupp snapped a 1-1 tie with a goal 8:53 into the third period, and Smith added an insurance goal with just over three minutes left. Smith, who assisted on Ryan Hallahan’s goal in the first period, added an empty-netter in the final minute.

Alec Schneider made 27 saves for the Tigers (5-2).

The Tigers, who won a tournament at Notre Dame of West Haven in December, also beat Wilton on Saturday, 9-2. Smith had two goals and four assists against the Warriors, while Paul Garlick added two goals and two assists.

Ridgefield was ranked sixth in the state by Connecticut High School Hockey before its win over Darien, which came into the game ranked No. 3.

Ridgefield’s only losses this season came to top-ranked Fairfield Prep and No. 4 Glastonbury.

Ridgefield plays its next game on Friday at Shelton Twin Rinks against Trumbull. Faceoff is at 7:45 p.m.

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