St. Joseph shuts out Ridgefield, claims second straight FCIAC girls soccer championship

The St. Joseph girls soccer team won its second consecutive FCIAC championship 2-0 over Ridgefield at Fairfield Warde High School Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Joe Morelli / Hearst Connecticut Media) FAIRFIELD - The FCIAC title on the line alone Tuesday night would have served as motivation enough for girls soccer teams St. Joseph and Ridgefield.Both teams were looking to add another championship banner, having combined for 16 league titles. Neither team had lost a game coming in. And both teams play outstanding defense.Both defenses were again on display at Tetreau-Davis Field. In the end, it was St. Joseph with the 2-0 shutout. Sophia Santorsola was the difference, scoring late in each half for the Cadets.Sophia Santorsola scored both goals for St. Joseph in the FCIAC tournament final. ##ctgsoc https://t.co/tHGcDdCeof- Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 4, 2026"I think we are the best defense in the state," St, Joseph goalkeeper Cailyn O'Hara said. "There's no argument about that. And we proved it."St. Joseph has been No. 1 in the GametimeCT power rankings since defeating Greenwich in October. Ridgefield is currently third. St. Joseph is also No. 1 in the Class LL/L state coaches poll.The teams played to a scoreless tie on Sept. 29.It was the second-straight FCIAC tournament championship for the Cadets (16-0-2) and fourth in five years. St. Joseph has now appeared in the last five finals and has eight league titles overall.St. Joseph girls soccer coach Jack Nogueira on the FCIAC championship. #ctgsoc https://t.co/ROuBt5lOxP- Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 4, 2026So it remains the same: you still have to go through the Cadets to claim the FCIAC crown."People can hate us, people can hate me, but the bottom line is this: five straight years to the finals, four out of five years, we won it, and that's because of those players," St. Joseph coach Jack Nogueira said.This was the 16th shutout for St. Joseph. O'Hara, who will play soccer at Sacred Heart University next season, allowed just two goals, one each to Trumbull and Greenwich, the latter on a penalty kick.St. Joseph goalkeeper Cailyn O'Hara has allowed just two goals this season. #ctgsoc https://t.co/yLzp0sKWpy- Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 4, 2026"This is a microcosm of what we've been all year," Nogueira said. "The ability to score goals when we need to and defend."Ridgefield (15-1-3), which has 15 shutouts, allowed eight goals, including four to Greenwich in two games."I think we can use this experience, our first final in a few years, to hopefully learn from it, use it as motivation to go on a good state run," Ridgefield coach Barry O'Reilly said.St. Joseph and Ridgefield are the top two seeds in the CIAC Class LL bracket.St. Joseph celebrates FCIAC title. #ctgsoc https://t.co/cccur3tL36- Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 4, 2026Ridgefield tested O'Hara and the St. Joseph defense, but were not able to get the equalizer in the second half.Meanwhile, Santorsola was able to notch her pair of goals. The first one came with 63 seconds left in the first half on an assist from Sara Wicker. Ridgefield goalkeeper Cathryn Mills got a hand on Wicker's shot, but she could not control it. Santorsola then dumped it into the open net."I passed it to her (Wicker) first and she took her shot," Santorsola said. "I saw it come out, I knew I had to be there for the rebound. Second goal, I knew there was not much time left, but I saw the opportunity and I just took it."Santorsola's second goal came with 1:09 left in the game.Here is the goal by Sophia Santorsola for SJ. Nice cross from Sara Wicker. #ctgsoc https://t.co/h2ewgiQPUT- Joe Morelli (@nhrJoeMorelli) November 3, 2026"The FCIAC is definitely so full of a lot of talent," O'Hara said. "Props to Ridgefield, I think they're an amazing team and they gave us a bit of a run for our money. But to be able to go back to back is something to be honored and looked at."Player of the GameSophia Santorsola, St. Joseph:The sophomore scored both goals for the Cadets, both late in each half.Quotable"Sophia does what Sophia does for us, she pressures the ball, she's all over the field and has an innate ability to find garbage goals. That's no disrespect to her because a lot of people made a lot of money scoring garbage goals." - St. Joseph girls soccer coach Jack NogueiraSt. Joseph 2, Ridgefield 0(at Fairfield)RIDGEFIELD 0 0 - 0ST. JOSEPH 1 1 - 2Scoring: SJ: Sophia Santorola (Sara Wicker), 38:57; Santorola (Maria Clara Barros), 78:53. Shots: R 8; SJ 8. Saves: R-Cathryn Mills 2; SJ-Cailyn O'Hara 4. Records: R 15-1-3; SJ 16-0-2.Sign up for the Connecticut Briefing from CT Insider. Get the biggest headlines of the day from our network of journalists around the state.This article originally published at St. Joseph shuts out Ridgefield, claims second straight FCIAC girls soccer championship.