This time, the Darien boys lacrosse team was not going to be denied.
The Blue Wave jumped out to a big early lead and defeated Ridgefield 10-7 on Friday night to win their first FCIAC championship since 2008.
Ridgefield defeated Darien in the 2009 final and the Blue Wave did not make the final last year.
Case Matheis scored five goals for the Blue Wave (17-2), who recorded five goals in the first period and opened a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Matheis had a natural hat trick - three goals in a 1:23 span - to stake Darien to its big early lead.
The Blue Wave appeared headed to an easy win, but the Tigers (14-5) did not go quietly. Ridgefield finally scored with 9:22 left in the half on a goal by Matt Hrvatin and began a comeback.
Matheis answered two minutes later with his fifth and would be the eventual game- winner. Hrvatin scored again with 5:26 left as Darien took an 8-2 lead into the half.
Ridgefield made it interesting by outscoring the Blue Wave 5-2 in the second half. Darien defenseman Eric Parnon was named the game's MVP.
Darien now sets its sights on winning a seventh consecutive state championship while Ridgefield hopes to build on Friday's second-half performance as the Tigers begin state tournament play.
