Editor's Note: The Fairfield Warde High School girls' soccer team won the class L state championship Saturday afternoon, November 17, by shutting out Farmington, 1-0. The photo shows the Mustangs celebrating after their victory.Congratulations to the Fairfield Warde High School girls' soccer team. The Mustangs shut out Berlin High School, 2-0, last night to advance to the Class L state championship this Saturday at Municipal Stadium against Farmington High School.
The winners posted yet another impressive victory before a huge crowd under the lights at Shelton High School. Emily Bengermino scored both goals for the 14-5-1 Mustangs, including one 4:34 into the first half that set the tone for the game.
Yes, girls' high school sports have come a long way since our days at Andrew Warde High School. In fact, are you aware that Warde didn't even field a girls' soccer team during our days at the school?
According to our 1976 Flame yearbook, "Two years ago, girls at Warde had but one athletic alternative in the Autumn --- field hockey. Today, in an effort to provide a more diversified sports program for girls, the school also offers volleyball and cross country in the Fall." The photo below shows the 1975 Warde girls' field hockey squad.
The winners posted yet another impressive victory before a huge crowd under the lights at Shelton High School. Emily Bengermino scored both goals for the 14-5-1 Mustangs, including one 4:34 into the first half that set the tone for the game.
Yes, girls' high school sports have come a long way since our days at Andrew Warde High School. In fact, are you aware that Warde didn't even field a girls' soccer team during our days at the school?
According to our 1976 Flame yearbook, "Two years ago, girls at Warde had but one athletic alternative in the Autumn --- field hockey. Today, in an effort to provide a more diversified sports program for girls, the school also offers volleyball and cross country in the Fall." The photo below shows the 1975 Warde girls' field hockey squad.
As hard as it may seem to believe, the yearbook states, "Fall sports (in 1976) saw the inaugural season of girls' cross country at Warde, currently one of only two FCIAC schools fielding teams in this sport." The Crimson Eagles posted a 2-1 record against rival Roger Ludlowe High School, the only other team in the league."Next season, with several more schools fielding teams in the FCIAC, our squad looks forward to an expanded schedule," according to the yearbook.
A generation ago, most girls' athletic contests received little if any press coverage, and the events took place immediately after school. Usually, just a handful of spectators were in attendance. The boys' games, on the other hand, were scheduled during the prime-time evening hours.
This corner finds it difficult to believe that girls' athletics were extremely limited and didn't receive the notoriety or recognition of their male counterparts just over a generation ago. Now, both the boys and girls are competing on an "even playing field," and that's the way it always should have been.
Good luck to the Lady Mustangs as they attempt to capture a state championship for Warde High School. I'll look forward to seeing the highlights on News 12 Connecticut and reading all about it in the newspapers.
Did you play girls' sports at Andrew Warde High School? How do you feel about the discrepancy between the sports offered for boys and girls when we attended high school? I'd like to know what you think in the "comments" section below.
Paul
Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.
Visit the Andrew Warde High School Gift Shop.
Watch the AWHS 1976 vintage "film."
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