The second round of the 2026 CIAC girls soccer tournament concluded Tuesday with a dramatic upset in the Class LL bracket. No. 10 seed Mercy defeated No. 7 seed Amity 2-1, ending the Cougars’ perfect season and their first SCC tournament title since 2006. The result marks a significant shift in the long-standing rivalry, as Mercy avenges its semifinal loss to Amity earlier this season and secures a spot in the quarterfinals.
Tigers snap unbeaten run to advance to Class LL quarterfinals
This matchup featured four encounters this season, with Amity winning the first three, including two one-goal victories. Tuesday’s contest followed that tight pattern, but the momentum swung decisively in favor of the Tigers. Mercy’s victory is particularly notable given their recent history; they reached the SCC final five consecutive years from 2021 to 2025 before Amity broke their streak. The upset also serves as a statement of intent for Mercy, which previously fell to Ridgefield in the quarterfinals last year.
Moving forward, Mercy will travel to face No. 2 seed Ridgefield in the quarterfinals. The new CIAC seeding format, which incorporates strength of schedule to determine power points, aimed to ensure top seeds meet in later rounds. However, the resilience of lower-seeded teams like Mercy highlights the unpredictability of the tournament. As the bracket tightens, the focus shifts to whether Mercy can overcome the Ridgefield defense that eliminated them last season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
