Greenwich High School's defending state champion girls soccer team opened the 2026 season with a 4-0 shutout of visiting Brien McMahon on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Cardinal Stadium.

Four different Cardinals scored as the team picked up where it left off after winning the program's first CIAC Class LL title last fall. Sophomore Taylor Tierney earned the win in goal, making several saves while stepping in for junior Taylor DeVries, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

The target is real.

Head coach Simon Rumbold called last season "fantastic" but said the focus has shifted. "We have to get back and focus and build on some of the success we had the last few years, which is a challenge, because now everyone is out to get us," he said after the game, according to the Greenwich Sentinel.

Sophomore Siena Ettinger, a 2025 All-FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) First Team pick, opened the scoring 7:44 into the first half off an assist from sophomore Sophia Gega. Junior Cameron Dionis doubled the lead in the 16th minute on a pass from senior forward Monchi Thompson. Senior captain Kenna Harlow, also a 2025 All-FCIAC First Team selection, converted from eight yards out in the 35th minute after a feed from freshman Zoe Pogemiller. Senior Chloe Gandler capped the scoring in the 76th minute off an assist from junior Tessa Addeo.

DeVries started in goal during last season's championship run, when Greenwich went 18-2-2 overall and outscored opponents 9-0 across four state tournament games. The nature and timeline of her knee injury have not been disclosed, but Rumbold said Tierney will handle goalkeeping duties for the fall.

The Cardinals entered the season ranked No. 1 in the GametimeCT coaches Class LL/L preseason poll, collecting all 11 first-place votes. Senior defenders Shay Sippel and Ashley Morris join Harlow as the 2026 captains. Sippel and Harlow each scored in last year's 4-0 Class LL final win over Amity Regional.

Morris said the team knows it carries a target. She said the Cardinals need to reset, play calm and understand every opponent will be coming for them.

Greenwich travels to Fairfield Warde on Tuesday, Sept. 15, then hosts Ridgefield on Friday, Sept. 18, a rematch of last year's Class LL semifinal that Greenwich won 1-0.