Match Report: Staples vs. Darien
There are many challenges in high school soccer.
One of them is playing lots of games, in very few days.
This was supposed to be a week of recovery for Staples — a time for the Wreckers to catch their breath, after 3 matches in t days.
But a weather postponement at Dairen earlier this season was rescheduled for today. The result — at a field they always have difficulty playing on — was a disappointing 1-1 draw.
The Blue Wave’s 2-3-2 record was a far cry from the Westporters’ 6-0-1. But every game begins 0-0.
The hosts nearly struck first, clanging a shot off the crossbar 8 minutes in. Six minutes later Darien cleared a Zach Gorin cross, resulting in a breakaway that ended with a shot fired high.
The Wavers have 2 speedy strikers, and they bedeviled the Wreckers when they got the ball.
This was the first time in a while the Wreckers did not notch an early goal, in part because Darien negated their preferred tempo.
In the 20th minute Nick Sikorski — Staples’ steady-as-a-rock keeper — corralled a long ball. He quickly found Gorin, who played it forward to Avery Mueller. The dangerous attacker cruised into the box, then powered a shot into the back of the net.
The Wreckers felt confident, but still did not put their usual imprint on the game. Suddenly, just 3 minutes before halftime, a ball was swung well into space, out of the midfield. A Darien player ran on and finished strongly, for just the second goal scored on Staples all season.
With that burst of confidence, the Wave stood toe to toe with the Wreckers in the second half. Staples still struggled to keep possession, and control the tempo.
In the 48th minute, Sikorski saved well on a low fee kick. But 12 minutes after that, he was shown a red card when he came out of his box to save in a crowd. Aldo Lopez replaced him, while the Westporters played the final 20 minutes a man down.
They worked hard for the go-ahead goal. But Darien was worked had too. Four minutes after coming on, Lopez snagged a high free kick well. In the 78th minute Staples’ defense defused pressure in the box. Lopez saved a rocket; that gave the Wave one last chance, with a corner kick in the final 20 seconds.
There was no last shot. Darien had a draw that pleased them well. Staples was not pleased at all. FINAL SCORE: Darien 1, Staples 1. SEASON RECORD: 6-0-2
QUICK KICKS: The schedule marches on. The Wreckers have 2 more away games this week: at Bridgeport Central on Wednesday (6:15 p.m.), and Fairfield Warde on Friday (7 p.m.)….
Sophomore Brendan Allen earned his first varsity start today ….
The freshmen won 3-0, against Darien. Jonah Bornback scored on a free kick, Thomas Scott scored after crashing the box on a rebound off the crossbar, on a great shot by Peter Nelson. Arthur Khisyamov stole a ball in the box and put it in the back of the net. Bornback and Peter Nelson played strongly in the middle of the park, switching fields nicely and laying off intelligently. Ryan Allen was his usual strong self anchoring the defense for coach Chris O’Dell’s squad.
Emmett Nivaud maneuvers upfield.
Cormac Mulvey gets air.
Ryan Sunjka disturbs a Darien midfielder. (Photos/Mark Sikorski)
