Staples Hosts Norwalk In State Tournament 1st Round
Staples’ 1st state tournament match of 2013 is a rematch of their final game in the 2012 event.
The Wreckers’ regular season record of 10-4-2 earns them the 10th seed. That pits them against #23 (7-6-3) Norwalk. The “LL” (extra large schools) state tournament begins Tuesday (Election Day, November 5). Kickoff is 2 p.m., at Loeffler Field.
Last year, the Bears were ranked #1. They edged #17 Staples 1-0, on a goal with 16 minutes to play, in 2nd round action. Norwalk went on to win the state championship, their 1st since 1966.
This year, the Wreckers are shooting for their 13th state title — but 1st since 2009.
“We always say we’ll play anyone, anytime, anywhere,” said Staples head coach Dan Woog. “It’s kind of crazy that last year we went the furthest we’ve ever traveled for our 1st-round game (Norwich Free Academy, a 6-0 victory), and this year we host a team from the next town over. But that’s the state tournament. You take it one game at a time, with a laser focus every time.”
Woog called the Bears’ record “deceptive. They’re extremely well coached, and we’ve got a great rivalry with them. It should be a fantastic match.”
Staples won a mid-season match between the teams, 2-0. Norwalk fell 4-1 to eventual champion Greenwich in the FCIAC tournament’s 1st round, while the Wreckers lost 2-0 to Wilton.
QUICK KICKS: Other FCIAC teams in the LL tournament include Greenwich (#1, 14-0-2, bye); Ridgefield (#3, 12-1-3, vs. Hall-West Hartford); Fairfield Ludlowe (#5, 12-3-1, vs. Manchester); Wilton (#11, 9-4-3, vs. East Hartford); Stamford (#12, 9-4-3, vs. #21 Danbury, 5-3-8); Fairfield Warde (#20, 7-5-4, vs. Shelton); Westhill (#24, 6-5-5, vs. Norwich Free Academy); Trumbull (#27, 6-7-3 vs. Conard-West Hartford), and Bridgeport Central (#31, 5-8-3, vs. Xavier)….
For the full tournament bracket, click here.
