UPDATE WITH PHOTOS — Match Report: Staples vs. Westhill

Today was a must-win match for the Staples boys soccer team.

The Wreckers needed to win to stay in contention for an FCIAC playoff berth, going into Friday’s final regular season game at equally hungry Ridgefield.

Win they did — in commanding fashion.

A true team effort lifted the host Westporters over a struggling Westhill side, 8-0. The Vikings have won just once, and tied once, in 13 games this fall.

Coupled with last week’s 7-0 pasting of St. Joseph — the only league team with a poorer record than Westhill — Staples has now scored 15 goals in 2 matches. That tops a similar streak in 2021, when they tallied 14 times in back-to-back defeats of Bridgeport Central and St. Joseph. Those wins helped spark a run to the state semifinals.

This afternoon’s Wakeman Field onslaught began in the 12th minute. Zach Beebe let Will Murray’s short corner kick run through. Emmett Nivaud’s long shot slithered through the defense, and on past the keeper.

Two minutes later, defender Cormac Mulvey played a great long ball upfield to Murray. He found Zach Gorin, who fed Gabe Duque for a close-in header.

The Wreckers’ smooth, poised possession-style soccer was on full display. They controlled the tempo and territory, rarely allowing the visitors past midfield.

In the 24th minute, Murray’s fine pass set up Owen Perry. The sophomore — playing in only his second varsity match — slid through and finished, for his first varsity goal.

Gorin’s straight-on blast, from a lacing Nivaud cross, finished the first-half scoring in the 37th mnute.

Sophomore Adrian Rodriguez picked up a loose ball 10 minutes after intermission. Aaron Varsov threaded the needle; 10th grader Noah Rossoni finished, for goal #5.

Number 6 came in the 60th minute, after Mikey Brennan pounced on a loose ball.

Gabe Hellmann’s corner kick to Max Hill made it 7-0.

Jonny Costello closed out the scoring, 3 minutes from time.

Ridgefield will prove a much sterner test on Friday. Kickoff is 4 p.m. at Tiger Hollow.

Everything up to this point has been preparation for Staples. Now, they hope, the payoff will be near. FINAL SCORE: Staples 8, Westhill 0. SEASON RECORD: 8-6-0.

QUICK KICKS: Despite the score, Westhill keeper Eduardo Quintana Gonzalez did a very good job. He made several difficult saves. Meanwhile, his backs cleared 2 balls off the line. Sam Rossoni narrowly missed a goal, hitting the post ….

The last time the Wreckers scored 8 goals was 2015, against Trinity Catholic. The school closed a few years later …

Zach Gillman (2) and Ford Epstein’s goals paced the junior varsity to a 3-0 shutout over Westhill …

The freshmen shut out Westhill 4-0. Spencer Cammeyer ripped the opening goal. Jack Fenn followed with a penalty kick. Zach Selig volleyed in a shot off a beautiful James Burnim cross. Charles Nivaud scored after stealing a ball deep in the Vikes’ end. Loewe Epstein owned the back half of the field, while Evan Freeman and Alex Liakh proved they belong, earning their first minutes after playing on the practice squad all season long.