UPDATE WITH PHOTOS — Match Report: Staples vs. Ridgefield

Today’s match at Tiger Hollow felt like a post-season game.

Staples needed a tie or victory to qualify for the FCIAC tournament. Ridgefield had to win.

The best playoff games are one-goal affairs — nail-biters, with one team seizing an opportunity, the other missing theirs.

In a cat-and-mouse, back-and-forth game between teams that looked like clones of each other, the Tigers got the goal. Their 59th-minute strike was the difference.

Their 1-0 win gives them the 8th and final spot in the league tourney, which begins Wednesday. The Wreckers have one more contest — a non-league affair at Harding tomorrow (Saturday, 12 noon), then are off until the state “LL” (extra large schools) tournament begins on November 1.

Staples unveiled a new lineup. Owen Perry started at right wing — his second-ever varsity appearance. The sophomore scored once, in Wednesday’s 8-0 pasting of Westhill.

Each side had one good chance in the opening 10 minutes of the tight, well-played game. Staples had the better looks, including shots by Zach Gorin and Will Murray. Gorin’s caromed off the inside of the far post, then bounced in front of the goal, but no one pounce.

The defense — paced by Cormac Mulvey, Alex Kuster, Brendan Allen and Zach Beeby — kept Ridgefield at bay until the 30th minute. Keeper Christian Rinaldi fielded a free kick, then was well-positioned on 2 more shots.

Rinaldi continued his solid play in the second half, with Dylan Shackelford coming on in the back line. In the 59th minute, a Staples corner kick curled too close to the box. The Tigers’ 6-6 keeper Ben Voellmicke — a Brown University commit grabbed it. He quickly outletted the ball upfield. Brandon Gmellin picked it up in stride, split the defense, and finished strongly.

Staples had 21 minutes to get that goal back. Head coach Russell Oost-Lievense urged, “Keep it moving!” They did — but so Ridgefield. The Tigers played possession when they could, and banged balls forward when they could not. Their pressure kept the Wreckers from surging forward with numbers.

With 3 minutes to go, a Staples corner kick led to a shot just wide. That was their last foray, as Ridgefield managed the game to the end.

State tournament pairings will be announced next week. FINAL SCORE: Ridgefield 1, Staples 0. SEASON RECORD: 8-7-0.

QUICK KICKS: The junior varsity shut out Ridgefield 4-0 ….

The freshmen outshot Ridgefield by a wide margin, and won 3-0. Levi Belzer opened the scoring with a header off Eli Zev’s corner kick. Sebi Carter rifled the next one in from 25 yards out; then Max Caro dribbled through the defense before laying off to Henry Green for the final tally. Kai Massicott had a strong game, tormenting the Tiger defense.