FCIAC Championship Report: Staples vs. Greenwich

It took 15 years.

It took hard-fought wins against the only 2 teams the Wreckers lost to this year.

But the FCIAC trophy is back where it’s been 27 times before: Staples High School.

The Westporters tacked on another title to their no-one-else-is-close record tonight, in a statement win at Fairfield Warde’s Tetreau Field.

Their 3-2 victory over Greenwich not only avenged the Cardinals’ late-come-from-behind 4-3 win earlier this season.

It was also the first defeat they suffered all year. Greenwich came into tonight’s championship game with a flawless — and very rare — 17-0-0 mark.

The 2 squads — who have played some classic matches over the past 20 years, including a memorable 3-1 FCIAC victory by Staples in 2008, the first of 3 straight league titles — started out in helter-skelter fashion. The ball was in the air for much of the first 10 minutes — a rarity for both sides.

But then things settled down. In the 18th minute Gabe Duque won a tackle, spun around, and raced to the right corner. He blazed a cross through the goalmouth. Adrian Rodriguez pounced, touching it in for a 1-0 lead. It was reminiscent of so many Staples goals this year: created from the flanks, finished clinically.

That sparked Staples. They won a bit more of the individual battles, for the next 15 minutes. But Greenwich was undefeated for a reason.

In the 28th minute keeper Jack D’Amore — who had perhaps his busiest match of the year — made a superb save off a corner kick.

Six minutes later Brendan Allen was knocked down. He bounced up, corralled the ball, raced forward and fed Rodriguez. The junior’s shot was wide, by inches.

In the 35th minute, defender Gabe Hellmann took a corner kick. That’s been another of the Wreckers’ most potent weapons all fall. This one was deflected goalward. Allen was there, knocking it home for a 2-0 led.

But the Cards had been behind by 2 goals before — once. It was to Staples, in their regular season encounter. They came right back, scoring 2 minutes later with a searing left-footed volleyby Matheus Bongiolo that curled into the left corner.

There was still more first half action. Hellman served another excellent corner. This one bounced around in the box, until Rodriguez tucked it in. Once again, it was a 2-goal game.

The half ended with D’Amore snagging a dangerous ball slicing across the area.

Greenwich began the second half having the run of play. Adriano Carpi’s crushing tackle and Allen’s pass sent Rodriguez in. Tight defense ended that chance. At the other end, D’Amore saved again. A solid Card chance in the 53rd minute flew over the bar. D’Amore came through again, 10 minutes later with a fingertip save.

As Greenwich came on, the Wrecker defense rose to the challenge. Center back Spencer Girling commanded his line with authority; he won most balls in the air and on the ground, and initiated many attacks. His outside defenders, Hellman and Dylan Shackelford, were ruthless as well. Carpi in front, and Drew Hill at midfield, provided additional help

D’Amore made one fingertip save. He punched out the ensuing corner kick, and made several other key stops.

The Cardinals — battling to keep their unbeaten streak alive, and recalling their previous come-from-2-goals-down win — pushed forward. In the 70th minute, a long, lofting free kick was headed in superbly by Henry Davis.

With 10 minutes to play, it was once again a 1-goal match.

The physical but cleanly played contest grew even tougher. Another Greenwich opportunity, this one with 6 minutes left, flew just wide. So did a 77th-minue shot.

But Staples was attacking too, preventing the Cards from pushing everyone forward. Gabe Duque’s 78th-minute blast was saved superbly.

Greenwich battled to the end. D’Amore saved again — this time with 10 seconds to go.

And then it was over. At the final whistle, the Wrecker bench erupted. A dozen and a half reserves raced onto the field.

It was a scene that had been repeated over 2 dozen times, in Staples’ storied 67-year history.

But this was the first one since today’s players were toddlers. They hadn’t seen a Wrecker FCIAC championship celebration, ever.

Yet they knew exactly how to celebrate. And they knew they’d written another great chapter in Staples soccer history. FINAL SCORE: Staples 3, Greenwich 2. SEASON RECORD: 17-2-0.

QUICK KICKS: Click here for CT Insider’s highlight reel …

Center back Spencer Girling was named Most Valuable Player of the match, in a vote by FCIAC coaches …

Head coach Liam Witham — an FCIAC champ in his first year at the helm — said, “Before I’d even seen them play, I knew this group had something special. And they proved tonight how special they are.” …

Former head coach (and multi FCIAC title winner) Jeff Lea was at the match. He sat with alumni including Fred Cantor ’71, Jim Bacharach ’72, Rick Carpenter ’75, Dave Wilson ’75, Dan Donovan ’82, Rob Sweetnam ’84, Kent Thomas ’86, Jono Sollinger ’86, Jem Sollinger ’88, Brad Bierman ’91 and Chris Meinke ’04. Dozens of other alumni, from the 1960s through last year’s 2024 team, watched the livestream …

Wilson Daniels ’18 — an assistant coach for many varsity players when they were on junior varsity, flew up from Kentucky for the match ….

Former head coach Russell Oost-Lievense and former freshman coach Chris O’Dell — 2 other alums who helped developed the current varsity players — were also at the match ….

Reserve keeper Zach Delman entered the match, after D’Amore was knocked to the ground and injured. He did not handle a shot in his brief stint …

Security officers prevented the large crowd of Staples students from storming the field. But before the medal ceremony, the players rushed toward them at the gate, to thank them ….

State “LL” (extra large school) tournament seedings will be announced Tuesday. Play begins Friday. The Wreckers will have a home match, at 2 p.m.