Staples vs. Brien McMahon
After 2 big games in3 days last week — and no training, due to Rosh Hashana — the Wreckers might have been expected to let down a bit against Brien McMahon.
They did.
A lackluster 1st half produced only 4 Staples shots. The most dangerous came in the 2nd minute, when Max Hoberman raced in on goal. He dished off to Lorenz Esposito, who hit the post.
The Senators fired 5 shots, mostly from far range. Staples’ defense — including Aaron Liu (replacing Jake Malowitz) and Kyle Hoberman (pushed back from midfield, with Ben Root ill), with Taylor McNair and Alex Tonsberg also playing strongly — pulled the visitors offside repeatedly.
The 2nd half was somewhat more exciting than the 1st. The game picked up urgency as the clock wore down. Max Hoberman made several good runs into the corner, but there were few real opportunities for either side.
In the 70th minute keeper James Hickok was forced into a great save.
Kyle Hoberman then sent David Hoffman in on goal, for the Westporters’ best chance of the half. Then Dylan Hoy’s fine individual effort sent Steve Smith into the box.
Still, the match remained scoreless.
In the 78th minute, midfielder Dylan Evans — back to help out on a McMahon free kick — took a ball in the face. He seemed momentarily stunned — but seconds later he was at the halfway line, winning a ball on the left side.
He battered his way forward, through a few defenders, then cut inside near the end line. Suddenly the left-footer unleashed a no-angle shot. It ripped through the packed goalmouth, over the goal line, and found the side netting on the far side.
It was 1 more in a long line of dramatic Staples goals this year — and just 1:25 showed on the clock.
“Sometimes you’re good. Sometimes you’re lucky,” said head coach Dan Woog. “Today we did not play well. We were very lucky. But we’ll take this kind of luck.” Final score: Staples 1, Brien McMahon 0. Season record: 6-0-1.
QUICK KICKS: Staples outshot McMahon 13-8, and led in corner kicks 9-2….
The junior varsity won 1-0 over Brien McMahon. Greg Shikowitz scored, assisted by Andreas Bru. The 2nd half featured “real good Staples soccer — give-and-gos, changes of fields, tight defense,” said coach Seth Sholes. Ryan Moran looked solid in goal, while Charlie Leonard played with passion off the bench….
The freshmen downed Wilton 2-1. Nate Argosh knocked in Jordan McNair’s free kick, while Patrick Beusse tallied on a goalmouth scramble. Zachary Feinstein played well, as did Andrew Osorio in goal.
Dylan Evans — the goal-scorer — tussles with McMahon's Luc Flemming. (Photo by Carl McNair)
James Hickok saves solidly. Staples defenders (from left) Taylor McNair, Harry Birch and Alex Tonsberg get ready to move in. (Photo by Carl McNair)
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