Staples vs. Greenwich
With most of Greenwich’s turf fields closed due to possible landfill contamination, the Wreckers traveled to the football stadium for a Columbus Day match with the 5-1-2 Cardinals.
The temperature neared 90, but Staples came out cold. “We played like dead mice,” said head coach Dan Woog, and in the 7th minute Pieter Zenner caught them napping. He scored from the corner.
Midway through the half, it was 2-0. Zenner got his 2nd tally, again from the corner.
At which point, the Wreckers stepped it up.
They started knocking the ball around. They played into the corner, they moved to support, they began communicating.
In other words, they started playing Staples soccer.
Five minutes after Greenwich’s goal, Alex Tonsberg halved the deficit. The defender worked his way upfield, then fired a hard, dipping shot.
Steve Smith’s rip led to a corner kick. Smith took it well, but Kyle Hoberman’s header was saved.
Just before halftime, Smith set up for a free kick 35 yards out, to the left of goal. His shot skipped through several defenders, and into the far side of the net.
The solid comeback spurred the Wreckers to a stronger 2nd half. Lorenz Esposito snuck through a couple of times, and almost tallied.
In the 55th minute Taylor McNair played a short free kick to Tonsberg. He took some space, found Dylan Evans in the corner, and then Evans hit Smith.
Smith passed to Esposito; he in turn fed Dylan Hoy. The junior’s shot was stopped by the keeper, but not held cleanly. It popped out; Hoy pounced, and rammed in his own rebound.
Staples kept pressing. Greenwich had a couple of late chances, but most of their shots were long-range. The Wreckers managed the match — and managed to pull off a nice come-from-behind win.
“We don’t want to make a habit of this,” Woog said. “We don’t want to put ourselves in a 2-goal hole. But it’s good to know we can keep our heads, focus on the task at head, and grind out 3 goals to win. That’s an important lesson to learn, going forward. ” Final score: Staples 3, Greenwich 2. Season record: 7-0-2.
QUICK KICKS: The Wreckers led in shots 16-13, and corner kicks 4-1….
The junior varsity fell 1-0 to Greenwich. Walker Marsh and keeper Ryan Moran played well.
"I am Tonz" — Alex Tonsberg at work. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Max Hoberman points the way against Greenwich. (Photo by Carl McNair)
James Hickok makes another tough save look easy. Ben Root observes. (Photo by Carl McNair)
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