Match Report: FCIAC Quarterfinals, Staples vs. Fairfield Warde
Two years ago, a controversial penalty kick awarded to Fairfield Warde just 56 seconds before halftime changed the FCIAC quarterfinal dramatically. Number 3-seeded Staples chased the game well, but the #6 Mustangs tacked on a second goal with 3 minutes to go, and won 2-0.
Today, the 2 teams met again, also at Wakeman Field, once more in the quarterfinals of the league tournament. This time, with the Wreckers up 1-0 on an Avery Mueller goal, Warde earned another 1st-half PK to draw level.
But the final score was quite different. The hosts took charge after the break. Led by 2 more Mueller strikes, and one assist — plus stout defense and smart midfield play — they pulled away for a 4-1 win.
The victory vaults them into the semifinal. Staples meets #5 Stamford, winners in penalty kicks over #4 Fairfield Ludlowe, on Monday at 5 p.m. The semis are 5 p.m., at Fairfield Ludlowe. The Wreckers and Black Knights tied 1-1 earlier this year, the first blemish (and goal) on Staples’ record.
Today’s win was not foreordained. Playing without co-captain Santi Alfageme — the rock-solid center back who had to sit out the match, after being shown his third yellow card of the regular season in Monday’s finale at Westhill — coach Russell Oost-Lievense’s back line of juniors Cormac Mulvey, Jack Schwartz and Zach Beebe, plus sophomore Gabe Hellman, had their work cut out for them. Adam Syah provided cover in front.
The Mustangs had added incentive: Staples stung them 3-0 during the regular season, less than 3 weeks ago,
Not one Stapleite on this still-young squad had ever played in an FCIAC tournament. The largest crowd of the year ringed Wakeman Field on an unseasonably warm late October day, adding to the tense atmosphere.
Warde nearly drew first blood, blasting a shot inches high 3 minutes in. With coach Chris Lovelett urging, “It’s coming,” they banged ball over the top to a pair of fleet forwards.
In the 11th minute, keeper Nick Sikorski saved well with his feet out of the box.
Two minutes later, Schwartz played a ball from deep in his end to Mueller. The co-captain powered up the right side, cut in, blistered through the box, and sniped a clinical finish into the far left side.
Sikorski saved nicely again 5 minutes later.
Both teams struggled to maintain possession, with the ball in the air more than the Wreckers like.
Midway through the period, after a Warde striker rounded the defense, Sikorski was called for a penalty kick just inside the box. He was also shown a yellow. Junior Christian Rinaldi came on, but had no chance at Jack Murphy’s well-struck PK that leveled the score.
After intermission, the Wreckers began to impose their will on the match. Emmett Nivaud earned a corner kick in the 48th minute, and took it himself. Mueller and Mulvey both leaped high. Mueller nodded it on to the junior back, who comes forward on set pieces, for a powerful strike — and the lead.
Just 2 minutes later, Zach Gorin — the creative, unflashy but very effective midfielder, who pairs well with Luca Escalarte — found Jonny Costello. His fellow junior played the ball wide. Mueller picked it up in stride, and once again drove forward before finishing decisively.
Playing now with confidence, the blue-and-whites had Warde on the run. The defense — with Mulvey in the center role — locked down in front of Sikorski, while they moved the ball briskly, and to feet, all over the field.
Mueller was not yet through. In the 60th minute he was saved well by Gabriel Tiene on a breakaway.
He applied the coup de grace just 7 seconds from the final whistle. Escalarte sliced a ball across the box. Mueller waited, cocked his leg, leaped in the air, and volleyed a scissors-kick goal home.
It was one of the high-scoring attacker’s prettiest goal, of many this year.
It wasn’t needed — the match was already well in hand — but it sent a message to the 3 remaining teams in the FCIAC tournament: Beware of the Wreckers. FINAL SCORE: Staples 4, Fairfield Warde 1. SEASON RECORD: 13-1-3.
QUICK KICKS: Monday’s other semifinal, also at Fairfield Ludlowe High is at 7 p.m. #2 Greenwich — the defending state champion — plays #3 Trumbull, the defending FCIAC champs ….
Head coach Russell Oost-Lievense has called up 5 junior varsity players for the post-season: sophomores Will Briggs, Gabriel Duque, Spencer Girling, Drew Hill and Josh Whittaker. That gives Staples a roster of 35, perhaps their largest squad ever …
Former, and 5-time state champion, coach Jeff Lea was at the match. It was his first appearance this year, as he recuperates from a hip replacement …
Bruno Guiduli, the ’21 tri-captain, was at the game too. He’s on fall break from Macalester College, where he founded the club soccer team.
Avery Mueller’s scissors kick goal with 7 seconds remaining seals Fairfield Warde’s fate.
Cormac Mulvey commanded Staples’ back line.
Veteran announcer Charlie Scott (right) and his freshman brother Thomas called the game on WWPT-FM. (All photos/Mark Sikorski)
