Match Report: Staples vs. Brien McMahon
Scores are sometimes deceiving.
Two days ago, Brien McMahon lost their first match of this season to Stamford. It was a lopsided margin: 6-0.
But that’s not the true story. The Senators were down just 1-0 at halftime, to last fall’s FCIAC and state LL tournament finalists.
After an injury, a delay, and the lack of a trainer, McMahon played the second half using their reserves.
So it was no surprise that the Norwalkers went toe-to-toe with Staples this afternoon.
The match was tight, both score-wise and physically. McMahon plays all of their games this year on small and narrow Pride Field. It’s now turf, but generations of Wreckers remember it from its grass days, shared with a large baseball infield diamond. Jack Casagrande Field — where the Senators have played for the past couple of decades — is now used exclusively for football and field hockey.
Tri-captain Zach Beebe sat out the start, after being elbowed beneath the eye in the season opening 2-1 victory over New Canaan. A couple of other starters are out with injuries too.
But they’ve got depth, and junior Dylan Shackelford continued his strong place in Beebe’s absence.
Like Staples, McMahon employs a quick-passing, find-feet-and-move style of play. They’re more direct than the Wreckers, though.
There were good match-ups at midfield, with both sides winning 50/50 balls at about a 50/50 rate.
Sophomore keeper Jack D’Amore made his first save a big one, in the 20th minute.
Josh Whitaker and Jonny Costello set up Will Murray. His first shot was blocked for a corner kick; so was his second.
In the 22nd minute, a ball from Noah Rossoni to Costello was one-touched just high.
A 9-pass sequence ended with another effort by Costello. This one was wide.
In the 31st minute, a long ball found the Senators’ Justin Rich on the left side, where most of their attacks originated. He rifled a shot into the far corner, for the first goal of the day.
It turned out to be the only one.
Beebe came on after the break. With both squads ramped up the intensity, it was a wide open game. The heat took its toll, with at least 2 Senators cramping up.
The Wreckers had several corner kicks, and a couple of corner-like set pieces. Each time, the service was too wide on the narrow field.
McMahon won enough balls at midfield, and dispossessed players enough times, to keep the Westporters from establishing a rhythm.
Defender Jack Schwartz saved one ball on the line. Costello tracked back hard to win an important tackle.
After a Senator shot missed by inches in the 69th minute, the match became hectic. Adrian Rodriguez had Staples’ best look of the day, but his blast was a few inches high.
D’Amore saved well in the 72nd minutes.
Staples’ last chance — a free kick in the final minute — was headed wide.
Some scores — like McMahon’s loss to Stamford — are deceiving. Others — like today — are true reflections of the closeness of play. FINAL SCORE: Brien McMahon 1, Staples 0. SEASON RECORD: 1-1-0.
QUICK KICKS: The Wreckers’ next match is against Norwalk, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. With the new Norwalk High under construction on Testa Field, the Bears are playing their homes games at West Rocks Middle School. It’s a nice, big pitch ….
The junior varsity downed Brien McMahon 4-1. Zach Gillman, Owen Perry, Arthur Khisyamov and Owen Goldfarb tallied for coach Elisee Joseph’s squad….
Jaden Waldman scored first for the freshmen, on a scrum in front of the Brien McMahon goal. It came against the run of play, as the Senators applied plenty of early pressure. The Wreckers then settled into their style of play, but McMahon pounced on a mistake to even the score heading into halftime. Coach Chris O’Dell read his frosh the riot act for lack of pressure. They responded strongly. Much of the second half was played in Staples’ offensive half, with many near misses. Finally, with less than a minute left in the game, Kai Massicott punched in the winner from short range, on an assist from Henry Green. O’Dell cited the back line of Spencer Derakhshan, Levi Belzer, Hayes Bauer and Max Caro for holding strong against a very fast and athletic Senator front line.
Will Murray races upfield. (Photo/Mike Beebe)
In the waning minutes, Cormac Mulvey (15) and Jack Schwartz (far right) come upfield from their defensive spots, to add height and power on set plays. (Photo/Mike Beebe)
Jonny Costello eludes a Brien McMahon defender. (Photo/Mike Beebe)
Adrian Rodriguez is airborne. (Photo/Mike Beebe)
