Match Report: Staples vs. Central

After an intense preseason — and an equally focused evening of team goal-setting 2 nights ago — the Wreckers headed to Bridgeport’s Kennedy Stadium for the season opener.

With a balanced lineup of 6 starting seniors and 5 juniors, and playing with a stiff wind at their backs, Staples wasted no time in putting the main ideas from Wednesday into action. Just 2 minutes after the first kickoff of the year, central midfielder Jack Douglas pressured and won a ball. His quick shot caromed off a Central defender. Fellow junior Alan Fiore was there to power in the first goal of 2019.

The Westporters kept pressing. Goal number 2 came from Evan Birns. The former Development Academy player — in his first season with his high school side — collected a feed from fellow senior Lars Djuve, cruised in and finished.

Staples — which had gotten strong central midfield play from Douglas and junior George Smith — suffered a blow when Douglas went down before halftime with a knee injury. He did not return to action.

Murilo Moreno — a sophomore making his first varsity appearance — filled in admirably. With Fiore and Sam Liles patrolling the flanks, and the back 4 of Surya Balaji, Brendan Lynch, Josh DeDomenico and Benny Feuer stepping up well, the Westporters kept the ball on their half of the field for large swaths of the first half.

After intermission, they worked the ball around, and on the ground, better than before. They upped their lead to 3-0 when Liles hit Birns, who juked a trio of Hilltoppers on his way through the box, and on to goal.

Fifteen minutes later Smith found Haydn Siroka, whose hard shot was true.

Central got on the board with 10 minutes to play, on a well-executed breakaway.

Seniors Carter Bassler and Emerson Anvari came on, and impressed at right back and central midfield. Sophomores Jack Foster and Aidan Mermagen looked strong in their varsity debuts. Reed Caney started in the nets and handled his few chances cleanly. Sebi Montoulieu finished the match in goal.

It was a good start to a long and arduous season. Danbury — preseason consensus favorites to win the FCIAC title, with a host of returnees including league Player of the Year Tyler Warren, a defender — will prove a far tougher test on Monday. The match is set for 4 p.m. at Mill Ridge Primary School in Danbury (the Hatters’ turf field is being renovated). FINAL SCORE: Staples 4, Central 1. SEASON RECORD: 1-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: The reserves shut out Central 3-0. Graham Barnes had a crackling goal. Jaden Mueller and Jack Kuster also scored. Will Adams played well for coaches Russell Oost-Lievense and Reilly Lynch’s side.