Match Report: Staples vs. Danbury [UPDATED WITH PHOTOS]
It’s been an interesting year for boys FCIAC soccer.
Several of the traditional top teams are down. Trumbull is having perhaps their poorest year in 2 decades. And Danbury — always a powerhouse — came to Wakeman Field today with a 5-5-1 mark.
Staples handled the Hatters with relative ease. The Wreckers were quicker to the ball, stronger on it, and did better things with it.
The result was a 4-0 victory. Now 11-2-0, the blue-and-whites are in excellent shape heading into the final 3 matches of the regular season. A better-than-usual St. Joseph squad is next (Thursday, away). Next week brings Westhill (away, Monday), and Ridgefield — riding high at 10-3-0 — home, a week from Thursday. All matches begin at 4 p.m.
It took Danbury 25 minutes to take their first shot on goal — after Wreckers Ford Epstein, Josh Whitaker and Noah Rossoni had already threatened.
In the 31st minute, Adrian Rodriguez made a great move just inside the box. He was taken down, for Staples’ 5th penalty kick of the year.
Whitaker — the Wreckers’ PK specialist — stepped up. Keeper Tonin Utrera guessed wrong. But even if he had, Whitaker blasted it so close to the net, he could not have gotten even a finger on it.
Staples doubled their lead one minute before the half. Defender Gabe Hellmann hit Whitaker, who took a great touch down the line. Rodriguez came close to scoring — but it was Gabe Duque who followed up, from 2 yards out.
Whitaker almost made it 3-0 just 20 seconds before intermission, banging a blast off the crossbar.
The third tally came 7 minutes after halftime. Epstein lofted a superb free kick into the box. Duque waited patiently for the service, then one-touched it expertly to the far corner.
The final strike began with Zach Gillman taking his defender down the line. He fed Greyson Downes, who finished cleanly.
Keeper Jack D’Amore had little to do all day. Defenders Hellman, Dylan Shackelford, Spencer Girling, Adriano Carpi and Emmett Zahler were dominant, with Drew Hill at midfield in front. FINAL SCORE: Staples 4, Danbury 0. FCIAC RECORD: 10-2-0. OVERALL RECORD: 11-2-0.
QUICK KICKS: Today was “Pink-out Day,” as the Wreckers honored Breast Cancer Awareness Month. They sported pink warm-up shirts, socks and tape….
The junior varsity shut out Danbury 5-0. Goals came from Kai Massicott (penalty kick), Owen Green, Spencer Cammeyer, Ved Deo and Zach Selig, with assists by Green, Spencer Derakhshan, Seb Elizondo and Ethan Katzner …
The freshmen also shut out Danbury, by a 6-0 score. Solo strikes came from Jimmy Cusato, Lachlan Langone, Pranay Kalati, Max McDermott, Beckham Martino and Atticus Lavergne.
Dylan Shackelford’s header just misses.
Zach Gillman
On the call: Ludo Pauliny, Max Triscari, Jackson Talbott. (All photos/Gavin Whitaker)
