Match Report: Staples vs. Fairfield Warde

For the Staples boys soccer team, success this year has come by playing a confident, possession-style game, patiently drawing opponents in and then lancing them with opportunistic strikes.

Today was not one of those days.

Fairfield Warde rode a 47th-minute goal — and strong defense, keyed by keeper Gabriel Tiene — to a 1-0 win.

The Mustangs’ victory, at Wakeman Field on Homecoming Day, disappointed a crowd of young Westport Soccer Association players who participated in a Premiership-like opening ceremony, escorting players from both schools onto the field.

The visitors’ 2-4-2 record was deceptive. All their matches had been close. Even in those they lost, they hung around well.

Today’s contest was quite even. It was also quite disjointed. There were more giveaways than usual by Staples, and they had trouble connecting the crisp passes they usually make.

The blue-and-whites certainly had their chances. Josh Whitaker’s 4th-minute banger off the inside of the post bounced out. Alex Kuster and Gabe Duque set up Jonny Costello in the 24th minute; he was saved. Zach Gorin and Adrian Rodriguez sent Will Murray in; he was stuffed.

The first half ended with Wrecker keeper Jack D’Amore making an excellent save, well outside his penalty area.

Staples usually plays confidently through and out of the back. But after several passes in the defense, Warde won a ball. Mateo Dragovcic finished a cross, sliced low and hard across the box.

The goal galvanized Staples. In the 55th minute, Tiene saved a rocket by Murray, following a neat give-and-go.

In the 60th minute, a blast by Costello was knocked away by a defender. Two minutes later, the Mustangs headed a corner kick off the line.

Murray’s cross was halted in the 69th minute. The final 10 minutes saw hectic play by both sides. Warde’s defense stood tall, most notably on Murray’s 78th minute shot, and another Wrecker stab a minute later.

After 3 games in 5 days, the Wrecker have just 2 next week. They host Fairfield Ludlowe on Tuesday; in the match prior to today’s, they tied Warde 0-0, in a battle for Fairfield supremacy.

Next Saturday at noon, Staples travels to Trumbull. The 5-3-2 Eagles lost 4-2 to Stamford today — a team the Wreckers walloped 5-1 last week.

Welcome to the FCIAC. FINAL SCORE: Fairfield Warde 1, Staples 0. SEASON RECORD: 5-4-0.

QUICK KICKS: Congratulations to Alex Kuster. The defender was named Staples’ Boys Athlete of the Week, for all sports at the school …

Staples boys soccer’s annual car wash is tomorrow (Saturday, September 28), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ & Holy Trinity Episcopal Church downtown. The suggested donation is $20 ….

Owen Green reports on the junior varsity match: “Within 5 minutes of the first whistle, Fairfield Warde struck early, off an own goal. This was only the second time all season that Staplels has trailed.

“But the Wreckers quickly equalized. Owen Perry sprinted past 2 defenders, and calmly placed the ball in the bottom right corner.

“Perry was on the score sheet again, after an excellent through ball from Zach Gillman. The first half ended 2-1.

“Both teams had 2nd-half chances. Perry won a penalty kick, then converted it, to pad Staples’ lead. But Warde rebounded, scoring twice — including in the final moments — to finish the Wreckers’ frustrating 3-3 draw.” …

The freshmen beat Fairfield Warde 2-0, in what coach Chris O’Dell calls “probably the best game the freshmen have played all year.” They smothered Warde into frustrated play, and smartly possessed the ball. The first goal was a beautiful header from Charles Nivaud, off a cross from Max Caro. The second came when Loewe Epstein won a 50/50 ball at the top of the box, and immediately slammed it home. Ciaran Kennedy and Alessandro Montresoro had great games controlling the middle of the field, while Michael Roberts was very strong on the backline.