Match Report: Staples vs. Greenwich
Admission was free to today’s Staples-Greenwich match, at Wakeman Field.
But any price would have been worth paying.
The game between the spirited rivals had everything: deft ball control, tenacious defense, a torrid pace, brute physicality, a raucous crowd, 7 goals — and 3 red cards. In the end, the 10-man Cardinals outlasted the 9-player Wreckers, 4-3.
It was the second loss of the season for the Westporters, #8 in Connecticut. But they proved to themselves, and all watching, that they can play with any team in the state.
Greenwich — ranked first in the state — came to town with a 5-0 record, having conceded only 1 goal all year. They left still spotless, but tripling their goals against mark.
And their end-of-game celebration was as much a show of relief as of joy.
The tenor of the game was clear in the first 3 minutes. Brendan Allen’s left-footed inswinging free kick from the edge of the box on the far right side was power-headed in by Ford Epstein. The stunning strike marked the first time the Cards trailed an opponent all year.
But they were unfazed. They forced keeper Jack D’Amore into several tough saves, including one dangerous flick header, and another in heavy traffic.
He would have seen even more shots, but defenders Spencer Girling, Adriano Carpi, Dylan Shackelford and Emmett Zahler — with Drew Hill in front — were stalwart. They stepped up to cut off through balls, and won their share of the air battle. Particularly noteworthy was a clearance off the line by Girling.
In the 14th minute Hill won a hard tackle, and sent Noah Rossoni in on a breakaway. He was taken down in the box, for a no-doubt-about-it penalty kick.
Josh Whitaker — Staples’ PK specialist — was true. His 5th penalty kick in as many attempts this year doubled his side’s lead.
Seven minutes later, Greenwich nicked one back. The Wreckers coughed up the ball near the edge of the box. Alex Amato finished coolly, to the far post.
It took just 3 minutes for the blue-and-whites to regain their 2-goal advantage. Carpi’s long ball out of the back found Allen. He pounced on a poor defensive touch, wasting no time to fire into the far side netting.
The visitors were far from finished. D’Amore made several more huge saves, including one in a goalmouth scrum, the other a punch out of danger in a crowd.
The second half began with Adrian Rodriguez’s crunching tackle almost leading to a carom goal.
But it was Greenwich that got the next one that counted. A shot off the crossbar was volleyed home by sophomore Joseph Carroll, and once again it was a 1-goal match.
Three minutes later, the already intense action heated up even further. The Cards’ Joseph O’Brien was shown a red card for kicking Allen when the Wrecker was on the ground.
But after a few minutes of confusion, Allen was also sent off. Greenwich protested that Allen had committed a red card foul too, though video showed only incidental contact before the kick.
Now 10-v-10, D’Amore was once again called upon to smother an excellent chance on the goal line. Staples cleared the ensuing corner kick; Gabe Duque rounded a defender, and laced a cross to Lucas Alarcon. The junior’s shot missed by inches.
Rodriguez had a good opportunity; at the other end, Girling’s tackle stopped a golden Greenwich chance.
There was much more to come.
A 67th-minute Greenwich corner was whipped goalward. Alarcon — the last man on the goal line — batted it away. A hand ball to prevent a certain goal is a red card — and, in the box, a penalty kick.
The Wreckers were down to 9 men. And D’Amore faced a PK.
Davis shot weakly, to his left. The keeper guessed correctly, and saved easily. The 3-2 score stood.
Yet there were still 13 minutes to play.
In the 70th minute, D’Amore was bumped as he leaped to corral a corner kick. The ball fell to the feet of Henry Davis, who had an easy chance from 3 yards out. The Wreckers argued that their keeper had been fouled, to no avail.
Though down a man, the Wreckers continued to play on both sides of the ball. Card keeper Oliver Almeida made a brilliant save on a 3-v-1, sparked by Zach Gillman. The score remained level.
But with just 5 minutes left — and end-to-end action continuing — Greenwich found the net once again. Nicholas Martschenko picked up a missed clearance, and took full advantage of an open net.
It was a bitter ending for Staples. Yet in some ways, it was a beginning. They proved they could go toe-to-toe with anyone.
And they knew that they’d see Greenwich perhaps twice more this season: in the FCIAC and state tournaments.
Those games will start, once again, 0-0.
If they’re as electric as this one, any price of admission will be worth it. FINAL SCORE: Greenwich 4, Staples 3. FCIAC RECORD: 4-2-0. OVERALL RECORD: 5-2-0.
QUICK KICKS: There is no rest, in the compact soccer schedule. Staples is back in action Thursday, against Wilton at Wakeman Field. Kickoff is 4:30 p.m. Click here for the livestream. …
The junior varsity looked strong, in a 4-1 victory over Greenwich. Goals came from Owen Gree, Derin Leon, Zach Selig and Seb Elizondo, with assists from Ethan Katzner, Seb Carter and Spencer Cammeyer. Highlights included strong defense by captain Spencer Derakhshan, and a celebratory backflip by Leon….
The freshmen continued their winning ways too, 4-0 over Greenwich. Spencer Hollander tallied twice; Max McDermott and Beckham Martino added solo goals.
Zach Gillman and Gabe Hellmann. (Photo/Michael Cammeyer)
