[UPDATE] Match Report: Staples vs. Manchester

A 2-week layoff — perhaps the longest ever for the Staples boys soccer team before the state tournament — did not bother the Wreckers at all.

The Wreckers exploded for 6 first-half goals today at Manchester, en route to an 8-0 demolition of the Red Hawks in the opening round of the CIAC “LL” (extra large schools) tourney.

It was the most goals for Staples in a state tournament since an 8-2 semifinal victory over Hall-West Hartford in 2010 (en route to the state finals) and matched the 8-0 win over Wilbur Cross-Hartford in 1969 (en route to a state championship).

The victory lifts the Wreckers into the second round of the tournament. They’ll face Glastonbury away on Tuesday, at a time to be determined. The #5-ranked Guardians got a goal in the final 2 minutes to edge 27th-seeded Simsbury this afternoon.

The Staples-Glastonbury rivalry is a great one. The most recent encounter was in 2019. The Wreckers, ranked 17th, trailed the #1-ranked Guardians 2-1, with 7 minutes to play. Staples scored twice in that span, upsetting the top seed and defending state champs — who had not been scored on in the state tournament in the previous 3 years.

The #21-ranked, 9-7-0 Westporters scored early and often against the #12, 9-4-3 upstaters. And the half-dozen first-half scores all came against a sometimes-strong wind.

Will Murray started the avalanche in the 8th minute, with a well-placed corner kick — held up by the wind — to Brendan Allen’s head.

The Red Hawks’ best chance of the game came in the 15th minute. Perrin Root cleared the ball off the line.

After that — keyed by keeper Jack D’Amore, defenders Zach Beebe, Cormac Mulvey, Dylan Shackelford and Gabe Hellmann, and with Murray and Drew Hill commanding the midfield, it was all Staples.

With the blue-and-whites keeping the ball well on the ground, Root and Murray combined to set up Josh Whitaker, for a well-timed slot under the keeper.

Whitaker tallied again 4 minutes later, off an alert steal at the edge of the box.

In the 30th minute Emmett Nivaud picked up a poor pass, and cruised in for goal #4.

Ten seconds after entering the match — and on his first touch — Owen Perry finished Jonny Costello’s service.

One minute before intermission, Costello held well, then found Zach Gorin. The central midfielder took a few touches, then cut back deftly before making it 6-0.

The seventh strike came midway through the second half. Costello’s corner kick was headed along by Sam Rossoni. Allen headed in his second goal of the day.

Costello’s 61st-minute penalty kick closed out the scoring.

The 2-week layoff behind them, a bunch of happy Wreckers headed home. Round 2 awaits, in 3 days. FINAL SCORE: Staples 8, Manchester 0. SEASON RECORD: 10-7-0.

QUICK KICKS: Elliot Galin — a senior who has missed the entire season with an ACL injury — made his first appearance of the year. So did sophomore keeper Harrison Waller, who came on in the final 8 minutes …

The 8-goal explosion gives Staples 16 in their past 2 games — and 31 in their last 5 ….

The win was the Wreckers’ 5th straight over Manchester in state tournament play, dating back to 1986 ….

Trumbull, Darien, Greenwich, Norwalk and Stamford were other FCIAC teams to win their first-round matches. The Knights beat league rival Ridgefield 5-3 on penalty kicks, after overtimes ended 3-3. Danbury and Fairfield Ludlowe lost their games, while Brien McMahon is playing this afternoon.