Match Report: Staples vs. New Canaan

It’s been quite a week for the Staples boys soccer team.

Last Saturday, they celebrated the program’s 60th anniversary with an intense 0-0 draw in the mud against Darien. On Monday they played their best match of the season, downing Fairfield Ludlowe 2-0. On Thursday they had a Skype video chat with former US men’s national team coach Bruce Arena. Last night they battled it out at Quiz Night.

And this afternoon was Senior Day. It’s a low-key ceremony — the 12th graders give their parents flowers, and receive a framed photo and a handsome athletic bag — but a meaningful one. Senior leaders are key to any good team. And this year’s seniors set the bar very, very high.

The Wreckers will graduate 11 seniors. So it was an easy decision to start them all today: Lefty Penderakis and Mauricio Inglada up top; Wilson Daniels, Austin Sholes, Gabe Baltierra and Vaughan Sealey at midfield; Nick DiMasi, Nick Ambrose, Matthew Tanzer and Rob Diorio in back, and Ry Cohen in goal.

Loeffler Field was bumpy after last weekend’s rain games. New Canaan looked weak on paper. But they’d tied Greenwich, and under 1st-year coach Luke Green they’re organized, looking to play good soccer out of the back.

Staples had an adequate first half. They ramped it up in the 2nd, and hit paydirt 7 minutes after intermission. Sholes hit DiMasi, got the ball back on a quick give-and-go, and motored in to finish low and hard. It was the same sequence with the same players who connected on the insurance goal at Ludlowe.

“This was one of those games the good teams need to win,” said head coach Dan Woog. “It wasn’t pretty, but we did what we had to. Our guys were focused, they played another solid 80 minutes defensively, they got into the box in the second half, and they got the 3 points. The coaches love their mentality, and they’re getting results.”

The FCIAC standings seem to change hourly. Right now the Wreckers are in the top 4 — giving them a home match when the FCIAC tournament starts next Friday — but with one game left for most teams, anything can happen. Staples closes out the regular season Tuesday, 4 p.m. at St. Joseph. FINAL SCORE: Staples 1, New Canaan 0. SEASON RECORD: 9-2-4.

QUICK KICKS: Nick DiMasi was named Westport News Athlete of the Week, for his winning goal against Westhill, and tying goal versus Stamford ….

The reserves drew 3-3 with Fairfield Ludlowe yesterday, on 2 goals by George Smith and 1 from Haydn Siroka. This afternoon the trounced New Canaan 5-1, with goals from Smith, Siroka, Carter Bassler, Ben Lafontan and Konur Nordberg. Coaches Russell Oost-Lievense and Reilly Lynch’s squad is now 8-2-3 ….

The freshmen shut out Fairfield Ludlowe 3-0. Aidan Mermagen fed Murilo Moreno for the opening tally. Reese Watkins nailed a penalty kick, and Sam Vannart slammed home the 3rd. The freshmen also topped New Canaan 4-2. Jaden Mueller scored twice; Mermagen and Spencer Levine added solo goals. Ben Tanen saved a PK, inspiring the entire squad. Coach Chris O’Dell’s frosh are now 10-0-1.

2018 seniors (from left): Mauricio Inglada, Ry Cohen, Wilson Daniels, Nick Ambrose, Austin Sholes, Matthew Tanzer, Lefty Penderakis, Nick DiMasi, Gabe Baltierra, Rob Diorio, Vaughan Sealey. Front: head coach Dan Woog.