Match Report: Staples vs. Norwalk
Several elements are important for a successful soccer team.
They must have technical skills. They must have soccer sense.
They must be strong on both sides of the ball: score goals, and prevent them . They must be able to solve problems.
They must have passion and poise.
And when they have a lead they must be able to put the dagger in, and twist it.
Today at Wakeman Field, Staples showed they have the makings of a successful soccer team.
Hosting Norwalk — traditionally one of the lions of the FCIAC — they broke open a close match. They grew stronger as the game went on.
And then they stuck the dagger in.
Norwalk’s high press was the best the Wreckers have seen this young season. The first 20 minutes were lightning quick, end-to-end. It was physical, but not brutal. The officials let the game flow.
Staples poked and probed, looking for seams and holes. They were confident passing back, laterally and then forward.
The Bears, meanwhile, were winning their share of 50/50 balls, with well-timed tackles and their own intense energy.
In the 24th minute Emmett Nivaud rounded the corner of the box. His no-angle shot caromed off the inside of the crossbar, and was cleared well.
Defenders Santi Alfageme, Jack Schwartz, Zach Beebe and Gabe Hellman — a sophomore starting in place of injured Cormac Mulvey — stood tall, under the most pressure they’ve seen. They were confident in the air; they kept their spacing, and played balls to feet with sureness.
In the 33rd minute Luca Escalarte stole a ball near the center circle. He found Avery Mueller, who cruised in on goal. The keeper — perhaps thinking Mueller would shoot to the near post — froze when the co-captain fired to the right. Mueller’s goal looked far easier than it was.
Buoyed by that strike, the Wreckers pushed forward. Lucas Carpi fed Mueller; his shot was saved.
Norwalk was hardly done. Alfageme and Adam Syah combined on a huge tackle; 20 seconds later, Schwartz won his own tackle.
In the 48th minute, a Bar shot banged off the post, where it met the crossbar.
Mueller’s long ball was snagged well by Norwalk’s keeper, in traffic.
Sic minutes later, Carpi fed Elliot Galin. He made a sweet move in the corner, then laced a cross to Zach Gorin. The far-ranging central midfielder finished, with a nice tap-in.
Now in command, the hosts played with confidence. Luca Escalarte won 2 key balls at midfield. Keeper Nick Sikorski saved a blast over the top. The ensuing corner kick was headed wide.
All the while, the bench grew louder.
In the 67th minute — still not withering — a shot from the far side by the Bears seemed headed out of bounds. But a gust of wind carried it toward the goal. It hit the inside post, bounced down, and was cleared crisply amid a chaotic box.
With 2:30 to go, Sikorski kept the clean sheet on a long blast.
The Wreckers were not done. Escalarte laid off to Mueller. He juked 2 defenders, and notched his second goal of the day. Just 16 seconds showed on the clock.
That’s the way a successful team closes out a game. FINAL SCORE: Staples 3, Norwalk 0. SEASON RECORD: 3-0-0.
QUICK KICKS: The Ridgefield match — halted due to lightning on opening day, with Staples ahead 2-0 — will be replayed from the beginning next Tuesday (September 26). The freshmen will play at Ridgefield on that day. Both matches kick off at 4 p.m….
The junior varsity beat Norwalk 3-1. Brendan Allen scored twice, while Gabriel Duque added one …
The freshmen downed Norwalk 6-1, completing a clean sweep on the day for Staples. Adrian Rodriguez scored 4 goals — 3 in the first 7 minutes. Max Hill finished a breakaway, while Lucas Alarcon-Frias added another. Jonah Bornback earned kudos for his defense from coach Chris O’Dell.
Avery Mueller assesses the field. (Photo/Mark Sikorski)
Gabe Hellman heads out of danger. (Photo/Mark Sikorski)
