Match Report: Staples vs. Trumbull
For more than a decade, Trumbull has been one of the top soccer teams in the FCIAC. They have been particularly successful against Staples. The Eagles have a knack for drawing the Wreckers into playing Trumbull’s style of soccer — not Staples’.
Last year, the Eagles won the regular season match 1-0. Weeks later they eliminated the Wreckers in the FCIAC semifinal, on penalty kicks. Trumbull went on to win the league title in dramatic fashion over Danbury. In fact, in the decade following Staples’ 1-0 FCIAC tournament win over Trumbull in 2010 — en route to their own league crown — the easterners ran up an 0-6-4 record against the blue-and-whites. In many of those matches, Staples has been outplayed.
Today — playing on the turf that replaced the Eagles’ former grass field — the hosts looked like they’d continue their domination. They capitalized on 2 errors — one in the 5th minute, the other less than 10 minutes later — to take a 2-0 lead. The rout might have been on.
Except it wasn’t. The Wreckers settled down, and began playing the quick-passing, strong ball movement, fast-paced soccer that is their style. From the 20th minute on, they began imposing their tempo on the match. Confident despite the deficit, they turned the tide.
In the 30th minute, Evan Birns fed George Smith. He mis-hit his pass, but the ball landed right at the feet of Patricio Perez Elorza. The overlapping defender finished into the far right corner.
The 1-2 scoreline did not bother the Westporters. They talked calmly at halftime about the need to keep pressing, passing, and keeping the ball on the ground. That — and the importance of trust and confidence.
It paid off 13 minutes after intermission. Keeper Reed Caney collected a shot, then banged it past midfield. Lars Djuve corraled it, and fed an onrushing Birns. He finished calmly, clinically and cleverly, leveling the score.
Staples had much of the rest of the possession, though Trumbull was — as always — dangerous on quick balls blasted forward. Defenders Perez Elorza, Surya Balaji, Brendan Lynch, Carter Bassler and Josh DeDomenico were equal to the task — as was Caney, whose sliding save with 7 minutes to play preserved the deadlock.
Murilo Moreno — the sophomore who has shown impressive poise in a series of different roles over the past few games — fired a great shot with 3 minutes left. But the draw remained.
“You never like to tie,” said head coach Dan Woog. “But I’d much rather do it by coming from 2 goals down, than the other way around.”He praised his team’s calm demeanor after letting in 2 goals, and their tenacity and maturity in being able to fight back. “Of course,” Woog added, “that’s not something we can make a habit of.”
The tough road continues on Thursday. Staples travels to Fairfield Warde, for a 5:30 p.m. kickoff. The Mustangs are another of the many teams contending for the top spot this year. FINAL SCORE: Staples 2, Trumbull 2. SEASON RECORD: 3-1-1.
QUICK KICKS: This was the first time Staples has scored more than 1 goal against Trumbull since a 2-0 victory in 2003….
Evan Birns has been named a National Merit Commended Scholar….
Staples outshot Trumbull 7-4, and led in corner kicks 4-2….
The reserves shut out Trumbull 2-0. Marcos Inglada netted both goals, both in the waning minutes. Reese Watkins, Thomas Corridon and keeper Jacob Greenberger had standout performances….
The freshmen had the run of play for the entire game. But Trumbull scored first, on a 30-yard blast over the keeper. The Eagles added a penalty kick for a 2-0 lead. Like the varsity, the frosh battled back. David Sedrak volleyed in a cross from a corner kick to halve the lead. With one minute left in the half, Cedrik Geijerstam evened the score. The second half was all Staples, plus a few Eagle counters. Matt Shackelford broke free and shot low to give Staples the lead. Late in the match Jaeon Anglin unselfishly and intelligently laid off to Sam Willis in the box, making the final score 4-2.
Sam Liles (7) and Lars Djuve (10) celebrate Evan Birns’ goal at Trumbull. (Photo/Christina Bassler)
From front: Lars Djuve lines up at midfield; behind him are Evan Birns, Benny Feuer and Alan Fiore. (Photo/Christina Bassler)
Patricio Perez Elorza battles for a ball; Sam Liles moves over to help. (Photo/Christina Bassler)
Benny Feuer gets air. George Smith and Lars Djuve lend support. (Photo/Christina Bassler)
Evan Birns powers forward. (Photo/Christina Bassler)
