[UPDATE] Match Report: Staples vs. Westhill
Both teams had something to play for, this afternoon at Westhill’s J. Walter Kennedy Stadium.
The Wreckers needed a tie or win, to have a shot at winning the Ralph King Cup as the top team in the FCIAC, and a victory to maintain their spot at the top of the state “LL” (extra large schools) tournament seedings. Both outcomes also depend on Greenwich’s performance later tonight against Fairfield Warde. (Different methods are used to determined FCIAC standings and state rankings.)
But the hosts had more at stake. Heading into the match, the 5-5-4 Vikings were tied for 9th, in the race for the 8-team league playoffs. They had to win, and hope other results broke their way.
As added motivation, it was Westhill’s Senior Day.
The Westporters prevailed, 4-3, in a wild match.
The win — coupled with Greenwich’s 0-0 draw with Fairfield Warde a few hours later — gives Staples the top seed in the FCIAC tournament, and their 5th Ralph King Cup since it was inaugurated in 2000.
The FCIAC tourney begins Friday. The #1 Wreckers host #8 Fairfield Warde this Friday (October 27), 3:30 p.m. at Wakeman Field. Staples won the regular season match-up 3-0, earlier this month.
This caps a remarkable turnaround for the Wreckers. A year ago, a very young squad finished 7-9-1. It was the worst record in the program’s 66-year history, and only the 2nd losing season ever.
They have gone — literally — from last to first.
This afternoon, it took Staples nearly 4 minutes to cross midfield, against the fired-up Vikes. When they did, they nearly scored twice on bobbles by the keepers. Then Westhill nearly tallied, off a defensive giveaway.
The Vikings feature very offensive-minded players, led by quad-captains (and twins) Patrick and Kristian Larsen. Defenders bang the ball upfield to them. As a result, the ball is in the air much more often than Staples — an excellent ball-control team — likes.
In the 18th minute Emmett Nivaud took a corner kick. Sophomore Brendan Allen — inserted just a minute earlier — found the ball in a penalty box scramble, and smashed a shot into the top corner.
It took less than 2 minutes for Westhill to equalize. Will Snead tallied from the top of the box, after winning a crunching tackle.
That woke up the blue-and-whites. Cormac Mulvey’s long throw was headed in by Nivaud.
Now controlling the rhythm and pace, Nivaud pounced on Avery Mueller’s free kick and made it 3-1, from close range.
Four minutes before halftime, Mueller picked up a loose ball, powered through several defenders, and finished, direct and hard, for a 4-1 edge.
Sam Rossoni nearly added a fifth, after a great move on the sideline by Allen.
But with their FCIAC tourney hopes on the line, Westhill came out firing after intermission. It took just 3 minutes to get back in the game, when Patrick Nilsen pounced on a rebound.
The Vikes’ pressure flustered Staples. But they held their secure 4-2 lead — until, with 10 minutes to go, Kristian Larsen’s long shot caught the Wreckers flat.
Then things got really wild.
Keeper Aldo Lopez saved a corner kick well. Westhill threw everything they had at Staples. Another corner was headed just wide; then came another Vike chance on a long shot. A free kick sailed inches wide.
Both teams banged, right to the end of the hectic match.
The Wreckers had their win. They took a deep breath, settled down to await the result of the Greenwich match, and began to prepare for the FCIAC tournament.
The Vikings took their cooldown run, to great applause from their fans. Now — out of the FCIAC tournament, just barely — they await the state tourney. FINAL SCORE: Staples 4, Westhill 3. FINAL SEASON RECORD: 12-1-3.
QUICK KICKS: Staples’ 12 regular season wins is the most since 2010. The Wreckers won 13 matches that year, then added their 3rd straight FCIAC championship. They reached the state finals, but fell 2-1 to Farmington ….
Luca Caniato reports: The junior varsity opened strongly at Westhill, almost scoring on several occasions. Several minutes into though, the Vikings scored from 20 yards out, off a corner kick. It was their only shot of the match. They immediately sat in, making it difficult to penetrate. But the Wreckers pushed through, playing their signature quick passing game in dangerous areas. Only a few minutes after falling behind, a loose ball fell at the top of the 18. Michael Brennan crashed through, volleying home a spectacular finish. Josh Whittaker transitioned well from defense to offense, while Drew Hill contributed his usual strong play and won nearly every 50/50 ball. The match ended 1-1, with the Westporters dominating. They end their season at 10-1-1, with a true winners’ mentality….
Chris O’Dell returned this year as freshman coach, and did it in fine fashion: with another undefeated season. His “greatest show on turf” squad shut out Westhill 4-0, The ’23 frosh finished 12-0-0, with 57 goals for and 14 against. He has had several undefeated teams, with ties; this marks his first unbeaten and untied team since 2006. That group went on to win the 2009 state championship.
All 26 players saw action today; all contributed “good, top-notch Staples soccer,” O’Dell says. The scoring began with Andrew Xu making a great run to the corner. Noah Rossoni power-headed his cross into the corner of the net. Max Hill then received the ball in the middle of the box, and pounded in a left-footed volley for a 2-0 halftime lead. Five minutes into the second half, Lucas Alarcon-Frias made 2 beautiful runs up the right side with perfect crosses to Hill. He outran the defense and finished both, scoring twice in 2 minutes. Akil Arvind and Matthew Corridon capped their year as practice players by making their debuts; both contributed solid play for this very successful squad.
Defender Zach Beebe clears out of danger.
Brendan Allen scored the first goal at Westhill. He’s congratulated by (from left) Adam Syah, Santi Alfageme and Cormac Mulvey.
Sam Rossoni (All photos/Mark Sikorski)
