Match Report: Staples vs. Wilton

Soccer is a beautiful game.

Staples proved that today, at Wakeman Field against Wilton. The Wreckers were in solid control. They used the entire field, knocking the ball laterally, diagonally and forward with, at times, ballet-like precision. Trusting completely in their teammates — yet unafraid to take opponents on one-on-one, with dynamism and pace — they were both artistic and strong.

Soccer is also a frustrating game.

Despite their domination in shots — 17, to the Warriors’ 1 — they could not score.

Soccer is a strange game. The staunch Staples defense — they’ve allowed just one penalty kick goal in 6 matches — helped key the 0-0 draw. It was the Westporters’ 3rd scoreless tie of the season.

The match — moved from Loeffler Field, because of rain earlier in the day — started out evenly. Keeper Jacob Greenberger snuffed a breakaway in the 8th minute. But the tide turned, and by the 20:00 mark the hosts had imposed their tempo and style on the game.

Reese Watkins’ pressure forced the keeper to bobble. He made a fine save on a Jaden Mueller blast. Dylan Hoke sent a great ball across. But for all their possession and pressure, the blue-and-whites failed to uncork any other truly threatening shots. Many of their attempts were high — easy pickings for the tall netminder.

The second half belonged even more to Staples. As they’d done in previous matches, the Wreckers came out on fire after intermission, and continued to burn. Greenberger and defenders Bruno Guiduli, Jackson Hochhauser, Jack Foster, Hunter Smith and Matthew Genser built calmly out of the back. Mueller, his brother Avery, Hoke, Caleb Tobias and Tim Liakh won balls at midfield, then surged forward. Murilo Moreno blazed down the left side; Watkins, Will Adams and Matthew Jordan worked the ball into the box. There were several crazy sequences, with intricate passing, hard shots (lower this time) and rebounds. But Wilton packed the back, and thwarted every attempt.

“Any scoring drought — and every team has them — is tough,” noted head coach Dan Woog. “What makes this tougher is that our guys are doing so many good things from our goal line to the top of the other box. We need both patience and urgency.”

When the goals do come, Woog predicted, “they’ll come in bunches.” Until then, the Wreckers are fit to be tied. FINAL SCORE: Staples 0, Wilton 0. SEASON RECORD: 3-0-3.

QUICK KICKS: Staples’ next match is Friday, at Darien (4 p.m.). The Blue Wave tied their first game with Norwalk; since then, they’ve reeled off 5 straight wins ….

The reserves shut out Wilton 5-0. Matt Shackelford (2), Lucas Carpi, Ethan Cukier and Kyle Ambrose scored. Coach Chris Flaherty cited Ambrose, Alex Laskin and Luca Escalarte for their strong play. Last week the reserves beat Westhill 6-2, with strikes from Cukier and Kyle Stretton (2 each), Shackelford and Chase Watkins. The reserves are now 5-1-0….

The freshmen downed Ridgefield 3-0. Emmett Nivaud, Ryan Sunjka and Colin Stretton scored; Nivaud, Elliot Galin and Zach Gorin assisted….

Brewster Galley’s new album, “Dear June,” is available on Spotify, Apple Tunes and other platforms. He recorded it with Scott Coleman, son of Todd Coleman ’84.