Match Report: State Tournament 1st Round vs. Ridgefield

For Ridgefield, the third time was the charm.

The Tigers made their third visit of the fall to Wakeman Field today. The first time — opening day of the FCIAC season — saw Staples jump out to a 2-0 lead. The score did not stand though, because lightning interrupted the match before the first half was completed.

The Wreckers dominated again when the the game was finally played, en route to a 2-0 win.

But the visitors brought their “A” game — and “D,” as in determined — today. Fresh off a 4-0 drubbing of Norwalk on Saturday — a playdown match they needed to win, to qualify as the 32nd (and final) team for the state tournament — they upset top-seeded Staples 2-1, in overtime.

Ridgefield moves on to the round of 16, against #16 Fairfield Ludlowe, a 4-2 winner over #17 Norwich Free Academy. Staples season ends, with a 13-3-3 mark.

The Wreckers missed Avery Mueller in the first half. The co-captain and leading scorer has a hip injury, and was not expected to play. Sam Rossoni and Jonny Costello started up top.

But after the northerners went up 1-0 in the 15th minute, on a long free kick that bounced in the area , then was headed down and in, head coach Russell Oost-Lievense inserted him to start the second half.

His return gave the Westporters — who had not been playing with their usual possession and precision passing game — a spark.

Six minutes after intermission — and one minute after keeper Nick Sikorski saved a rocket — Elliot Galin drew a foul outside the box, on the right. He lofted the free kick to the far corner. Cormac Mulvey — a defender who comes forward on set plays for his height — flew in, and power-headed the equalizer.

Now playing their trademark game, and with Galin making things happen at midfield, the blue-and-whites had chances. Mueller drew a foul at the top of the box, but Rossoni’s shot was high. Mueller had a great look, but blasted high.

The match grew physical — but not chippy — as both sides tackled fiercely, and fought desperately for 50/50 balls.

In the 67th minute Sikorski extended fully, saving superbly on a blast. The final minutes of regulation time were chaotic, with end-to-end action.

Then it was on to overtime: 2 10-minute periods, played to completion. This was Staples’ first extra-time match since the 2019 state quarterfinals, when they fell 5-4 on penalty kicks to Trumbull.

Ridgefield keeper Ben Voellmicke made a stellar save in the 82nd minute, then saved again on Mueller. In the 87th minute, Voellmicke stopped another Mueller rocket.

Two minutes into the second overtime, the Tigers’ Brandon Gmelin tallied opportunistically, on a bouncing ball that split the defense.

Down 2-1, with just 8 minute remaining, the Wreckers fought back. A corner kick was saved off the line.

Ridgefield’s defense dug in — and provided enough balls forward to keep the Staples backs working hard. Staples attacked heartily, earning two late corner kicks.

But there was little the Wreckers could do, as the clock wound down. The Tigers managed the game — and managed to advance, in the always surprising, always difficult, nearly always heartbreaking state soccer tournament. FINAL SCORE: Ridgefield 2, Staples 1 (OT0. FINAL RECORD: 13-3-3.

QUICK KICKS: Staples started only 5 seniors: Mueller, Sikorski, co-captain Santi Alfageme, Luca Escalarte and Adam Syah. They also lose Lucas Carpi, James Corridon, Grey Epstein, Aldo Lopez, Archie Lynch Eli Rosenkranz and Chase Watkins to graduation ….

In Mueller’s first-half absence, Syah wore the captain’s armband …

Sophomore Josh Whittaker came on in the first half, and played substantially in his first varsity appearance ever ….

Today’s match was the first in 9 days for Staples, after a 2-1 FCIAC semifinal defeat by Stamford.