Staples vs. St. Joseph

With only 6 regular season home games this year, Staples fans have to savor every match. Fortunately, the crowd on The Hill had a gorgeous fall afternoon today to do that.

The Cadets held the Wreckers off for nearly half of the 1st half. At 19:34, however, Matteo Marzoli fed a great ball into the right corner to Brendan Lesch. The junior midfielder drew the keeper out, then flicked the ball over his head — at a nearly impossible angle — for a stunning goal.

Just 37 seconds later, Staples stunned St. Joe’s again. This time Lesch assisted Mike White, as the captain laced a shot into the left corner.

And 21 seconds after that, it was 3-0. Lesch laid off to Alan Reiter; Greg Gudis finished with a no-questions-asked slam. Total time for the 1st 3 goals: 58 seconds.

Less than 3 minutes later, White ripped another goal, this off an Andrew McNair pass.

Less than 3 minutes more elapsed; Marzoli got the ball into the goalmouth, and Lesch nailed it in during a scramble.

It took 2 1/2 minutes for the next strike: Sean Gallagher to White, for the hat trick. Gallagher earned his 2nd straight assist in the 33rd minute, to Gudis. Like the other goals, it was a beauty.

The Wreckers eased up a bit in the 2nd half. Luke Yeager powered in a tough-angle ball in the 47th minute; with 12 minutes to go Justin Hawrysh rebounded in a Jake Malowitz shot. Reserve keeper James Hickok made 2 fine late saves to preserve the shutout. Final score: Staples 9, St. Joseph 0. FCIAC record: 13-0-0. Overall record: 13-1-0.

QUICK KICKS: The junior varsity trounced St. Joseph 10-0. Brian Wolgast, George Birch and Terence Gibbons netted 2 goals each; Matt Silver, Max Hoberman, AJ Green and Jay Kaplan also tallied.