State Tournament Quarterfinal Match Report: Staples vs. Ridgefield [UPDATED – PHOTOS]
Today’s state “LL” (extra large schools) state tournament match had all the makings of a classic post-season contest: 2 long-time rivals, playing in chilly weather before a large crowd. Back-and-forth, ebbing-and-flowing, cat-and-mouse action. Excellent defenses and goalkeeping. Several thisclose chances.
Staples and Ridgefield’s quarterfinal game at Wakeman Field had all the makings of a nail-biting, penalty kick game.
Until it didn’t.
Adrian Rodriguez’s 2-goals-in-2-minutes explosion — the first with just 7 minutes remaining — broke open the tense match. The junior’s 2 strikes powered the 4th-seeded Wreckers into the semifinals. They’ll face #9 Hall-West Hartford, who knocked out #1 Naugatuck 3-0 today. The match will be Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Newtown High School.
This is Staples’ first semifinal in 4 years. Ranked 6th in the state in 2021, they fell 1-0 to #1 Farmington in that semi.
Ridgefield came to Westport today with plenty of confidence. Seeded 12th, they’d upset #5 Xavier-Middletown 4-2 in their previous game. The Tigers also remembered their prior visit to Wakeman. Exactly 3 weeks earlier, they lost 1-0 to Staples, in the final game of the FCIAC season.
Unlike several of the Wreckers’ earlier foes, Ridgefield did not come out in a defensive shell. They wanted to go toe-to-toe, all over the field.
And they did.
Facing a stiff wind, Staples did a good job keeping the ball on the ground. Spencer Girling and Drew Hill — 2 of the engines who make their side go — set the tone. Outside backs Dylan Shackelford and Gabe Hellmann surged forward often. But the visitors’ backs kept Staples’ potent attackers at bay. Behind them, tall keeper Jacob Hankla commanded his box.
The Wreckers’ best chances of the first half came in the 38th minute. Then, just 1 minute after intermission, came an even better one. Rodriguez had a golden opportunity, but was denied by a superb Hankla kick save.
As the game roared on — and after several Staples corner kicks carried too far, in the wind — it looked like that might be a decisive lost chance.
Until it wasn’t.
In the 73rd minute, Emmett Zahler unleashed a long throw. Brendan Allen got a head on it. The Tigers tried to clear, but Rodriguez — ready in front of the goal — pounced first, from close range.
In the state tournament, a late goal can sometimes inspire the other team to battle even harder. The squad with the lead can drop back to defend the lead, inviting more pressure.
That did not happen.
The Wreckers continued to attack. It took less than 120 seconds for Gabe Duque to find Josh Whitaker. The wide-ranging attacker, who is generally on the left side, was now on the right. He served a low, hard ball into the box. Once again Rodriguez was in the right spot, to finish with authority.
There are many ways to advance in the state tournament. Sometimes it takes overtime, or even penalty kicks.
Today’s contest looked like it was headed that way.
Until it wasn’t.
QUICK KICKS: The timing of Rodriguez’s first goal — the 73rd minute — brought to mind another historic Staples-Ridgefield match. At exactly that moment in the 1982 state final, Rob Stone — the Wreckers’ right back — blasted a one-touch shot from midfield. That 1-0 victory earned Staples their 10th of what is now 12 state crowns. And Jeff Lea — Staples’ victorious head coach — was in the stands for today’s match ….
In the other quarterfinal bracket today, #2 Greenwich walloped #7 Notre Dame-West Haven 6-1. Third-seeded Farmington hosts #6 South Windsor tonight.
Adrian Rodriguez, 2-goal scorer against Ridgefield … (Photo/Ryan Allen)
… and the celebration of his first, with (from left) Gabe Duque, Josh Whitaker, Brendan Allen and Emmett Zahler (Photo/Ryan Allen)
Emmett Zahler’s long throw leads to Rodriguez’s first goal. (Photo/John Walker)
Drew Hill — wearing Staples’ legendary #15 — is a quiet, but very effective, midfield force. (Photo/Ryan Allen)
Head coach Liam Witham (Photo/John Walker)
(Photo/John Walker)
