Wreckers Battle Barlow In Pre-Season Scrimmage
In Staples soccer’s 60-year history, no game had ever been postponed because of heat.
But that happened Tuesday. With temperatures in the mid-90s — and stifling humidity pushing the “feels like” index to near 105 — many athletic directors called off pre-season scrimmages.
So instead of hosting Fairfield Prep, the Wreckers’ first test came today at Joel Barlow.
But there was a glitch today too. The heat wave persisted, so the teams agreed to take water breaks after every 20 minutes. After the first period — scoreless, on the Falcon’s broad, well-manicured grass field — the officials noticed a dangerous broken irrigation head. Water was leaking steadily, creating dangerous situations.
So both teams headed past the football field and baseball diamond, toward the JV grass field.
Staples’ 2nd period was its best, against the perennial SWC contenders. The Wreckers spread wide, and switched fields. They won most 50-50 balls, communicated nicely, and used their outside channels alertly. They were rewarded when Vaughan Sealey found Lefty Penderakis alone in front of the net, for a well-developed strike. The play began with Patricio Perez Elorza.
Late in the final period, after lax Westport defending, the hosts tied the score.
But the Westporters went ahead 2 minutes later. Sealey again hit Penderakis. His shot was saved, but he followed his own rebound to bang it home.
Sophomore keeper Sebastian Montoulieu — filling in for injured starter Ry Cohen — looked solid in his varsity debut. So did sophomore defender Surya Balaji. The blue-and-whites were buoyed by the play of Austin Sholes and Matthew Tanzer. The seniors are playing this year for Staples, after 3 years in US Soccer’s Development Academy program.
Up next: the annual 4-team Winton/Keane/Bittner Wethersfield tournament, honoring victims of 9/11. Kickoff is 10:15 a.m. Saturday, at Wethersfield High School.
Patricio Perez Elorza helped run Staples’ midfield at Joel Barlow. (Photo/Armelle Daniels)
