Staples’ Mikey Scott hurtles Farmington’s Mike Lemnios in today’s state LL boys soccer tournament finals a Waterbury. Staples fell to the Indians, 2-1. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

The dream of a second consecutive state title for the Staples Boys Soccer team ended today on the Waterbury Municipal Field turf.

Farmington scored on a brilliant free kick less than five minutes after Staples equalized, in the second half. The Indians then held on for a 2-1 victory, in the state “LL” (extra large schools) championship game.

Farmington took the lead in the first half, but Court Lake’s blast following Jake Krosse’s corner kick evened the score. That set the stage for Kevin Michalak’s 20-yard direct kick, over the wall and into the far left corner.

Staples – which outshot Farmington – ends the season at 20-3-1. 

The Staples High girls swim team celebrates at Wesleyan University tonight after capturing third place at the state LL championship meet. Standouts for Staples were senior captain Molly Loftus, who won the 500 freestyle, and freshman Verity Abel, who won the 100 backstroke in a new LL record and finished third in the 100 butterfly with a new Staples record. Other top eight finishers included the 200 freestyle relay of junior Gabby Wimer, senior captain Stephanie Nussbaum, sophomore Sarah Cooperman and Loftus who finished third, senior dive captain Schaeffer Andrews third, the 400 freestyle relay of Wimer, Cooperman, Loftus and Abel also third, Wimer fifth in the 100 freestyle, the 200 medley relay of sophomore Alexis Teixeira, freshman Gabbie LeBlanc, Abel and sophomore Rebecca Raab sixth and Cooperman seventh in the 500 freestyle. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Frankie Bergonzi (15) embraces AJ Green after his rocket goal against Hall. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
A six-goal second half outburst by the Staples boys soccer team turned a close game into a rout tonight as the Wreckers defeated Hall—West Hartford 8-2
in the LL (extra large schools) state tournament semifinal at West Haven High.

Staples—which earlier this year three-peated as FCIAC champion—will vie for its second straight state championship. The Wreckers face Farmington on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Waterbury Memorial Stadium.

Steve Denowitz’s header goal gave the Westporters an early lead. Two minutes before halftime, Court Lake’s rip provided some breathing room.

Staples really poured it on in the second half.  Brendan Lesch tallied twice—his first was perhaps the prettiest goal of the year - while Lorenz Esposito, Steve Smith, AJ Green and Alex Tonsberg added solo strikes.

Runners from the Greens Farms Academy boys varsity cross country team pose with their first place trophy after having won the New England Preparatory Schools Track Association (NEPSTA) Division IV cross country championship at the Hyde School in Bath, Maine. This marks the third consecutive year that the GFA boys varsity cross country team has won a New England championship. Pictured (l-r) are Charlie Ross ‘12, Peter Maturo ‘12, captain Wills Rooney ‘12, Chris Tarika ‘12, Andrew McCarthy ‘14, and captain Evan Bieder ‘11. Not pictured: Will McCarthy ‘11. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Matt Hintsa for WestportNow.com

The Staples High School girls soccer team fell to Hamden 3-2 in overtime today in the quarterfinal CIAC match at Hamden.

Staples was ranked No. 11 in the contest against Hamden, ranked No. 3.

Steve Smith controls a tough ball against Simsbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
UPDATE The Staples boys soccer team today defeated Simsbury 1-0 at home in the quarterfinal Class LL (extra large schools) tournament.

The loss of leading scorer Greg Gudis did not deter the team as defender Frankie Bergonzi stepped into the role of goal scorer. The defender power-headed in Jake Krosse’s long throw late in the first half, leading the Wreckers to their victory.

Staples – now 19-2-1 on the year – plays Hall-West Hartford (15-4-3) on Wednesday in the state LL semifinals at West Haven High School at 7 p.m.

This is the Wreckers’ third consecutive trip to the state semis. In 2008, they fell 2-1 to Glastonbury, in overtime. Last year they avenged that loss, beating Glastonbury 3-2. Three days later, the Westporters won the state championship.

Scenes from today’s Staples 15-13 loss to Trumbull at home. Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com/contributed photos

Trumbull fans mob their Eagles as Trumbull defeated Staples 15-13 today and clinched a spot in next week’s FCIAC championship game against Darien. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com