UPDATE It took 100 nail-biting minutes, but the Staples boys soccer team gutted out a 2-1 overtime win over Guilford today.
Defender Sean Gallagher was rock-solid in Staples’ 2-1 overtime win against Guilford. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

The victory advances the Wreckers into the state LL (extra large schools) quarterfinal. That match will be played Saturday, at a time and site to be determined.

Guilford – ranked 12th , with a 12-2-4 record – gave the fifth-rated Wreckers (now 18-2-1) all they could handle. Steve Smith’s corner kick snuck in through a crowded box with 16 minutes remaining, but the Indians equalized five minutes later on a shot by James Carroll.

The game-winner came midway through the first 10-minute overtime period. Mikey Scott’s long throw found Greg Gudis, who volleyed home a beauty.

Greens Farms Academy junior Wills Rooney (Darien) set a school record of 15:58 leading the Dragons cross country team to their third straight FAA championship on Tuesday. GFA will compete in the IV New England Championship race this weekend in Bath, Maine. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Senior Lauren Kratky connected on two second half free kicks to lead the Staples girls soccer team to a thrilling CIAC Class LL state tournament victory today over Southington High School. Staples advances to take on No. 6-ranked Naugatuck on Thursday afternoon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Staplesgirlssoccer.com photo

Mikey Scott is pictured dribbling. But it was his long throw-ins that led to two of Staples’ three goals today in the Wreckers’ first round state tournament win over West Haven. The Wreckers host Guilford in round two on Thursday at 2 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

Brendan Lesch gets airborne in today’s win over West Haven. Steven Denowitz is the other Wrecker defender. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
The Staples boys soccer team erupted for three goals in less than nine minutes in the first half of today’s state tournament opener against West Haven.

That was all the Wreckers needed. The 3-0 victory vaults the Stapleites into the LL (extra large schools) second round, against Guilford. That match will be played Thursday (2 p.m.) at Staples.

Today’s scoring spree – in front of a large Loeffler Field crowd – started in the 15th minute. Jake Krosse played a long free kick to the middle. Greg Gudis calmly settled the ball, took a touch, then blasted a shot over the Blue Devil goalkeeper.

Just 35 seconds later, it was 2-0. Mikey Scott’s long throw created chaos in the penalty area, where a West Haven defender mis-headed into his own goal.

Staples senior Tyler Jacobs looks for daylight in tonoght’s 35-7 win over Wilton. He began the game at center and switched off later with freshman Jack Massie. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Chris Greer for WestportNow.com

Staples freshman quarterback Jack Massie goes in for a third quarter touchdown on a 21-yard run tonight in the Wreckers’ 35-7 win over Wilton. Massie completed seven out of eight passes in the game under the lights in Wilton, including a 35-yarder for a touchdown to Jack Murray. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

A different view of the third quarter touchdown tonight by Staples freshman Jack Massie in the Wrecker 35-7 defeat of Wilton. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Chris Geer for WestportNow.com