New Canaan’s goalkeeper is sandwiched by Brendan Lesch (9) and Matteo Marzoli (10). (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com
It took less than 48 hours today for the Staples High School boys soccer team to rebound from its first loss of the season.

The Wreckers avenged Saturday’s defeat by shutting out New Canaan 3-0 on the friendly confines of Loeffler Field.

It took just six minutes to get goal No. 1.  Greg Gudis finished off a nifty series of passes, starting with Sean Gallagher and also involving Mike White, Brendan Lesch and Mikey Scott.

Alan Reiter netted the next two, both in the second half.  The first came off a Scott throw-in; the second was assisted by Frankie Bergonzi and Jake Krosse.

With a 3-1 win record and nine goals for and five against, the Westport U-12 girls soccer team won the white division of the Bethel Columbus Day soccer gournament. The wins included a dramatic 1-0 victory against eventual runners up Danbury, the goal being scored with just two minutes left after a second half that was played almost exclusively in the Westport side of the field but with some staunch defending by the big hearted Westport team. Pictured are (back row, l-r): Leah Blitstein, Helena Leskow, Blake Rubin, Lilly Valente, Talia Hendel, Claire Yin, Jacqueline Cope, Quincy Stein; (front row, l-r) Eliza Donovan, Claire Maki, Caroline O’Kane, Halle Foster, Rachel Corbally, Olivia Daytz, Jackie Hornung, Anna Daytz; not pictured: Coach Liz Burns and Asst. Coach Dave Leskow. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Staples High School boys soccer team fell to a strong, determined Brookfield squad 3-1 tonight on the Bobcats’ turf. 
Alan Reiter (l) and Brendan Lesch are dwarfed by a Brookfield midfielder. The Bobcats won, 3-1. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

The nonconference match marked the Wreckers first defeat of the year. 

They are 8-1 overall, 8-0 in the FCIAC, with three big games this week: New Canaan (Monday, home, 4 p.m.); Wilton (Wednesday, home, 4:15 p.m.) and Ridgefield (Friday, away, 6 p.m.).

Brookfield scored early and late in the first half, then got a breakaway goal midway through the second. The Wreckers countered with a shot by Mike White, but it was too little, too late.

Westport’s Staples High School varsity football team, behind a powerful offense, rolled over Stamford Westhill 48-7 today at Stamford.

Staples quarterback Brendon Pacilio connected on nine of 10 passes, including two touchdown tosses, to gain 133 yards.

The Wreckers, now 4-0 on the season, face Norwalk’s McMahon High School at home on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

In a match that had all the trappings of an FCIAC final –- a fervent crowd, fierce play and a fight to the finish –- Westport’s Staples High School boys soccer team tonight edged Norwalk, 2-1.
Frankie Bergonzi is a force for Staples. The junior is part of a defensive unit that has surrendered only three goals in eight games. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

The game marked the halfway point of the regular season. Staples, now 8-0-0, is now off until Saturday at 6 p.m. at Brookfield.

Tonight’s match at Norwalk’s Testa Field was scoreless through the first half. Both sides had chances, but the Wrecker defense of Mikey Fitzgerald, Sean Gallagher, Frankie Bergonzi and Jack Hennessy –- with keeper Michael McCarthy backing them up –- held fast.

Staples broke the deadlock 3 minutes into the second half.  Matteo Marzoli’s corner kick was not cleared, and Fitzgerald was there to bang it home.

The Staples Wreckers improved their record today to 3-0 by shutting out Ridgefield 30-0 in intermittent rain at home. Senior Ryan Vaughn goes up against the Ridgefield line. “Our defense played awesome today,” said Head Coach Marce Petroccio. “All week long, all we heard was Ridgefield defense this, Ridgefield defense that, and our kids took it personal and wanted to make a statement. Today was a great win for our program and the kids.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dan Gelman for Staplesfootball.com

Despite intermittent rain, there was a faithful group of fans in the stands today to cheer on the Staples High School varsity football team as it shut out Ridgefield 30-0 to go 3-0 on the season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys soccer team fell behind for the first time all year today in Stamford. But the Wreckers rallied for three second-half goals to down the Black Knights 3-1.
Greg Gudis concentrates on a shot against Stamford today. The junior is a key component on Staples’ 7-0-0 team. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

Staples, now 7-0-0, travels to Norwalk Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. for their toughest test yet.

The Wreckers shook off a subpar first half, exploding for a trio of tallies in a seven-minute span in the second half. 

First, Sean Gallagher laced a cross that Mikey Fitzgerald headed home. Then Mike White’s stellar work in the corner freed up Brendan Lesch for the go-ahead goal. Alan Reiter got the insurance tally, knocking in Lesch’s rebound.

Two goals by Greg Gudis, off a pair of Mike White assists, paced the Staples boys soccer team to a 4-0 home win over Fairfield Ludlowe today at Loeffler Field.
Dylan Evans rounds the corner against Fairfield Ludlowe in today’s 4-0 Staples victory. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

After a close first half, the Wreckers broke open the game with three goals in a 10-minute span. Andrew McNair and Alan Reiter registered the other scores.

“It was a good Fairfield Ludlowe team,” Staples coach Dan Woog said. “It’s a big step forward for us. I wasn’t pleased with the first half, but they stepped up in the second half, which was nice to see.”

The Wreckers move to 6-0-0, while Fairfield Ludlowe (3-1-2) suffered its first loss of the year. Staples travels to Stamford on Thursday for a 4 p.m. match.

UPDATE Today’s coverage of the Staples-Norwalk football game marked the debut of the Staples Television Network (STN) on Cablevision Channel 78, the educational public access channel. STN simulcast coverage by WWPT, 90.3 FM, the student-run station at the Westport high school. Pictured (l-r) are Eric Gallanty (play-by-play), DJ Sixsmith (color commentary), and Bobby Shea (statistician). They were aided by Sam Bender on camera and Brandon Edelson, who directed the broadcast. STN, which kicked off at noon with a pre-game show, was created by Brandon and plans to add more community programming, including a local news show. The next STN-WWPT simulcast will take place on Oct. 17 when Staples meets McMahon of Norwalk at home. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo