Bad weather was bad news for the Staples varsity football team as it went down to defeat today to Darien High School 12-0 in heavy rain at home.

It was the third straight loss for the Wreckers (5-4, 3-4 FCIAC)) and second consecutive shutout—something that has not happened since 2000.

Darien’s John Gardner kicked two field goals to put the Wave up 6-0. Leading scorer Nikki Dysenchuk’s touchdown made it 12-0 at the half.

The Wreckers play Fairfield Ludlowe next Saturday at home and end the season Nov. 27 against Greenwich at Greenwich.

The Staples boys soccer team rocked E.O. Smith-Storrs 5-0 today before another raucous Loeffler Field crowd. The win, against a vaunted opponent, vaulted the Wreckers into the state tournament semifinals.
Nick Kljusev (2nd l.) is congratulated by Alan Reiter, Frankie Rende, Frankie Bergonzi and Drew McNair (hidden) after scoring his first varsity goal today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

That match, pitting the third-seeded Wreckers (21-1) against No. 2 Glastonbury (18-0-1) will be played next Tuesday or Wednesday. The site and time will be announced soon.

The quarterfinal win was keyed by three stunning first-half goals. Greg Gudis nailed the first two, both assisted by Mike White. Jairo Alvarado powered in the third, assisted by Alex Hoberman.

After halftime, Staples continued its relentless attack. Nick Kljusev banged in Rem Woodhull’s rebound, while Matteo Marzoli finished the scoring off a feed from Mikey Scott.

Sean Gallagher (r) scores off a feed from Rem Woodhull (c) to provide the margin of victory today as Staples defeated Pomperaug 1-0 in the state LL tournament round of 16. The Wreckers, now 20-1, host the state tournament quarterfinals on Friday at 2 p.m. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNairfor WestportNow.com

Goals by Mike White and Alan Reiter propelled the Staples boys soccer team to victory today in round one of the state LL (extra large schools) tournament. The Wreckers topped Newington 2-0 before another enormous crowd at Loeffler Field.
Junior Mikey Fitzgerald, a crucial cog in the Staples boys soccer team’s defense,  helped the Wreckers to a 2-0 state tournament win today over Newington – the Wreckers’ 16th shutout in 20 games. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lisa Krosse for WestportNow.com

The victory – Staples’ 16th shutout in 20 games – advances them to the round of 16. That match, against either Newtown or Pomperaug, is set for 2 p.m. Wednesday, at the Wreckers’ Loeffler Field.

White’s goal, midway through the second half, came off a clever feed from Greg Gudis. Seven minutes later, Alan Reiter blasted home a penalty kick.

Staples is seeded third in the state tournament. Their record now is 19-1-0.

The Staples boys soccer team roared back from an early deficit, pouring in three second-half goals tonight to down Greenwich 3-1 in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference (FCIAC) championship at Norwalk. 
Frankie Bergonzi and Greg Gudis celebrate Staples’ 3-1 victory tonight over Greenwich in the FCIAC finals. Bergonzi, a defender, and Gudis, a striker, are two of the three sophomore starters on the young squad. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

The come-from-behind win gave the Wreckers their 25th league title in 50 years, but the first outright one since 1996. In 2000 and 2006, the Westporters tied in the finals and shared the crown.

It was Staples’ second two-goal victory of the season over Greenwich, which fell 2-0 in Westport earlier this month. (See WestportNow Oct. 14, 2008)

Greenwich controlled play in the first half, and got on the scoreboard 10 minutes before intermission. But, just as in the semifinals two days earlier, the Wreckers went on a second-half tear. 

Hundreds of Staples fans dressed all in white supported the boys soccer team tonight in Norwalk. The Wreckers roared back from an early deficit to down Greenwich 3-1. The league championship is Staples’ 25th in 50 years and second in three seasons. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys soccer team exploded for three goals in four minutes during the second half of tonight’s FCIAC semifinal match against Norwalk, then played stellar defense to secure the 3-0 victory.
Greg Gudis and Brendan Lesch celebrate Lesch’s goal in tonigh’s FCIAC semifinals. The sophomore struck first, initiating a three-goals-in-three-minutes spurt midway through the second half. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com

The win – before a raucous Wrecker crowd at Fairfield Ludlowe High School – propelled Staples into the FCIAC finals.

The Wreckers will try for their second league championship in three years at 7 p.m. Wednesday night at Norwalk High School. Their opponent is Greenwich High.

After an evenly played, scoreless first half, Staples took command. Fifteen minutes into the second half, sophomore Brendan Lesch raced down the right sideline. Beating several defenders, he turned inside, then scored on a 20-yard blast.

Don Larsen, famed New York Yankee pitcher best known for his perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1956 World Series, signed autographs at the Legends of the Game sports memorabilia shop in the Compo Shopping Center today where he last appeared in August 2006. (See WestportNow Aug. 31, 2006) Larsen, 79, pitched for the Yankees from the 1955 through the 1959 seasons. Store owner Michael Riccio Sr. stands in the center. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com