Staples senior Josh Kozel gains ground tonight against New Canaan as the Wreeckers defeated the Rams 14-7 in double overtime. The game was played in heavy rain at New Canaan and avenged a Wreckeler loss to the Rams at home last year.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Daniel Gelman for Staplesfootball.com

Mike Smith and Alex Gendell react to the end of their senior soccer season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
The Staples boys soccer team fought to the finish but fell 2-1 to Trumbull today in Trumbull.

The loss, in the first round of the state “LL” (extra large schools), eliminates the 28th-ranked Wreckers, who finish the season 7-7-2. The Golden Eagles, ranked fifth, are now 14-1-2.

Trumbull started 10 seniors, Staples only four (along with two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen). But the Wreckers battled their hosts strongly throughout the match. 

The Eagles scored two minutes before halftime, and four minutes after intermission, but Staples countered almost immediately when Liam Bohonnon stuffed home a rebound of Alex Gendell’s shot. The action was end-to-end until the final buzzer.

The Staples Wreckers improved to 7-0 on the season today with a 28-7 victory over Darien at Darien. Sophomore quarterback Brandon Pacilio (1) started in place of the injured Mike Samela. Staplesfootball.com photo

Staples senior Josh Kozel rushed for a team-high 83 yards today and was a key man on the defense as Staples defeated Darien 28-7. The Wreckers go up against New Canaan Friday night at New Canaan and try to avenge last year’s 14-13 loss. The winner of the contest will face Greenwich in the FCIAC champsionship. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Daniel Gelman for Staplesfootball.com

Senior Jeff Frusciante hauls in a 24-yard pass from Mike Samela for a touchdown today as Staples defeated the Norwalk High School Bears 15-3. Frusciante scored both Staples touchdowns. The Wreckers, playing in rainy weather on their synthetic turf field, improved to 6-0 on the season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

Norwalk’s Brien McMahon High School struck twice at the end of the first half tonight against Staples, netting the only goals in an otherwise evenly played boys soccer match.

The Wreckers now prepare for the state “LL” (large schools) tournament, which begins Nov. 6.

“We’re ready to do some damage,” said head coach Dan Woog. 

“We’re definitely underdogs, and that’s fine.  We look forward to playing, and we have confidence we can go far.”

Greenwich scored once in each half to edge the Staples boys team 2-0 away today. 

The loss drops the Wreckers to 7-5-2.  The Cards are now 10-2-1.

“Greenwich is a bigger, physically stronger team,  but we never backed down,” said head coach Dan Woog.

“Now we’re shifting our focus to the final regular season game (at Brien McMahon, 7 p.m. Wednesday) and then the state tournament.

Senior Colin O’Shea (7) gains ground with help from Zack Frimet (19) as the Wreckers rolled over the Stamford Knights 35-6 at Stamford today. The game had been postponed from Friday due to bad weather. The Wreckers improved to 5-0 on the season.  Daniel Gelman for Staplesfootball.com

Wrecker Alex Hoberman heads out of danger today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
Brendan Lesch’s diving header gave Staples a thrilling 1-0 victory over Stamford today at home. The strike—off Mateo Gaviria’s slicing cross—upped the Wreckers’ record to 7-4-2. 

Staples vaults into sixth place, in the razor-tight race for six FCIAC playoff spots. They will attempt to solidify that hold on Monday (4 p.m.) in Greenwich.

“This was a classic Wrecker win,” said head coach Dan Woog. “We got the one goal we needed, and played strong defense throughout.”

Goalkeeper Adam Liu (making his first varsity start),  midfielders Trevor Dodge, Alex Hoberman, Liam Bohonnon and Drew McNair, and strikers Gaviria, Mike White and Russell Oost-Lievense all had strong outings.

Wrecker Alan Reiter is sandwiched by two Norwalk players today. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Carl McNair for WestportNow.com
The Staples boys soccer team applied early pressure but fell 5-0 today at Norwalk’s Testa Field.

The loss drops the Wreckers to 6-4-2 on the season.

“This is about the roughest stretch I’ve ever seen,” said head coach Dan Woog. “We’re creating early chances, then letting teams back in the game.

“The scores are not indicative of the way we’ve played, but at the same time results are based on the final score. It’s frustrating for everyone, but working through tough times is part of sports. We’ll get through this one, I’m sure.”