Despite a heavy rain, there was a good size Thanksgiving Day crowd of Staples supporters on hand today in Greenwich to cheer the Wreckers on to a 20-0 victory over the No. 1-rated Cardinals. The win, Staples’ second consecutive shutout against the Cardinals and Greenwich’s first home loss since October 2000, gave the Wreckers’ a state playoff home game for the fourth straight year. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

Former Yankee Bucky Dent was at Westport’s Legends of the Game in the Compo Shopping Center today signing autorgraphs, including one for Max Zimmerman, 7, of Westport.  Dent laughs in response to a comment from Max’s mom, Jennifer, that “I once had a crush on you.” Dent, who turns 55 on Saturday, is most famous for his home run in a tie-breaker game against the Boston Red Sox at the end of the 1978 season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Westport’s sixth grade Police Athletic League football team beat the New Canaan Rams Saturday night 6-0 to win the Fairfield County football championship under the lights in New Canaan. After scoring on their first possession, the Wreckers held off a late fourth quarter drive by the Rams to take control of the ball with two seconds to play.  Here, the team celebrates after the win. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) David Allen Wind for WestportNow.com

The Staples boys soccer team scored first, but Simsbury rallied to down the Wreckers 2-1 in overtime in Saturday night’s state “LL” (extra large schools) final.
Members of the Staples boys soccer team walk together across the field following their loss to Simsbury. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Amy Lamb for WestportNow.com

The Wreckers, who earlier earned a share of the FCIAC championship, end the season at 18-2-3. That ties them for the second highest win total in the school’s 48-year soccer history.

Staples—ranked No. 7 in the tournament—controlled much of the first half against their once-beaten, No. 4-ranked foes.

They got an early goal, just 11 minutes in, when Brendon Cristobal flicked a ball to Preston Hirten.

Lightning does strike twice. For the second consecutive game, the Staples boys soccer team tonight battled through 100 scoreless minutes of intense soccer.  For the second straight time, the Wreckers went through two rounds of nail-biting penalty kicks. 

And, for the second time in a row, the Westporters emerged victorious by the same 9-7 count.

The victory over Hall-West Hartford advances the seventh-seeded Wreckers—now 18-1-3 on the year—to the state “LL” (large schools) tournament.  They face No. 4 Simsbury (19-1-0) on Saturday, at a site and time to be determined.

The Staples-Hall match, at Pomperaug High School was tense. Staples controlled much of the match, and nearly tallied in the 25th minute when Brendon Cristobal rocketed a 40-yard shot that the goalkeeper saved off the crossbar.

Nine consecutive Staples players nailed penalty kicks, lifting the Wreckers to a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Farmington today in the state “LL” tournament. 

The thrilling victory—after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer—advances Staples into the semifinals, against Hall-West Hartford. That match will be played at a neutral field on Tuesday or Wednesday.

The seventh-seeded Wreckers (now 17-1-3) withstood early pressure from the No. 2 (now 17-1-1) Indians at Farmington’s Tunxis Mead Park.

But after 10 minutes Staples found their rhythm, and the remainder of the half belonged to Staples.

Westport’s second synthetic turf field was officially dedicated today at Wakeman Park. Westport First Selectman Gordon Joseloff (wearing tie) was joined by members of the Field of Dreams Committee, which financed the soccer and girls field hockey field, as well as players, parents and members of the Westport Soccer Association. The first synthetic turf field, also financed by the Field of Dreams Committee, was the Staples High School football field which was completed in time for this fall’s season. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

Staples in action as the Wreckers edged Ridgefield 14-6 tonight at Ridgefield. The Wreckers improved to 8-1 on the season and next meet Greenwich at Greenwich on Thanksgiving morning. Despite the victory, the Wreckers likely fell from FCIAC playoff contention when New Canaan—which beat Staples last week—tonight defeated Trumbull 35-10. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Daniel Gelman for WestportNow.com

Staples senior Kenny Lozyniak looks for a hole during tonight 14-6 Wrecker win over Ridgefield at Ridgefield. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Betsey Lebow for WestportNow.com

Staples junior Josh Kozel advances the ball during tonight’s Staples 14-6 victory over Ridgefield at Ridgefield. Bouncing back from last week’s 14-13 loss to New Canaan, the Wreckers clung to a 7-6 lead in a defensive struggle before quarterback R. J. Masillio scored on a 1-yard run with 3:20 left. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Daniel Gelman for WestportNow.com