Naugatuck, the two-time defending state LL (extra large schools) boys soccer champion, eliminated Staples Friday night, in the second round of the state tournament at Naugatuck.

Though the score was 2-1 at halftime, and the Wreckers applied strong pressure throughout the match, the Greyhounds pulled away with two goals in the final 11 minutes to ice the 4-1 victory. 

“We made a great run,” said Staples coach Dan Woog, finishing his first year. “It was a closer game than it sounds as we were right there until they scored a couple of late goals.”

Staples, seeded 15th, ends the season at 11-6-2, while Naugatuck, ranked second, moves on to the quarterfinals with a 17-1 record.

The next round of the Staples boys soccer quest for a state title has been postponed 24 hours due to unplayable field conditions, Dan Woog, the team’s coach, said today.

The Divsion LL match against Naugatuck will be played at 6 p.m. Friday at Naugatuck High School.

The 15th-ranked Wreckers (11-5-2) are fresh off their come-from-behind, first-round victory Tuesday over Westhill of Stamford. In Naugatuck (17-1-0). they are facing their first-ever match against the No. 2 team.

Fresh off their come-from-behind, first-round victory over Westhill of Stamford, the 15th-ranked Staples (11-5-2) boys soccer team heads north for its first-ever match against No. 2, Naugatuck (17-1-0).

The Divsion LL match will be played at 6 p.m. (changed from earlier announced 2 p.m.) Thursday at Naugatuck High School.

“If you want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best,” said Staples head coach Dan Woog.

“Naugatuck is the defending state champion, and they’ve had a fantastic season. We respect them tremendously.

“But when the game begins, it’s 0-0, and the reason you play the game is to change that score. If the top-ranked team always won, you wouldn’t need a tournament.

“We’re going to give it our best shot. We’re going to play our game. And we’re going to have plenty of fun.”

It could not have been more exciting Tuesday for the Wreckers, winning a come-from-behind battle over Westhill of Stamford 3-2 in the first round of the state Division LL boys soccer tournament.

Down 2-0 with 18 minutes to go, Staples tied it up. Then, after two scoreless overtimes, Staples won the match on penalty kicks. 

Next up:  No. 2 Naugatuck (17-1-0) away on Thursday.

The Staples soccer team is set for a rematch against Westhill of Stamford in the state tournament.

With three LL Division schools sporting 10-4-2 records, Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference officials resorted to a coin flip to determine the 14th, 15th and 16th seeds in the state playoffs. The Wreckers ended up 15th, setting up Tuesday’s 2 p.m. rematch with No. 18, 10-5-1 Westhill.

The game—following hard on the heels of Staples’ 1-0 regular season victory, and the Vikings’ 3-1 win in the first round of the FCIAC playoffs—will be played at the Westporters’ Albie Loeffler Field. See the Staples soccer Web site for details.

“The road to the top goes through some very good teams,” said Staples head coach Dan Woog Friday evening upon the Wreckers’ return from a scrimmage at Wilton, hours after the seedings were announced.

“All day long people have asked me how I feel about a third game in two weeks with Westhill. I’m excited, and the team is too.

“We know them, we respect them—but we’ve also got a score to settle. Our guys have never backed down from a challenge, and they’re not about to back down now. I love the attitude our kids have, and I know they’ll grow even more confident and focused all the way through Tuesday.”