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.
The Wreckers also came close in the 78th minute, when Greg Bachman was stuffed on a rebound of Keaton Cristobal’s rip.
In the final 4 seconds of the first overtime, Matt Lamb’s shot off a free kick was punched out of danger. But the Warriors threatened too, and only a great save by Staples goalkeeper Dave Sharpe two minutes from the end of the match kept the score 0-0.
The Wreckers used the same penalty kick lineup that brought them success Saturday night in Farmington. Sharpe, Taylor Stuart, Russell Oost-Lievense and Preston Hirten all converted in the first round of five. But one Staples shooter missed, and Sharpe saved against a Warrior, so both teams headed to the second round of five.
Matt Sych, Nicky Hoberman, Brad Green and Sean Soderstrom all connected for Staples. But Hall’s ninth kicker hit the left goalpost, so it was up to junior Mike Smith to ice the win. He coolly hit his shot to the right corner, and pandemonium ensued.
“I don’t know of any team that deserves to go to the finals more,” said proud coach Dan Woog. “Every one of these guys has showed courage, poise, skill and stamina. They play with passion and joy; they never give up, and they always find a way to win. I feel blessed just being on the sideline with them.”
The Wreckers are shooting for their 12th “LL” title—a state record—but their first since 1993, when they beat E.O. Smith-Storrs 3-1. Their last trip to the finals, in 1996, ended in a 1-0 overtime loss to Guilford.
Woog cited Sharpe and defenders Nicky Hoberman, Ben King, Craig Wolgast, Greg Bachman and Alex Gendell for their stellar work. “We’ve had nine straight shutouts, against excellent competition,” he said. “Very quietly, these guys get the job done.”
Way to go, Staples boys soccer. And Mike Smith: you rock!