Ace photographer Carl McNair has posted photos from 11 matches on his website. They are, he says, “the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
To view the thousands of great shots — in still or slide-show mode — click here.
Carl McNair captures players like Mike White in all kinds of poses.
The University of Rochester graduate will run 26.2 miles tomorrow on behalf of Team Continuum, and founder Paul Nicholls.
Alex calls Nicholls — who died in June — “an absolutely amazing individual, and one of the finest people I have ever met.” Queen Elizabeth awarded him the OBE for his service to cancer patients and their families in both the USA and UK.
Alex has taken an active role in training Team Continuum’s marathon runners. In return, Team Continuum provided him with 1 of their entries in the 2009 NYC Marathon. They did not asked him to raise money, but he hopes to repay their kindness by raising enough money to cover the cost of his spot.
Team Continuum helps people living with cancer. For example, they provide gifts to children in cancer hospitals during the holiday season, and hire a nutritionist for a cancer center.
To sponsor Alex with a tax-deductible contribution, click here. To track his progress on Sunday, click here.
Charlie Reiter
Charlie Reiter ’06 has been named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team. The Davidson College forward is now on the national ballot for the Academic All-America team.
The political science major — who boasts a 3.48 GPA — also ranks among the top scorers in the country. His 9 goals and 7 assists leads the Southern Conference.
Earlier this season, Charlie was named the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Player of the Week. He got 2 goals and 1 assist in the Wildcats’ wins over College of Charleston and Georgia Southern. He also scored in Davidson’s 4-1 win over then-No. 6 Duke.
Three Academic All-District teams are chosen in each district, with those on the All-District first teams placed on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration. Nominations and voting for the All-America programs are conducted by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Davidson travels to UNC-Greensboro tonight (7 p.m.), for a crucial Southern Conference match.
Back on Sept. 15, Westhill traveled to Albie Loeffler Field for the 1st game of the regular season.
The Vikings returned to Westport today for another 1st game — this time, of the 8-team FCIAC tournament.
The Stamford side showed 2 forwards — not 3, as previously — on the well-maintained, but muddy and slippery, grass. The Wreckers attacked into the wind in the 1st half, and seemed tentative at the outset — perhaps a reaction to Wednesday’s 2-0 loss at Central.
But their confidence grew as their defense tightened, and their offense found seams. Thirteen minutes in, Sean Gallagher — the stalwart left back — carried forward. Mikey Scott took Gallagher’s outlet deep into the corner, cut inside his man, then laced a dangerous ball across the box. Brendan Lesch met it crisply, power-heading a shot that ripped into the back net.
Confident, the blue-and-whites kept advancing. In the 34th minute Alan Reiter collected a cross from Scott, and ripped a shot that was saved off the line. A goalmouth scramble ensued. Mikey Fitzgerald wound up with the ball, and fed Mike White for a tap-in.
A 2-0 lead at halftime would have been nice. But 3-0 was better. Two minutes before time, a series of selfless passes by Gallagher and Matteo Marzoli freed up Greg Gudis for the tally.
The Wreckers’ halftime talk focused on putting the Vikes away — and they did. A 52nd-minute cross into the box from sweeper Jack Hennessy was not cleared. It landed at the feet of Fitzgerald. The central defender — sporting a new, curly Mohawk — side-volleyed a shot, and Staples was up by 4.
Six minutes later Marzoli’s fancy work distracted the keeper. Gudis pounced, and finished strongly for his 2nd goal of the day.
All 24 Wrecker field players played. Connor Walsh — injured for much of the year — made his varsity goalkeeping debut, and preserved the shutout with a solid sliding save, with 12 minutes remaining.
The win advances Staples into the FCIAC semifinals. They face Greenwich — 3-1 victors over Trumbull — Monday at Fairfield Ludlowe High School. Game time is 5 p.m. The other quarterfinals — Ridgefield-Stamford, and Central-Norwalk — will be played tomorrow. FINAL SCORE: Staples 5, Westhill 0. Season record: 15-2.
3 Mikes: Mikey Fitzgerald, Mike White and Mike Scott celebrate Mikey's goal. The 4th Michael (McCarthy) remains in goal, out of the picture. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Drew McNair prepares for takeoff -- or a knee pass. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)
Good friends Frankie Bergonzi and Brendan Lesch have obviously spent quality time rehearsing their goal-scoring celebration. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)
Connor Walsh confidently commands his goal area. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)
Brendan Lesch fends off a Westhill defender. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Two Mikeys: Scott celebrates Fitzgerald's goal by rubbing the defender's new Mohawk. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Posted in General news
Central received good news earlier today: Westhill forfeited 2 games (ineligible player), and 1 was to the Hilltoppers. That raised the Bridgeporters’ record to 9-2-3.
More good news came for both squads just before tonight’s match. The day-long rains ended, and though the Kennedy Stadium surface was far from ideal — the soggy yet slick surface caused balls to skip and players to slide — it was not the enormous puddle it had been during this afternoon’s JV game.
Central celebrated their seniors just prior to the match (and added a very classy moment of silence for Staples’ Preston Hirten too).
Just 3:28 into the game, 1 of those seniors — all-stater Reco McLaren — raced through the defense and finished strongly. As against Brookfield, the Wreckers were in an early hole.
Unlike Brookfield, Staples regrouped strongly. Alan Reiter’s 8th-minute header off a corner kick sailed just high. Three straight corner kicks midway through the period also led to great chances.
But the Hilltoppers were dangerous too. Michael McCarthy came up with a great save in the 14th minute.
And then, just before halftime — just like in Brookfield — the home side scored again. It was McLaren again, lacing a shot that skipped through.
Down 2-0, the Wreckers tried gamely to recover. But Central’s defense hung tough. And when the final horn sounded — signaling the end of both the game and the FCIAC regular season — it was a night for all the Hilltoppers to celebrate.
Meanwhile, Staples gets ready for the FCIAC tournament. The quarterfinals Friday pit the #1 seeded Wreckers against #8 Westhill. Despite their forfeits, the Vikings snuck in on the final day, thanks to a 4-1 victory over Fairfield Ludlowe. Final score: Central 2, Staples 0. FCIAC final record: 14-1-0. Overall: 14-2-0.
QUICK KICKS: Despite the loss, Staples’ record was the best in the FCIAC regular season. They earn the Ralph King Cup — given to the team with the best regular season mark — for the 2nd consecutive time, 3rd in 4 years, and 4th since the award was established in 2000….
Staples led in shots, 16-11, and corner kicks, 11-1….
The junior varsity beat Central 3-1, on goals by Steve Smith (penalty kick), George Birch and Aaron Liu (his 1st of the year). Congratulations to Ross McGibney’s squad, for their stellar 13-0-1 season.
It was water, water everywhere for Brendan Lesch and Central. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Brendan Lesch's scoring attempt went just wide. Also in the play: Alan Reiter, Mikey Fitzgerald and Sean Gallagher. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Mikey Fitzgerald's header also just misses. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Posted in General news
After honoring their 11 seniors, the Staples soccer team took to handsomely manicured Loeffler Field. Fairfield Warde’s record of 3 wins, 5 losses and 6 ties was unusual, but they showed plenty of discipline and heart.
It took 18:46 for the Wreckers to dent the net. Andrew McNair laced a corner kick that Mikey Fitzgerald — a defender who’s potent on set pieces — power-headed in.
Staples had several good chances throughout the half, and into the 2nd period, but the Mustangs hung tough. Staples did not do themselves any favors with a number of long-range, hastily taken shots.
In the 71st minute, though, Mike White fed Fitzgerald for his 2nd strong head goal of the match.
Eight minutes later Alan Reiter closed out the scoring, snubbing in the rebound after keeper Matthew Freedman made a fine save on White’s shot. Fittingly, all the scoring on Senior Day was accomplished by seniors. Final score: Staples 3, Fairfield Warde 0. FCIAC record: 14-0-0. Overall record: 14-1-0.
QUICK KICKS: Staples led in shots 26-2, and corner kicks 5-1….
Coach Ross McGibney’s junior varsity started slowly, but gutted out a 1-0 victory over Fairfield Warde. Spencer Burns got the game-winner; Ben Root and Stephan Patterson played particularly well. The jayvees are now 12-0-1.
It's tough to contain Matteo Marzoli. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)
Frankie Bergonzi's defensive work was key against Fairfield Warde. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)
Mikey Fitzgerald and Brendan Lesch battle against a gaggle of Fairfield Warde defenders. Drew McNair stands ready to help. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)
Mikey Fitzgerald's 2nd head goal is -- like his 1st -- a rocket. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Alan Reiter controls to goal. Justin Hawrysh provides backup. (Photo by Carl McNair)
The pre-game huddle (Photo by Susan Woog Wagner)
Mike White cruises in on goal, with Brendan Lesch ready for anything. (Photo by Susan Woog Wagner)
Posted in General news
Tonight marks the last soccer game in the 32-year history of Giants Stadium.
Dan Woog ’71 notes the occasion with a look back on his “06880” blog. The story mentions former Staples soccer players Mark Brickley ’70, Paul Hunter ’73 and Phil Dalmage ’83 — and provides a look back at the role Westport played in the first professional soccer boom of the 1970s.
Posted in General news
Yesterday’s Connecticut Post “High School Soccer Notebook” featured the Staples boys soccer team.
According to sportswriter Mike Cardillo: “The names, faces and years may change, but as the sand falls through the hourglass, the fact remains that the Staples boys soccer team is continually one of the teams…to beat in the FCIAC.”
Cardillo praised the Wreckers’ “airtight defense” of Jack Hennessy, Frankie Bergonzi, Sean Gallagher and Mikey Fitzgerald, and quoted head coach Dan Woog, who said: “We work from Day 1 not only on defensive skills, but on positioning. A lot of teams will throw people in the back because they’re not that skillful, or to bang the ball out. In our program, defenders realize that to be back there you have to be someone special.”
Woog also praised goalkeeper Michael McCarthy, noting: “The knock for years has been that anyone can play goalie for Staples. But that’s not true.”
Cardillo acknowledged one more weapon: the Wreckers’ balanced scoring. Five separate players — strikers Mike White and Greg Gudis; midfielders Alan Reiter and Brendan Lesch, plus defender Fitzgerald — have contributed significantly to this year’s scoring.
Jack Hennessy is a key part of Staples' "airtight defense."
Posted in Current players
The Wreckers’ 11 seniors will be honored on Monday, October 26 at 3:50 p.m., just prior to the start of the game against Fairfield Warde.
Be sure to get to Loeffler Field early, to honor our 12th graders for their 4 years of dedication to Staples soccer!
Front row (from left): Jason Bennett, Drew McNair, Jack Hennessy, Nick Cion, Matteo Marzoli. Rear: Justin Hawrysh, Nate Greenberg, Michael McCarthy, Mikey Fitzgerald, Alan Reiter, Mike White. (Photo by Carl McNair)
Posted in General news
Michael McCarthy (Photo by Carl McNair)
The Westport News cited the senior goalkeeper for his shutouts against Ridgefield and Greenwich, both on the road.
He then added another whitewash against St. Joseph.
Congratulations, Michael (and the entire Staples defense!).
Posted in Current players
