Quiz Night A Huge Success

Tonight’s Quiz Night — Staples boys soccer’s annual fundraiser — drew the largest and most diverse crowd in its 5-year history, and generated the most enthusiasm.

Virtually every varsity, JV and freshman player participated — many at tables with non-soccer friends, parents, grandparents, neighbors and teachers.  When 6 rounds of questions were over — ranging from the name of the orphan in “Slumdog Millionaire” (Jamal Malik) and how many men have walked on the surface of the moon (12) to how many ribs a human body has (24) and the distance between bases on a Little League field (60 feet) — the team of Jeff Krieger and his parents, Izzy Claveloux, Colleen McCarthy, Andrew Zold and Chuck Reach finished on top of the 200-plus crowd.

Their winning gift basket included a pair of adidas Predators, Knicks tickets, a year’s membership in Fitness Edge, and numerous gift certificates.

Prizes were also awarded to the 2 runnerup teams (tie), and the last-place finishers.  Dozens of attendees also won raffle prizes, ranging from soccer balls and iTunes gift cards to personal training sessions and an actual pair of scrubs from “Scrubs.”

Thanks to all the Staples boys soccer parents who helped organize, score, sell food and raffle tickets, and obtain prizes — and to all the local merchants who donated gifts.

The winners! (Photo by Carl McNair)

Sophomore soccer players and friends hope this ritual will bring them luck. It didn’t. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Staples vs. St. Joseph

With only 6 regular season home games this year, Staples fans have to savor every match.  Fortunately, the crowd on The Hill had a gorgeous fall afternoon today to do that.

The Cadets held the Wreckers off for nearly half of the 1st half.  At 19:34, however, Matteo Marzoli fed a great ball into the right corner to Brendan Lesch.  The junior midfielder drew the keeper out, then flicked the ball over his head — at a nearly impossible angle — for a stunning goal.

Just 37 seconds later, Staples stunned St. Joe’s again.  This time Lesch assisted Mike White, as the captain laced a shot into the left corner.

And 21 seconds after that, it was 3-0.  Lesch laid off to Alan Reiter; Greg Gudis finished with a no-questions-asked slam.  Total time for the 1st 3 goals:  58 seconds.

Less than 3 minutes later, White ripped another goal, this off an Andrew McNair pass.

Less than 3 minutes more elapsed; Marzoli got the ball into the goalmouth, and Lesch nailed it in during a scramble.

It took 2 1/2 minutes for the next strike:  Sean Gallagher to White, for the hat trick.  Gallagher earned his 2nd straight assist in the 33rd minute, to Gudis.  Like the other goals, it was a beauty.

The Wreckers eased up a bit in the 2nd half.  Luke Yeager powered in a tough-angle ball in the 47th minute; with 12 minutes to go Justin Hawrysh rebounded in a Jake Malowitz shot.  Reserve keeper James Hickok made 2 fine late saves to preserve the shutout.  Final score:  Staples 9, St. Joseph 0.  FCIAC record:  13-0-0.  Overall record:  13-1-0.

QUICK KICKS: The junior varsity trounced St. Joseph 10-0.  Brian Wolgast, George Birch and Terence Gibbons netted 2 goals each; Matt Silver, Max Hoberman, AJ Green and Jay Kaplan also tallied.

 

Mike White rifles a shot. Behind him Matteo Marzoli pleads, or offers instruction. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Reiter flicks past a St. Joseph defender. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Nick Cion is in complete control. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Nate Greenberg weaves between a pair of Cadets. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Andrew McNair enters the 2009 Staples Soccer Bizarre Face Contest. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Staples vs. Greenwich

For the 2nd straight match, the Wreckers faced a foe with only 1 loss — away.

This time the hosts were 8-1-2 Greenwich.  Looking to avenge last fall’s 3-1 loss in the FCIAC final, the Cardinals came out blazing.  With a harsh sun directly in his eyes, keeper Michael McCarthy had the most active half of his varsity career.  He made 6 saves — many of the extremely difficult variety — and helped his team absorb strong Greenwich pressure.

Though the Cards had the run of the play, Staples led at halftime.  In the 24th minute Matteo Marzoli launched a seeing-eye 50-yard free kick.  Brendan Lesch maneuvered himself perfectly in the box, then back-headed the ball into the net.

Alan Reiter entered the match in the 2nd half, and the complexion of the game quickly changed.  (Not playing into the sun also helped.)  In the 42nd minute Lesch had an excellent opportunity; 2 minutes later Jake Krosse’s cross created a goal that was negated by an offside call.

The Westporters kept pounding, and in the 54th minute their pressure was rewarded.  Marzoli found Mike White; the forward deked and juked in the corner, then slotted a ball across for a 2-0 lead.

Greenwich’s best chance of the 2nd half was spectacularly — quasi-miraculously — cleared off the line by sweeper Jack Hennessy.  Drew McNair countered, and nearly scored immediately after.

Two minutes before time, Greg Gudis’s nifty work set up a shot by White.  The keeper could not hold on, and Reiter slammed the rebound into the back of the net.

“Once again, we got a good result against a quality opponent,” said head coach Dan Woog.  “Every game, someone else  steps up.  Today it was Michael (McCarthy).  He was clearly the man of the match, when we needed it.”

Woog also cited Frankie Bergonzi, Krosse and Steven Denowitz.  The latter 2 juniors were given key roles and, Woog said, “performed outstandingly — as we knew they would.”  Final score:  Staples 3, Greenwich 0.  FCIAC record:  12-0.  Overall record:  12-1.

QUICK KICKS: The junior varsity downed Greenwich 3-1.  AJ Green got two goals; George Birch — who played strongly — netted the 3rd.  Coach Ross McGibney also praised Gabe Schindler for his strong play….

The freshmen went up 1-0, saw Greenwich equalize, then pulled away for a 3-1 victory, in their last match of the year.  James Manning, Noah Bender and Zach Morrison all scored.  Shining for the frosh were Zack Pensak and Harry Birch.  Congratulations to Coach Chris O’Dell and all the freshmen on an undefeated, 11-0 season!

Michael McCarthy smothers an excellent Greenwich scoring attempt. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Luke Yeager chases down a loose ball in Greenwich. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Staples vs. Ridgefield

Tiger Hollow is not a fun place to play — unless you’re a Ridgefield Tiger.

The handsome stadium is filled with raucous fans.  It takes a long time to get there.  Even very good teams often leave Tiger Hollow with their tail tucked ‘tween their legs.

The Wreckers — 10-1 overall, 10-0 in the FCIAC — traveled north to take on the 9-1 Tigers minus captain Alan Reiter (college visit).  The central midfielder’s spot was taken by Matteo Marzoli, and from the opening whistle it was clear Staples adapted without missing a beat.

Marzoli sent Mike White through in the 5th minute.  It didn’t work — but 2 minutes later Greg Gudis won a hard tackle, Ridgefield stepped up on an offside trap — and Marzoli hit Scott again.  The hard-working midfielder streaked upfield — onside — and drew out keeper Sean Ceponis.  It was as pure a 1-0n-1 situation as you’ll ever see — and Scott maintained complete poise.  He finished confidently, giving his side an important early lead.

The Tigers’ trap worked well — they caught the Wreckers more than half a dozen times in the 1st half — but that also showed how often the blue-and-whites were getting forward.  The Wreckers seemed to always have numbers behind the ball, then have those same numbers upfield on the attack.  Ceponis made a great save with 3 minutes left before halftime, to keep his team down by only 1.

Staples kept up the 2nd half pressure.  They also tightened up even more in back.  With Jack Hennessy leading centrally, Frankie Bergonzi and Sean Gallagher patrolling the flanks and Mikey Fitzgerald and Steven Denowitz manning the 1st line of defense, the Tigers were limited to mostly long-range shots.  But Harvard-bound striker Connor McCarthy is always dangerous, and he kept the Wreckers honest — they shrunk the field, but could not send too many defenders forward at once.

Scott, Drew McNair and Jake Krosse handled the outside midfield chores, while the Marzoli-Brendan Lesch partnership clicked nicely.  Lesch covered tremendous ground — winning balls, initiating attacks, and getting himself far up often.

Gudis and White kept constant pressure on Ridgefield’s backs.  But the 2nd score came from an unlikely source.  In the 76th minute Krosse launched a fine run to the corner.  He then cut inside, and sliced a ball that was too hot to handle.  It was banged in by a defender for an own goal — but Krosse made it happen.

“This was a huge win,” said head coach Dan Woog.  “It’s been a very tough week, and playing a real strong team here, in Tiger Hollow, can be intimidating.  But we ended the week 3-0 — without letting up a goal — and we did it playing Staples soccer.  My hat is off to all our guys.”

Staples’ tough tests continue Tuesday, with a 4 p.m. match on the Greenwich turf.  The Cardinals are 3rd in the FCIAC, with a 7-1-2 record.  FINAL SCORE:  Staples 2, Ridgefield 0.  Season record:  11-0 FCIAC; 11-1 overall.

QUICK KICKS: Staples outshot Ridgefield 12-10, but had 8 corner kicks to the Tigers’ 0….

Ridgefield star Connor McCarthy combines the name of 2 Staples keepers:  Connor Walsh and Michael McCarthy….

The junior varsity shut out a solid Ridgefield side, 3-0.  Goals came from Stephan Patterson, Spencer Adler and George Birch.  Coach Ross McGibney’s jayvees are now 9-0-1….

The freshmen played an undefeated team for the 2nd match in a row — and for the 2nd straight time, knocked them from the unbeaten ranks.  The Wreckers’ 1-0 victory was sealed by a Noah Bender tap-in following a defensive miscue.  Walker Marsh had a great game (and sacrificed his body to block a shot on an open net).  Ryan Petersen shined in goal, while Dylan Hoy distributed nicely….

Earlier this week at Sakura, all 8 soccer players at 1 table successfully caught tossed shrimp with their mouths.  Congratulations to Frankie Bergonzi, Brendan Lesch, Mike White, Matteo Marzoli, Sean Gallagher, Mikey Scott, Greg Gudis and James Hickok….

Chris Meinke ’05, the assistant girls coach, took over this week in head coach Brian Scott’s absence.  The 3-2 win over Darien gives Chris a 1.000 lifetime coaching record.

Greg Gudis races upfield at Tiger Hollow. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Staples vs. Wilton

The Warriors started slowly this year.  But they arrived at Loeffler Field fresh off a huge 1-0 upset of previously unbeaten Ridgefield, just 48 hours earlier.

A match like that — a fight to the finish — can take a lot out of a team.  Though they threatened a few times in the 1st half, Wilton did not have the punch they possessed on Monday.  Still, the halftime score was only 1-0.  Staples’ goal came off Mikey Scott’s throw-in.  Alan Reiter nailed it — giving him 3 straight scores, including the last 2 on Monday.

The Wreckers opened the game up after intermission.  Matteo Marzoli, playing solidly at central midfield, sprung Mike White forward 8 minutes in.  White put on a couple of nifty moves, then finished solidly to double his side’s lead.

Mindful of the big match coming up Friday night in Ridgefield, Staples rested many starters for much of the 2nd half.  There was no letup in touch or intensity.  Justin Hawrysh and Nate Greenberg worked hard up front; Jake Krosse and Jason Bennett led the midfield — and then Nick Cion ripped a grass-cutter just inside the post, to the crowd and his teammates’ delight.  Court Lake assisted.

James Hickok saved nicely in the final 10 seconds, to preserve the shutout.  FINAL SCORE:  Staples 3, Wilton 0.  Season record:  10-0-0 FCIAC; 10-1-0 overall.

QUICK KICKS: Connor Walsh made his varsity debut — but because the goalkeeper is still suffering from a broken wrist, he came on as a field player.  Walsh wowed the crowd with some fine offensive moves….

Staples led in shots (18-6) and corner kicks (15-1)….

The junior varsity shut out Wilton 4-0.  Terence Gibbons, Stephan Patterson, Spencer Adler and Steve Smith (penalty kick) all tallied….

The freshmen handed Wilton their 1st defeat of the season, by a 3-1 count.  The second half was particularly strong.  Jeff Krieger, Harry Birch and Joe Greenwald all scored.  Coach Chris O’Dell cited Krieger for his good play, and Greenwald for “carrying the team, with great heart.”

Steven Denowitz epitomizes concentration against Wilton. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Nick Cion (13) powers in a goal. Connor Walsh, Luke Yeager, Steve Denowitz and Dylan Evans all stand ready to help. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Quiz Night Is Coming: Friday, Oct. 23!

The 5th annual — and always highly anticipated — Staples boys soccer Quiz Night is coming soon:  Friday, October 23 (7 p.m., Staples cafeteria).

Varsity, JV and freshman players are busy selling tables for the event.  Each table (4 or more players) works as a team to answer 6 rounds of questions.  They cover a wide range of topics, from history, geography and science to sports, popular culture and esoterica.  The best tables combine students, adults (especially grandparents and teachers!), to ensure the broadest variety of knowledge.

It’s challenging, entertaining, competitive, and plenty of fun.  Prizes go to the winning tables — but everyone has a chance to win great raffle gifts too.

The event — Staples boys soccer’s biggest fundraiser of the year — covers banquet costs, scholarships, the program’s pledge to help fund the turf fields, maintenance of the terrace, indoor gym time in the winter, and many other expenses for the varsity, JV and freshman teams.

Tables are available at $25 per person.  Checks can be made out to “Staples Boys Soccer,”and sent to Staples Boys Soccer, Staples High School, 70 North Ave., Westport, CT 06880.

The setting is actually the Staples cafeteria, and the participants in Quiz Night don't look this goofy, but you get the idea.

Staples vs. New Canaan

On a chilly, cloudy afternoon Loeffler Field resounded with chatter from the Staples boys soccer team.  The Wreckers were the loudest they’ve been all year, helping each other with positioning, marking and other advice.

For the 1st 20-25 minutes, anyway.  The talk tailed off a bit after that, but Staples remained focused and strong.  The stakes were high, following a stunningly subpar performance — and their 1st loss of the season — less than 48 hours earlier.

Just 6 minutes in, a snazzy sequence of passes led to paydirt.  Brendan Lesch dealt through the defense, then found Mikey Scott.  His shot rebounded off the keeper back to Lesch.  He laid off to Greg Gudis, who finished with a gorgeous touch.

With Scott and Andrew McNair having the best games of the year on the midfield flanks, and Alan Reiter manning the defensive fort at midfield, the Westporters were in solid control.  But despite their good work — and attacking from Mike White up top, with runs out of the back from Mikey Fitzgerald, Sean Gallagher and Frankie Bergonzi — the halftime score remained just 1-0.

They doubled it 5 minutes past intermission.  Scott’s long throw caused chaos in the box; the Rams froze, but Reiter didn’t.  His low liner tore into the goal, just inside the left post.

Staples got the 3rd goal in the 67th minute.  Bergonzi hit Jake Krosse; the midfielder fed Reiter, and the quad-captain netted his 2nd score of the game.

A final highlight was Jason Bennett’s 72nd-minute rope, which was denied by a great last-second save.  FINAL SCORE:  Staples 3, New Canaan 0.  Overall record:  9-1-0.  FCIAC record:  9-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: New Canaan keeper Scott Levene is an excellent freshman — so when the Wreckers countered with their own frosh, James Hickok, there were 2 9th grade goalies on the field….

The 2 remaining games this week shape up as great ones, following Wilton’s stunning 1-0 upset of Ridgefield this afternoon.  Staples hosts Wilton on Wednesday (4:15 p.m.), then travel to Tiger Hollow for a 6 p.m. match Friday against the always-tough Tigers….

Victor Sanchez, the new New Canaan coach, has done a nice job organizing the Rams.  He was named to the post just a couple of weeks before the season began, after Bill Whittaker relocated to Florida….

The junior varsity shut out New Canaan 5-0.  Goals came from Terence Gibbons (2), Spencer Adler, Spencer Burns and Jay Kaplan….

The freshmen led 2-0, on goals by Harry Birch (a rebound off a beautiful corner kick from Dylan Hoy, which Walker Marsh volleyed and was saved on), and Noah Bender.  But New Canaan got 1 with 15 minutes remaining.  The Rams then came alive, and battled the frosh right to the end.  But the Wreckers prevailed 2-1, to keep their unbeaten mark intact.

Brendan Lesch and Matteo Marzoli sandwich a New Canaan defender. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Sweeper Jack Hennessy tackles with tenacity. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Nathan Greenberg and a New Canaan defender move forward, though the ball has not yet arrived. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Justin Hawrysh cruises past a New Canaan Ram. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Staples vs. Brookfield

For the 2nd year in a row, Staples scheduled a 16th game — the maximum allowed in the regular season — against SWC powerhouse Brookfield.  Last year the Wreckers rebounded from a 1-0 loss to Norwalk by shutting out the Bobcats 3-0 at Loeffler Field.  This season, following a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Norwalk, they journeyed north for their 1st-ever game on Brookfield’s turf.

The hosts drew a large crowd, and they gave them what they wanted.  Just 2 minutes into the match, defender Mikey Fitzgerald cleared a near-certain goal off the line — but Soly Zarrini knocked in the ensuing corner kick, and suddenly the Wreckers were down.

The Bobcats took the game to the Westporters.  Playing very direct, they put Staples under uncommon pressure.  And with a throw-in to match Mikey  Scott’s, they gave the Wreckers a taste of their own medicine.  The blue-and-whites forced passes, and shot from far further out than usual.

Keeper Michael McCarthy came up big in the 30th minute.  But 4 minutes before halftime Brookfield struck again.  This time Colin Burke knocked in a loose ball, after Staples failed to clear a corner kick.

The Wreckers opened the 2nd half the way they had not played the 1st.  Mike White found Brendan Lesch.  The junior ripped a shot — but keeper Matt Bonn  dove well to his left, and punched the near-certain goal away.

Lesch nearly got 1 a few minutes later.  Staples had several more chances, but in the 60th minute captain AJ Stueck roared forward on a breakaway, and made it 3-0.

Staples refused to fold.  White got his foot on a goalmouth scramble, making it 3-1.  But with 7 minutes remaining it was not enough.  The Bobcats managed the clock well, rewarding their vociferous fans with a huge, and well-deserved, victory.

“Brookfield did to us what we do to a lot of teams,” Wrecker head coach Dan Woog said.  “We’ve got 3 big games this week:  New Canaan, Wilton and Ridgefield.  It will be interesting to see how our guys react.  I’m betting it will be the way the best Staples teams have done.

“But it won’t be easy.  We’ll have to work hard to get back to where we want to be.”  Final score:  Brookfield 3, Staples 1.  Overall record:  8-1-0.  FCIAC record:  8-0-0.

QUICK KICKS: Staples outshot Brookfield 19-7, and led in corner kicks 7-6.

Alan Reiter and Brendan Lesch are dwarfed by a Brookfield player. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Mikey Fitzgerald is fouled at Brookfield. The ensuing free kick went wide. (Photo by Lisa Krosse)

Photos Added To ‘Meet The Wreckers’ Page

Thanks to photographer Carl McNair P’09, ’10, ’12, head shots of the varsity players have been added to the very popular “Meet the Wreckers” questionnaire page on StaplesSoccer.com.

Click here to see — and read about — your favorite Wreckers.

Jason Bennett is 1st alphabetically, which is how he gets his photo here. (Photo by Carl McNair)

Top Of The Hill Team Membership Drive Underway

The Top of the Hill Team — Staples boys soccer’s booster club — is in the midst of its annual membership drive.

The Top of the Hill Team assists the entire boys soccer program in many ways, including the purchase of equipment; support of the winter indoor sessions and summer Watermelon Cup; purchase of hi-def video equipment and a defibrillator; buses for our Superfans to tournament games; scholarships — and much, much more.

“There is no way Staples boys soccer would be where it is without the Top of the Hill Team,” said head coach Dan Woog.

Varsity, junior varsity and freshman parents — along with alumni and friends of the program — are joining the Top of the Hill Team, at a variety of levels.  Membership categories include All-America, All-State, All-FCIAC, Supporter and Friend.

For donor information — including thank-you gifts like shirts and hats — as well as a list of current members, click here and scroll down.