https://www.westport-news.com/highschool/article/Staples-boys-soccer-boots-West-Haven-out-of-Class-806007.php
Staples boys soccer boots West Haven out of Class LL tourney
Published 10:51 pm, Thursday, November 11, 2010
The first round of the state tournament could have been a roadblock for the Staples boys soccer team.
Winners of the last three FCIAC championships and the defending Class LL state champions, Staples could have come out flat and overlooked the early games with a potential quarterfinal matchup against Norwalk looming.
But they didn't.
The No. 5 Wreckers dominated from the opening kick-off and cruised to a 3-0 victory over No. 24 West Haven on Tuesday. Mikey Scott, back from a head injury sustained two weeks ago, had two assists while Greg Gudis and Steven Denowitz struck for the home team at Albie Loeffler field.
"I've never seen a team able to win two games simultaneously," Staples coach Dan Woog said. "We take it one game at a time. It helped that we had six days off because in the past we have only had two or three and it can be tough to refocus. This is a veteran team that's been through this before. They understand the rhythm and pit falls (of the state tournament) and we make sure that they understand the psychological aspect as well."
Staples hosted No. 12 Guilford yesterday after press time.
Staples scored all three goals in a 10-minute span midway through the first half. In the 15th minute, Greg Gudis collected the ball at the top of the box after West Haven failed to clear a Jake Krosse free kick. He took a touch and went for accuracy over power, looping a shot to the far post over the West Haven goalkeeper and under the crossbar.
"It kinda bounced out to me and I brought it down, saw the goalkeeper was a bit out of position, and didn't try to do too much," Gudis said.
Scott and his deadly long-throw were instrumental in the next two goals. Two minutes after their opener, Staples struck again when Scott's driven throw-in from the left side was misplayed by the West Haven goalkeeper, who was unable to get a touch to the ball as he came off his line. With Court Lake lurking, a Blue Devil defender tried to clear the ball off the line but put it into his own net.
In the 24th minute, Scott's long throw again undid the West Haven defense, as Denowitz rose above everybody at the front post and powered a header into the upper corner.
"Its great to be back," said Scott, whose head injury in training two weeks ago required 32 stitches. "It's fun to play teams that we don't normally play against because they don't know what to expect. The guys know I am going to put the ball in there and we have been training for this moment all year. The postseason is our season and we expect to win it all every year."
West Haven coach Liam Leapley had good things to say about his defense, especially captain Nick Riccio, who had a solid game for the Blue Devils, but was quick to admit his squad didn't have the depth to deal with the Staples attack.
"If we could have survived the first half, this game could have been a bit different," Leapley said. "We are a strong defensive team and have good forwards, but have been missing a solid midfield all year and they took advantage of that."
