Match Report: FCIAC Semifinal vs. Greenwich
Staples gave head coach Liam Witham a great birthday gift this afternoon: a dominant 2-0 victory over Greenwich, in the FCIAC semifinal.
That vaults them into the league championship. On Wednesday (6 p.m., Fairfield Ludlowe), they’ll go for their second straight FCIAC title — and mind-boggling 29th overall — against Stamford. The #2 Knights — who own the only blemish on Staples’ 17-0-1 record, with a 0-0 draw during the regular season — shut out Trumbull 2-0, in the other semifinal.
The match — played in brilliant fall weather at Ludlowe’s Taft Field — was the first daytime semi in perhaps two decades. The reason: Halloween is tonight.
But the Wreckers were not spooked by their foes. In fact, Staples has the longtime league powerhouse’s number. After losing 4-3 early last year, the Westporters topped Greenwich in both the FCIAC and state finals. The tacked on a 3-0 win in this year’s regular season too.
Now the stakes are higher. After shaking off Wilton’s challenge in the quarterfinal, Staples is on a roll.
The top-seeded side started out strong, creating havoc in the Cards’ box with quick movement and deft passing. They won second balls all over the field.
They did it with their usual skill and panache. But they did the little things too that are not always noticed. Peter Nelson, the former left back who has moved up top during Alex Saleeb’s injury, was peskily more than Greenwich could handle on the left side.
In the 23rd minute, Lucas Alarcon took his side’s first corner kick of the day. With a slight wind at his back, he scored directly. His long ball floated into the far corner, just over the keeper’s desperate leap.
One of the hallmarks of this team is the ability to follow one goal with a dagger-strike second. They did it once again, 2 minutes later.
Alarcon — playing perhaps his best match in a Wrecker jersey — dropped a free kick into the box. The Card defense attempted 2 header clearances, but it landed on Adrian Rodriguez’s foot. The team’s leading scorer pounced, for a 2-0 edge.
Staples continued defending physically and intelligently, feeding an attack that put Greenwich on the ropes. Five minutes before halftime Alarcon’s free kick was punched away nicely by the keeper.
The blue-and-whites continued to control the tempo — and time of possession — after intermission. They were keyed by 4 often overlooked elements of their game: their dominance in the air by backs Thomas Pretty, Ryan Allen, Spencer Derakhshan and Owen Green, as Greenwich relied on hopeful long balls; their own ability to keep the ball on the turf; the way they spread the field, and their constant, and very positive, communication.
Witham’s first substitutions came in the 55th minute. Dutch Schlegelmilch, Kai Massicott, Jaden Waldman, Arthur Khisyamov, Gus Reyna and Sebi Carter kept the level championship-caliber high.
A small moment in the 68th minute epitomized the match, and much of the season. Khisyamov made a strong defensive play, right in front of the Westport bench. The 2 dozen players sitting there — including several starters — erupted in cheers.
Meanwhile, Witham and his assistant Billy Bayalo continued instructing and encouraging their players right to the end.
On Wednesday evening — at the same site — they’ll pick up exactly where they left off today. FINAL SCORE: Staples 2, Greenwich 0. SEASON RECORD: 17-0-1.
QUICK KICKS: The large alumni turnout included Dave Wilson ’75, Tommy Greenwald ’79, Poncho Rodriguez ’79, Dan Donovan ’82, Brian Sullivan ’82, Mike Brown ’83, Brad Bierman ’91, Chris Meinke ’04, longtime coach Jeff Lea, and parents Bill Mitchell ’89, ’91, ’97, Karen Scott ’11, Mary Ellen Gallagher ’11 and Jill Denowitz ’11.
Alumni from the 1970s through ’90s were at the semifinal.
