Tryouts Begin; 1st Scrimmage Set For Friday

State and FCIAC champion Staples is ready to defend those titles.

After months of off-season work, tryouts began with Sunday’s Man U fitness test. Three days of technical work follow.

The first preseason match comes quickly: Friday, at Brookfield (4:30 p.m.). Wakeman Field matches (vs. Naugatuck September 2, 4 p.m. and Shelton, September 5, 10 a.m.) lead up to the first FCIAC contest, September 9 at Ridgefield (4 p.m.).

Head coach Liam Witham and assistant Billy Babayo — and thier JV and freshman coaches — put dozens of hopefuls through their paces this week. Staples soccer photographer Paolo Caniato was there to capture all the action.