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Sports

Greenberg Leads Staples Boys Lacrosse Past Greenwich

The senior captain scores two goals in 7-5 win over the Cardinals

Behind two goals from senior captain Nate Greenberg, the Staples Wreckers boys' lacrosse team defeated Greenwich 7-5  Saturday afternoon, marking the first time in school history that the team has beaten its bitter FCIAC rival in consecutive years.

The surprising Wreckers (4-0, 3-0 FCIAC ) took control of the game in the third quarter with goals by juniors Nick Maki and Kip Orban in the span of 1 minute and 15 seconds.

Senior Brandon Waiter capped a strong third quarter for the home team with a drive that went past Greenwich goalie Daniel Feeney to give the Wreckers a 7-3 lead heading into the final period.

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Staples played its best at the beginning of each half. The Wreckers got off to a quick start in the first quarter when senior Jeff Kelly wrapped around the net to score just 46 seconds into the game.

Later in the first, Greenberg put one through the legs of Feeney off a nice pass from Orban to make it 2-0 at the end of one.

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However, as they did in their first game against Ridgefield, the Wreckers could not hold the lead.

A different Greenwich team took the field in the second quarter, as Coach Scott Bulkley finally found a way to get his team going. Increased intensity on the defensive side and crisper offensive possessions allowed the Cardinals (1-3, 1-2) to climb  back into the game, thanks in part to two goals by senior captain Colin Dunster.

Dunster ran back the kick return in the final minutes of the Thanksgiving football game between Staples and Greenwich that set up a potential game-winning field goal try which ended up being blocked.

With the momentum shifting toward the visiting team and the half coming to a close, Staples got back the lead, 3-2,  when junior attack Charlie Ross scored a goal in front.

The second half belonged to Staples, as strong play by defensemen Matt Yeager and senior captain Jack Ambrose kept Greenwich from getting inside.

After scoring three unanswered in the third period, the Wreckers continued to pour it on in the fourth when another goal by Greenberg made it  7-3 .

Just when it looked like Greenberg had iced the game, Greenwich quickly cut the deficit in half with goals from junior attack David Dickson and Dunster's third of the game.

Suddenly,  the score was 7-5 with  still 51 seconds remaining on the clock. However, Staples, which leads the FCIAC West Division,  destroyed any dreams of a late-game miracle when Yeager checked Dunster out of bounds, giving the ball back to the home team. 

Staples, which  now has beaten two of the FCIAC's best teams in Ridgefield and Greenwich, hosts undefeated Trumbull in its next game on Tuesday.

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