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Sports

Staples Boys Lacrosse Ready For Fairfield Prep

Wreckers face the defending four-time state champion Jesuits in the Class L semifinals today.

To be the best, you have to beat the best.

It's a steep hill to climb, but the Staples boys lacrosse team is ready to roll heading into today's showdown with four-time defending state champion Fairfield Prep in the CIAC Class L semifinals.

The contest will be played at NcMahon High in Norwalk at 7:15 p.m.  The winner advances to Saturday's state title game, also at McMahon, against either Cheshire or Glastonbury.

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For Staples, which concluded the regular season with a sterling 16-0 mark, a first-round exit from the FCIAC playoffs two weeks ago was a bit of a wake-up call.

Nonetheless, the best record in Wreckers' history leaves plenty of room for optimism. Staples takes an 18-1 record into today's game after rebounding to beat Newington and Simsbury in the state tournament.

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"Losing definitely made us more humble, and it brought us down to earth a bit," senior Keith Gelman said. "We were rolling along and then we suddenly lost. We realize in the state tournament, we're going to be playing great teams. We are focused now."

As the Wreckers warmed up in practice Monday,  players were clearly intent on besting a team that annually claims rings.

Asked about the task of beating the Jesuits of Fairfield Prep, Staples standout goalie Austin Waiter summed things up accordingly.

"We experienced a true wake-up call,  and now we are ready,"  Waiter said. "We are ramped up, and we are going to come out with a ton of heart tomorrow. We aren't worried about the name of the jersey we are playing; we are focused on playing Staples lacrosse."

With momentous regular-season wins over the likes of Ridgefield and Greenwich, the Staples calling card all season long has showcased a blend of stout goaltending from Waiter, coupled with an unforgiving defense that gives up goals few and far between.

In the eyes of Nate Greenberg, balance and consistency will prove paramount when the Jesuits and Wreckers take center stage tomorrow evening.

"It's going to take four quarters of good lacrosse to win this game," Greenberg sad. "Our defense has to sustain that excellent level of play that has helped us all season, and our offense has to finish plays. We can't worry about who we are playing, we have to focus on our team."

Walking over to his players in practice Monday, Staples head coach Paul McNulty reflected on a program-best season and a tough 10-7 defeat to St. Joseph in the FCIAC playoffs.

With less than 24 hours until the opening faceoff versus the four-time defending champions from Fairfield, there is no time to wallow.

"St. Joseph's got us fair and square, they came out, and they beat us," McNulty said. "Our guys were down after that loss, and on Monday, when we returned to practice, the guys were clobbering each other.

"Our guys are fired up, they realize the opportunity they have, and I fully expect us to come out ready to battle tomorrow."

 

 

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