Staples Falls To Trumbull 2-0 In FCIAC Boys Soccer Final

Heading into Friday's FCIAC final against Staples, the Trumbull boys soccer team certainly didn't have history on its side.

The Eagles were facing one of the state's most storied programs as the Wreckers had won 27 FCIAC championships in their 52-year history, including the last three.

But Trumbull made some history of its own, dethroning the Wreckers 2-0 at Fairfield Ludlowe to win its first outright FCIAC boys soccer championship.

Zack Chase and Liam O'Sullivan scored for the Eagles (14-1-4), who shared an FCIAC crown with Staples in 2006.

Chase opened the scoring in the 24th minute before O'Sullivan provided an insurance marker with only  2 1/2 minutes left in the first half. Nick Weinstein made six saves for the Eagles.

Two minutes before O'Sullivan goal, the Wreckers (12-3-4) thought they had scored the equalizer after Joe Greenwald knocked the ball toward the goal line.

The Staples players celebrated, thinking the ball was in, but the officials ruled that it did not cross the line and allowed play to continue.

Staples, which has reached the CIAC Class LL state finals in each of the last two years, dropped to 12-3-4. The teams certainly could see each other again down the road in state tournament play.

Following Friday's game, Staples coach Dan Woog offered congratulations to Trumbull coach Sebe Gangemi, his assistants and the Golden Eagles team.

“Sebe is a great guy,” Woog said. "We’ve had great games with them over the years, and we look forward to many more.   We’ve been on both sides of the fence.  For the past three years, our fans stormed the field.  Today, Trumbull's  did.  They should savor their victory, and their championship."

The teams could certainly see each other again in the state tournament, which begins next Friday. The CIAC pushed back the start of state tourneys in all sports to allow conferences to complete their playoffs. The pairings with be announced on Wednesday.