Staples Posts Big Win on Senior Day

Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Staples Girls Soccer. 

The Lady Wreckers squared off against Trinity Catholic looking to improve their seeding in the upcoming state tournament.  They were also celebrating Senior Day, as seniors Gea Mitas, Meghan Lonergan, Sydney Crossfield and Caitlin Hoberman played their final game on Loeffler Field.   

Staples quickly jumped out on Trinity and never let up.  Senior Caitlin Hoberman was able to get loose up the left side and provided Staples with few scoring opportunities. Staples took a few shots on goal before the freshman combination of Charlotte Rossi and Lydia Shaw netted the first goal.  Shaw tapped in a perfect cross for Rossi to give the Lady Wreckers a 1-0 lead in the 8th minute.

Junior Lauren Garcia added the second goal in the 12th minute. Rossi again made a nice cross to a cutting Garcia for 2-0 lead.  Midfielders Mitas and Junior Addy Fowle kept the pressure on Trinity Catholic, winning most every ball coming across the middle.  The defense line, made of Senior Captain Meghan Lonergan, Junior Captain Megan Root, Freshman Morgan McWhirter and Sophomore Kate Lesch stood strong and never let Goalie Mary Bennewitz defend a shot on her goal.  In the 16th minute, Shaw added her second goal of the game before being subbed out.  

Freshman Tia Zajec joined in the fun in the 25th minute, beating two defenders off the dribble and pushing her shot just past the goalie to give Staples a 4-0 lead.  Junior Paige Murray netted her first goal of the season, when she took a ball away from the TC defender inside the 18 and raced towards to goal and blasted the ball into the net.  In the 35 minute, Freshman Claire Lonergan also got her first goal when she beat a defender up the right side and popped the ball just over the goalie giving the Wreckers a 6-0 lead at the end of the first half.

Staples continued its dominance in the second half, this time having Senior Lonergan at the forward position.  Lonergan found her first goal of the season in the 55th minute by beating her defender up the left side and fitting the ball just under a diving goalie.  Fellow Senior Hoberman scored her second goal of the season in similar fashion, but this time up the right side.  

Coach Driscoll called up a few JV players and was able to get them valuable minutes. Junior Claire Saracena, Freshman Ivy Prince and Alyssa Perry played most of the second half winning most every ball they challenged. With additional Freshman Kit Epstein, Juila Agardh and Tia Zajec, Staples saw five freshmen on the field most of the second half.  As the temperature dropped, Staples stopped taking shots on goal and passed back and forth waiting for time to expire.   

Now the Lady Wreckers must wait until the FCIACs are completed before starting the CIAC tournament.  The final seeding will be out by weeks end and Staples will most likely play an away game to start the tournament.  Check back on Friday for an updated CIAC tournament schedule.