Staples Rolls Over Norwalk, Eyes Postseason Birth

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

The Staples Lady Wreckers need to finish strong in order to make the FCIAC playoffs.  Staples went into today’s game against Norwalk sitting in a three way tie for 9th place in the FCIAC race.

Staples immediately put pressure on the Norwalk goalie shooting 4 times in the first three minutes.  Junior Lauren Garcia got things started in the 4th minute when she took a nice through pass from Freshman Lydia Shaw and beat the goalie to put Staples up 1-0.  Staples stole the kick off and again made a run at the Norwalk goal.  Freshman Charlotte Rossi corralled the ball near the eighteen and slid a pass to Junior Maggie Walsh who pounded the ball into the net from just inside the box. Walsh’s day was just beginning. Norwalk made a push on the Staples goal, but Junior Mary Bennewitz stopped the threat in typical Bennewitz fashion, coming off her line and clearing the ball to the Staples defenders.  Bennewitz was coming off an injury that sidelined her last game.  The Staples defense was headed by Junior Captain Meg Root and Freshman Morgan McWhirter in the middle.  Sophomores Elizabeth Mitas and Kate Lesch handled the outside defensive positions.   In the 14th minute Walsh won a ball at midfield and beat two players up the middle then slid a perfect pass to a breaking Rossi who netted the 3rd goal of the half. Walsh scored her second goal of the game in the 20th minute, when Freshman Tia Zajec made a run up the left side and crossed the ball to Walsh who was in perfect position at the six and punched in the 4th goal.  The half ended with Staples in clear control of the game.

The second half was more of the same as Staples made multiple sorties on the Norwalk goal, but just missed.  Freshman Tia Zajec scored her first goal of the season when she again made a run up the left side and rather than pass if off she made run at the goal.  Zajec beat the Norwalk defender and then dribbled around the goalie finishing with an outside right foot just before she ran out of space.   Staples finished both halves resting many of their starters and letting the bench get some valuable game experience. Freshman Kit Epstein and Claire Lonergan showed tenacity and some good ball control in the back.  Junior Emily Snow had a solid second half in the net.  The attack was led by Senior Caitlin Hoberman, Juniors Addy Fowle, and Paige Murray who played with an injured arm and showed off her terrific speed.  They nearly converted a couple of times.  It got chippy toward the end and Staples was happy for a final whistle that gave them three much needed points.

The Lady Wreckers face Darien at home on Friday and will be getting Senior Captains Gea Mitas and Meghan Lonergan back into the starting lineup.  If Staples wins their last three games, they have a good chance to make FCIAC's.  Tough schedules for Greenwich, Trumbull, Ludlowe and even Westhill and Ridgefield make the FCIAC top 8 play-offs hard to predict.  Only St. Joseph's has a guaranteed spot.  Good luck Wreckers.

Staples Girls Soccer