Westport Scores and Standings: Nov. 3

Editor's Note: Send any write-ups on youth or recreational games in your town to michaeld+sports@patch.com.]

The Staples boys soccer team is one game away from a four-peat.

The Wreckers advanced to the FCIAC finals on Wednesday after defeating No. 8 seed New Canaan 1-0 on penalty kicks.

Staples (12-2-4)  bested the Rams 3-2 in the penalty kicks to move on to Friday's final at Fairfield Ludlowe against Darien/Trumbull.

Staples took the first shot in the shootout but its initial kick went wide. However, Wreckers goaltender James Hickok stopped his counterpart Scott Levene to keep keep the Rams off the board.

Max Hoberman, Ben Root and  Steve Smith then converted their opportunities, giving Staples a 3-2 lead after four rounds.

The Wreckers' final attempt sailed wide, giving New Canaan a chance to tie and force another set of five kicks, but Hickok made the stop on Steve Valente's final shot. Hickok's save sent the Wreckers into the finals, where they will be seeking their 28th FCIAC championship and fourth straight.

In the history of the FCIAC, that feat has been accomplished only twice, both by Staples, which won six in a row from 1970-75 under the late Albie Loeffler and five consecutive from 1977-81.

"For 52 years, Staples has relied on strong defense,” Wreckers coach Dan Woog said. “This game ranks up there with some of our best defensive efforts of all time."

New Canaan, the defending CIAC Class L state champions, had reached the semifinals after stunning top seed Norwalk in the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.

Jon-Luke Ferrandino and Charles Pickhardt converted penalty kicks for the Rams (9-4-5).

Staples advanced to the semifinals of the FCIAC field hockey playoffs Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Staples at McMahon.

Misha Strage scored the tiebreaking goal with under four minutes remaining for the Wreckers (9-3-3-1), who will take on top seed Darien in the semifinals on Thursday at New Canaan at 5. p.m. The Blue Wave advanced with a 3-0 victory over No. 8 seed Westhill.

Staples dominated the first half with a 9-3 edge in shots but only managed a 1-0 lead on a goal by Emily Ashken.

Kelsey Cognetta tied it for Stamford (10-6-1) just four minutes before Strage tallied the game winner for the Wreckers.

Lesly Sanchez made 11 saves for Stamford, including eight in the first half, when the Black Knights, also 10 corner kicks while taking just one themselves.

In the other quarterfinals, No. 2 Wilton blanked Fairfield Ludlowe 4-0 and No. 6 New Canaan upset No 3 Norwalk, 1-0. Wilton takes on New Canaan at 5 p.m. in the first game of Thursday's semifinal doubleheader at Ludlowe.

The FCIAC girls volleyball playoffs begin Thursday. Here are the quarterfinal matchups (all at 4 p.m.):

No. 8 Fairfield Ludlowe at No. 1 Darien, 4 p.m.

No. 7 Danbury vs. No. 2 Ridgefield, 6 p.m., at Staples

No. 6 Stamford at No. 3 Staples, 4 p.m.

No. 5 Greenwich at No. 4 New Canaan, 4 p.m.

The CIAC has announced that the state Open cross country meet, scheduled for Friday at Manchester's Wickham Park, has been postponed until next Tuesday.

The site of the meet also has been changed as the girls and boys races now will be take place at at Hammonasset State Park in Madison. The boys will start at 1:45 p.m., followed by the girls at 2:30 p.m.

Darien won the Class L boys championship on Saturday at Wickham Park, which is unavailable for the state Open because of damage it suffered in Saturday's snowstorm.

The Open competition will determine which runners qualify for the  New England championships Nov. 12 at Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, R.I.

WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS

Boys soccer

Staples 1, New Canaan 0 (3-2 penalty kicks), FCIAC semifinals

Field hockey

Staples 2, Stamford 1, FCIAC quarterfinals

THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE

Field hockey

Staples vs. Darien, 5 p.m., at New Canaan, FCIAC semifinals

Girls swimming

FCIAC swim trials, at Greenwich, 4 p.m.

STANDINGS

• Football

2-5

2-5

• Boys soccer

• Girls soccer

Field hockey

Girls volleyball