By Andy Hutchison

After crushing each of its first six opponents this season, the Staples High field hockey team faced its first two challenges this fall over the weekend.

The Wreckers first defeated Palmyra Area High of Pennsylvania, 5-0, Saturday before falling, 3-2, to Camden Catholic of New Jersey on Sunday.

Both games took place at the Proving Grounds in Pennsylvania as part of the MAX Field Hockey High School National Invitational.

The tourney featured top-notch, nationally ranked lineups. 

In the preseason MaxPreps rankings Camden Catholic was No. 6, Palmyra 13 and Staples 18.

In the Wreckers’ 5-0 win Mary Stevens, Leah Larit, Catherine Cirasuolo, Sofia Fidalgo and Emma Larit scored. Emma Larit also had three assists and Sofia Fidalgo assisted a goal. Staples goaltender Paige Knesich made eight saves.

Against Camden Catholic, Alex Hackett and Leah Larit scored and Tyla Ozgen picked up an assist.

Next up, Staples visits Fairfield Warde at 4 p.m. Tuesday. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest updates.) 

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.