By Andy Hutchison

FAIRFIELD — Still unbeaten, the Staples girls soccer team’s record no longer is perfect.

The Wreckers settled for a 1-1 draw at Fairfield Warde (3-5-1) Thursday night. It was the first game of the season Staples did not win outright, following eight consecutive victories, most in dominant fashion.

In the tightly contested game with minimal quality scoring chances, the Wreckers cashed in when Annabel Edwards, assisted by Riely Gullans, broke a scoreless deadlock early in the second half. 

The Mustangs got the equalizer on the second of two corner kicks in succession, with just over eight minutes left. Warde pressured to generate the corner kick sequence and capitalized for only the third goal the Wreckers have surrendered this fall.

“Unfortunately, we let a lead slip and we had to make tactical changes to try and get the winner,” said Staples Coach Barry Beattie, who removed a defender to an extra striker in the final minutes — to no avail — in a late push on the offensive end of the pitch.

Beattie was disappointed the Wreckers allowed the late tally and is hopeful his team looks back at this as only a glitch in the path to an unbeaten campaign.

Sometimes it’s helpful for a team not to have it all their way as they build toward overcoming tough foes in the postseason, but Beattie noted that his team has already been challenged and risen to the occasion.

“We’ve had adversity and we’ve won our games,” said Beattie, referring most notably to a 1-0 win over a tough New Canaan team in the opener.

Warde’s record may be a bit deceptive — the Mustangs have played well of late, including handing cross-town rival Fairfield Ludlowe its second defeat, 1-0, Tuesday.

But Staples had won by no fewer than three goals since its 1-0 win over New Canaan, including an 8-0 victory over host Bridgeport Central on Tuesday. In that game, Alex Duque scored twice and Bella Baltierra, Kaela Cohen, Katherine Fontana, Sami Selig, Alexis Krenzner and Gaby Fishel also netted goals.

Krenzner and Duque both had two assists and Selig, Chloe Barnes, Julianna Martiere and Baltierra earned assists.

The Wreckers have been without standout Natalie Chudowsky, who has been in camp for selection to the U17 U.S. National Team.

Following the Warde game, the Wreckers will try for a better outcome against Fairfield’s other high school, visiting Fairfield Ludlowe (7-2-1) at 7:30 p.m. Monday. (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.