By Andy Hutchison

WETHERSFIELD — Make it back to back to back for the Staples field hockey team, following their Class L State Championship win over fierce rival Darien Blue Wave on Saturday.

Top-seeded Wreckers defeated No. 2 Darien 5-2 at Wethersfield High to claim the state title. Again.

Not only did the Wreckers defeat Darien in this year’s FCIAC title game, but the Wreckers also whipped the Wave in last year’s state finale, giving Coach Ian Tapsall’s program three straight championship triumphs over Darien.

Leah Larit scored twice, and Emma Larit, Alex Hackett and Sofia Fidalgo also scored in this year’s state title game victory.

The Wreckers had beaten Darien by that same 5-2 score at home in their regular-season matchup, and then had to survive an overtime battle to come out on top 3-2 in come-from-behind fashion in the FCIAC championship.

“We executed a much better game plan than in the FCIAC final although it took until the second half for things to fall together,” Tapsall said of Saturday’s state final.

Staples went unbeaten in FCIAC play and suffered just one loss, a 3-2 decision to Camden Catholic High of New Jersey.

The Staples squad put a lot into this season beginning with summertime preparations and continuing on into the fall.

There were tough practices to accompany hard work and commitment and it all paid off for the Wreckers.

“The effort and dedication to the entire journey from preseason fitness sessions and preseason practice has been second to none. Work hard — play hard. Perfect cliche. Results are so well deserved,” the coach added.

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