HARTFORD–The Staples boys soccer team wanted to write their own chapter in the Wreckers’ 67-year history.

But this season deserves a book of its own. 

The Wreckers scored early, added another in the first half, then put archrivals Greenwich away with a third goal yesterday, in the state “LL” (extra large schools) championship. 

The 3-0 victory — accomplished with the Westporters’ trademark skill, speed, physicality, smarts, passion, pride and tremendous team chemistry — thrilled the crowd at Hartford’s chilly Trinity Health Stadium. In the stands were the players’ friends and parents, youth players who clamored for autographs, and plenty of alumni. Many others watched the livestream, all across the country. 

Yesterday’s win earns the 2025 Wreckers a spot alongside the very top teams of all time. This is Staples’ 13th state title since 1965 — but the first since 2009. 

They’re only the seventh squad to earn a very difficult double: winning both the FCIAC and state crowns. 

And — just as significantly — they equaled the ’09 mark, for most wins in a season. Both squads ended with sparkling 22-2-0 records.

But this victory carries special significance. In the seventh match of the regular season, the Cardinals handed the Wreckers’ their first loss of the year. And they did it in devastating fashion, battling back from a 3-1 deficit to win 4-3.

Staples earned revenge in the FCIAC final, jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead en route to a 3-2 victory. 

So the state final figured to be another nail-biter. A number of spectators thought it could go to penalty kicks.

As they did so often this season — and against Greenwich — the blue-and-whites drew first blood. Moments after a full rainbow appeared in the sky beyond the field, defender Gabe Hellmann drove an inswinging corner kick into the box.

Fellow captain Gabe Duque caught it on a short hop from close range. It was an opportunistic strike, but far from lucky. The Westporters have been deadly on set pieces all year long. 

Spencer Girling — the center back, and Most Valuable Player in the FCIAC championship — went down with a lower back injury. Emmett Zahler came on to replace him for the rest of the half. 

Staples’ airtight defense did not miss a beat. Hellmann, Dylan Shackelford and Adriano Carpi have been consistently strong all year, and Zahler is an excellent addition off the bench. 

Down 1-0, the Cards took the game to Staples. In the 26th minute keeper Jack D’Amore punched a corner kick away; Carpi then headed clear. 

“Calm!” head coach Liam Witham urged his players. 

In the 30th minute, Carpi powered a long free kick from midfield. Shackelford — pushed forward for the set play — outleaped his defender, and headed goalward.

The ball skipped through the keeper’s hands, and into the net. It was his first — and only — goal of the season. (For his play at both ends of the field, the right back was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.) 

For the third time in three matches, the Wreckers were two goals up on Greenwich. The Cards had battled back from two down twice before. With their perfect (16-0-0) regular season record, and a strong march through the state tournament, it seemed likely the game was not over. 

But Greenwich likes to put the ball in the air. In the second half — facing a strong wind that almost blew one keeper punt all the way back to him — they could not solve Staples. 

Drew Hill commanded midfield. Duque, Brendan Allen, Josh Whitaker, Noah Rossoni, Adrian Rodriguez and Lucas Alarcon applied pressure up top. Slowly, they turned up the heat.

In the 62nd minute Rossoni chested a ball down, and sent Rodriguez through. He drew the keeper out, then finished cleanly. The Cards argued vociferously for an offside call, to no avail.

Two minutes of chippiness followed — but by then the game was over. The Wreckers controlled the ball. They controlled the clock. They controlled their own destiny.

Ten minutes later, the game was history.