WESTPORT — Some marquee soccer matches don’t live up to their billing.

Some games played in bad weather lead to luck trumping skill.

Neither was the case Saturday at Wakeman Field.

Staples and Trumbull — the No. 1 and No. 3 teams in both the FCIAC and state “LL” (extra large school) division, respectively — met in a steady rain.

In a crackling contest, with both sides’ talent, smarts, speed and tenacity on display, the Wreckers prevailed 1-0.

They did it thanks to Santi Alfageme’s power header, strong midfield and superb defense, and Nick Sikorski’s sure-handed goalkeeping.

The Eagles’ quick-passing game is at least as good as Staples’. They rely on high-scoring attacker Owen Bull, who tore up the league last year and has continued to confound defenses as a senior.

The Westporters have their own prolific scorer, Avery Mueller. He saw little of the ball today, but — as they’ve done all year when they had to — his teammates were there to pick up the slack.

The visitors had the run of play for the first 20 minutes. But the Wreckers settled in, and the match flowed well back and forth. Each side had free kicks from dangerous spots; each squandered those opportunities.

The slick turf created a very quick surface, with the ball skipping quickly. Both sides nonetheless stuck close to the formula that had brought them success: moving the ball, finding feet, probing for seams, going backward to create openings to race ahead.

In the 62nd minute, Staples earned a corner kick. Zach Gorin took a short one, to fellow junior midfielder Elliot Galin. He unleashed a great cross into the center of the box.

Alfageme — the tall center back co-captain, who wears the prestigious No. 15 in honor of Preston Hirten — outleapt a gaggle of Eagles. He slammed a header home, from short range.

The Wreckers could have sat back, protecting their lead. But they pressed forward, hoping to put the knife in. Cormac Mulvey’s rip was saved nicely, while Zach Beebe’s header off a corner kick flew inches high.

They did it without forgetting the first rule of soccer: Defense first. Alfageme and his corps of junior defenders — Jack Schwartz, Beebe and Mulvey — thwarted most chances by the hard-charging Trumbull side. Adam Syah added another line of defense, as the last midfielder.

Behind them all Sikorski stood tall. The second-year keeper handled nearly every ball cleanly — even low, skipping balls — no easy task on the slick turf.

Gorin and James Corridon commanded midfield too, quietly but effectively.

The Eagles’ best chance came with 4 minutes to play. Sikorski made his best save of the day, but gave up a rebound. The ensuing shot soared over the crossbar.

The blue-and-whites played poised soccer, right to the end.

The Wreckers earned a big victory as they passed the three-quarters mark of the regular season. Just three matches remain. The first of those is Tuesday at home against Danbury. Kickoff is 4 p.m. at Wakeman Field. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest CIAC updates.)