FAIRFIELD — Someone who has seen Fairfield Ludlowe’s boys soccer team play often this fall said they have “underperformed.”

But the Falcons — who brought a 3-5-2 record to Tuesday night’s Taft Field match — performed well against 8-0-2 Staples.

They scored two first half goals, then continued to disrupt the Wreckers’ rhythm throughout the rest of the evening. The 2-0 loss was the league leader’s first of the season.

The first goal, in the 10th minute, on a quick finish after the defense was caught flat, marked the first time the blue-and-whites were behind all year. The second score came 5 minutes before halftime, when a ball over the top was run on to nicely.

Staples keeper Nick Sikorski and his Ludlowe counterpart Nick Parent had busy days. Both were confident on hard, low balls, and punching crosses away in traffic.

The second half saw the Wreckers stymied by a Ludlowe defense that frequently banged the ball forward. It was a frustrating night for the Westporters, who rely on possession to find seams and exploit openings.

The Wreckers are back in action at 4 p.m. Thursday, when they host Harding High of Bridgeport at Wakeman Field. The Presidents are not in the FCIAC; it’s Staples one out-of-conference match, and counts only for state tournament seedings.

(Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest CIAC updates.)