RIDGEFIELD — The Staples boys soccer match at Tiger Hollow on Friday felt like a post-season game.

Staples needed a tie or victory to qualify for the FCIAC tournament. Ridgefield had to win.

 The best playoff games are one-goal affairs — nail-biters, with one team seizing an opportunity, the other missing theirs.

In a cat-and-mouse, back-and-forth game between teams that looked like clones of each other, the Tigers got the goal. Their 59th-minute strike was the difference.

Their 1-0 win over the Wreckers gives them the eighth and final spot in the league tourney, which begins Wednesday. 

Staples has one more contest — a non-league affair at Harding of Bridgeport at noon Saturday. The team then has time off until the state “LL” (extra large schools) tournament begins Nov. 1.

On Friday, Staples unveiled a new lineup. Owen Perry started at right wing — his second-ever varsity appearance. The sophomore scored once, in Wednesday’s 8-0 pasting of Westhill.

Each side had one good chance in the opening 10 minutes of the tight, well-played game. Staples had the better looks, including shots by Zach Gorin and Will Murray. Gorin’s caromed off the inside of the far post, then bounced in front of the goal, but no one pounce.

The defense — paced by Cormac Mulvey, Alex Kuster, Brendan Allen and Zach Beebe — kept Ridgefield at bay until the 30th minute. Keeper Christian Rinaldi fielded a free kick, then was well-positioned on two more shots.

Rinaldi continued his solid play in the second half, with Dylan Shackelford coming on in the back line. In the 59th minute, a Staples corner kick curled too close to the box. The Tigers’ 6-6 keeper

Ben Voellmicke — a Brown University commit grabbed it. He quickly outletted the ball upfield. Brandon Gmellin picked it up in stride, split the defense, and finished strongly.

Staples had 21 minutes to get that goal back. Head Coach Russell Oost-Lievense urged, “Keep it moving!” They did — but so did Ridgefield. The Tigers played possession when they could, and banged balls forward when they could not. Their pressure kept the Wreckers from surging forward with numbers.

With three minutes to go, a Staples corner kick led to a shot just wide. That was their last foray, as Ridgefield managed the game to the end.

State tournament pairings will be announced next week.