WESTPORT–Outstanding defense, solid team and positional play and a timely goal were keys to the Staples boys soccer team’s state tournament win Thursday.

In the 59th minute, Murilo Moreno headed Jaden Mueller’s corner kick to Jackson Hochhauser. The center back tri-captain slammed a goal in from five yards out. That was all the Wreckers needed to top Conard-West Hartford. The 1-0 victory vaults the Wreckers into Saturday’s quarterfinal, where they face Fairfield Prep.

Staples – seeded 6th — had plenty of chances against the #22 Chieftains. The upstaters were far better than their 7-7-2 record. But Caleb Tobias shut down the man scoring threat; Hochhauser, Bruno Guiduli and Hunter Smith played tight defense in front of keeper Jacob Greenberger, and midfielders Moreno, Mueller, Dylan Hoke and Matthew Jordan swung the ball quickly and wide. Pressure from Reese Watkins, Will Adams and Ryan Thomas up top kept Conard on their heels, and led to 10 corner kicks.

Head coach Dan Woog called the victory “a classic state tournament game. It was very hard fought on both sides. When it’s one-and-done, anything can happen. I thought our guys were very composed, and very patient. We had a game plan, and they stuck to it well. These are the kinds of matches you need to test your mettle. And every game from here on will be like this.”