WILTON — Staples boys soccer team put Wednesday’s loss at Greenwich behind them — and prepared for Monday’s key match with Stamford — by downing Wilton 2-1 Saturday at Kristine Lilly Field.

The contest was not as close as the score. The Wreckers were in command for much of the match, and bounced back after the Warriors equalized in the second half, three minutes after falling behind.

The hosts were 0-5-1 before the match, after a grueling early season schedule that included Norwalk, Greenwich, Trumbull and Danbury.

The Westporters took advantage of the wide field. Will Murray, Emmett Nivaud and Zach Gorin spread the game well. Drew Hill did his usual effective job at midfield, quietly but decisively. 

Still, the first half ended 0-0.

The deadlock lasted 40 minutes, once play resumed. Josh Whitaker’s nice spin move sent Brendan Allen goal-ward. He found Jonny Costello, who slipped his shot underneath the keeper.

But — as happened against Darien and Greenwich — the Wreckers let their opponents back in the game, within three minutes of scoring. And as happened three days earlier against the Cards, this equalizer came after a failure to clear.

Yet this time, Staples regrouped. Nivaud, Costello and Gorin combined nicely in the box, though they could not fire a shot.

In the 53rd minute, Gorin and Whitaker assisted on Costello’s second strike. This was similar to his first, calmly beating the keeper.

A third goal, by Dylan Shackelford on a rebound of a blast by Gorin, was ruled offside.

The Warriors hung on. But with Jack D’Amore steady in goal, and solid defense by Shackelford, Alex Kuster, Jack Schwartz and Gabe Duque, the Wreckers managed the game to the end.

Staples has little time to look back. Stamford (5-1-1) comes to Wakeman Field at 4:30 p.m. Monday. The match is a make-up, after an earlier postponement. 

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