By Andy Hutchison

WESTPORT — Winning in the FCIAC is a challenge for Staples girls lacrosse team and other contenders, given longtime juggernauts and state-title contenders like New Canaan and Darien.

This spring, the Wreckers had an overall record of 10-5 heading into their final regular season home game.

“We have some great leadership on the field, but we also have a lot of sophomores and freshmen that see regular time,” Staples Coach Nicole Gerosa said of prospects building a foundation for future success.

“It’s a great group working together which is nice to see. They complement each other,” the coach added.

Senior captains are Nina Bowens, Kate Fitzgerald, Molly Whittle and Alex Hackett.

Top scorers for the season so far are sophomores Chloe Smith, Noelle Tybur and senior Kali Knesich. The defense is led by draw specialist Fitzgerald, Bowens and fellow senior Daisy Chung.

In goal, freshman Alexandra Kim has stepped in for injured Audrey Wood, a sophomore.

The Wreckers have proven they can win close games — the season’s first two contests were a 12-11 win over FCIAC foe Greenwich and a 13-12 victory against Amity of Woodbridge. Staples also beat Masuk of Monroe 11-10. 

“It’s definitely very, very stressful,” Bowens said of competing in such tight battles. The close games are a product of playing tough opponents, she added.

Staples has deployed a combination of aggressive play, going to the goal, and using possession time to its advantage to prevail more times than not.

The Wreckers beat Newtown 9-6 and FCIAC rival Fairfield Ludlowe 13-9. Other wins were all lopsided, most recently crushing Danbury 17-4 May 13 before falling 14-9 in a non-conference clash with Cheshire two days later.

On Saturday, the team suffered a 19-7 loss to Conard High of West Hartford.

“At the end of the day it all comes down to time management,” Bowens said of the Wreckers’s strategy for coming out on top.

“It’s a team effort. Everyone pulls through,” sophomore Bryn Morris added.

Staples closed out the regular slate at Darien on Tuesday. Then it’s on to the FCIAC and Class LL State tournaments. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest CIAC updates.)

Andy Hutchison has been covering school sports — including Staples athletics — as well as news and feature stories in Fairfield County, since the 1990s.