Staples is used to scoring early. They’re not used to not scoring often, or in bunches. But among their many virtues, they are patient. So, when it took 56 minutes today to dent the scoreboard against Darien, that was fine.

The hosts quickly added 2 more. The 3-0 result was another win.

Actually, not just another win.

Today marked the end of the regular season. The Wreckers finished 15-0-1 — one of the best records in the 68-year history of the program.

Only 4 teams have survived the FCIAC season without a loss or tie. The most recent was 2000. Staples went 16-0-0, won the 2-game league tournament (tying in the championship), then lost 2-1 to Fairfield High in the state semifinals in a driving rainstorm.  Two of those players — Zack Gross and Jordan Schur — were in the Wakeman stands today.

Three other Staples teams were undefeated and untied: 1969 (13-0-0), 1967 (11-0-0) and 1965 (11-0-0).

Other teams that did not lose during the regular season were 1996 (13-0-2), 1989 (12-0-1), 1982 (12-0-3), 1981 (13-0-1), 1973 (9-0-5), 1972 (13-0-1), 1968 (8-0-3), 1962 (9-0-1) and, in the second year of a varsity program, 1959 (11-0-1).

With the Wreckers’ stellar FCIAC schedule now complete, the focus turns to the league tournament. Quarterfinal play begins Wednesday. Top-seeded Staples hosts an opponent, not yet determined, at 3:30 p.m. (Wakeman Field).

Head coach Liam Witham gave 2 starters — Adrian Rodriguez and Alex Saleeb — the day off yesterday, to rest nagging injuries. Replacements Kai Massicott and Peter Nelson (moving up from his defensive spot, which was taken by Spencer Derekhshan) kept the quality high. The Wavers were also missing 2 starters.

The first half saw Lucas Alarcon saved twice, on a blast and his own rebound. Darien’s defense was stout, and denied the Wreckers many of the shots they were used to taking.

The Blue Wave midfield and attackers — not as technically proficient, but hard-working, motivated and well-coached — were held to a few long-range attempts.

The hosts’ patience paid off in the 60th minute. Noah Rossoni slotted a seeing-eye pass across, from the right. Nelson — who overlapped frequently, in his previous role as a defender — calmly rifled it into the far right corner.

Three minutes later, Westport keeper Luke Diedrich dove high, to punch away a 45-yard rocket.

The pace ramped up. Derekhshan was saved on a great shot, off an overlap.

In the 63rd minute Alarcon found Greyson Downes. He returned the favor with a spectacular ball across the goalmouth. Alarcon met it, and finished cleanly.

The Wreckers poured it on in the final minutes. Seven minutes from time, Alarcon fed Derekshan. His excellent cross was tucked in from close range by Massicott.

It was indeed a great regular season for Staples. But this team — battle-tested last year, in the FCIAC and state tournaments — knows that the 15-0-1 mark means nothing now.

Every team starts the post-season 0-0.