WESTPORT–It’s been an interesting year for boys FCIAC soccer.
Several of the traditional top teams are down. Trumbull is having perhaps their poorest year in two decades. And Danbury — always a powerhouse — arrived at Wakeman Field yesterday with a 5-5-1 mark.
Staples handled the Hatters with relative ease. The Wreckers were quicker to the ball, stronger on it, and did better things with it.
The result was a 4-0 victory. Now 11-2-0, the blue-and-whites are in excellent shape heading into the final three matches of the regular season. A better-than-usual St. Joseph squad is next (Thursday, away). Next week brings Westhill (away, Monday), and Ridgefield — riding high at 10-3-0 — home, a week from Thursday. All matches begin at 4 p.m.
It took Danbury 25 minutes to take their first shot on goal — after Wreckers Ford Epstein, Josh Whitaker and Noah Rossoni had already threatened.
In the 31st minute, Adrian Rodriguez made a great move just inside the box. He was taken down, for Staples’ fifth penalty kick of the year.
Whitaker — the Wreckers’ PK specialist — stepped up. Keeper Tonin Utrera guessed wrong. But even if he had, Whitaker blasted it so close to the net, he could not have gotten even a finger on it.
Staples doubled their lead one minute before the half. Defender Gabe Hellmann hit Whitaker, who took a great touch down the line. Rodriguez came close to scoring — but it was Gabe Duque who followed up, from two yards out.
Whitaker almost made it 3-0 just 20 seconds before intermission, banging a blast off the crossbar.
The third tally came seven minutes after halftime. Epstein lofted a superb free kick into the box. Duque waited patiently for the service, then one-touched it expertly to the far corner.
The final strike began with Zach Gillman taking his defender down the line. He fed Greyson Downes, who finished cleanly.
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