WESTPORT — Wednesday was a must-win match for the Staples boys soccer team.

The Wreckers needed to win to stay in contention for an FCIAC playoff berth, going into Friday’s final regular season game at equally hungry Ridgefield.

Win they did — in commanding fashion.

A true team effort lifted the host Westporters over struggling Westhill of Stamford, 8-0. The Vikings have won just once, and tied once, in 13 games this fall.

Coupled with last week’s 7-0 pasting of St. Joseph of Trumbull — the only league team with a poorer record than Westhill — Staples has now scored 15 goals in two matches. That tops a similar streak in 2021, when they tallied 14 times in back-to-back defeats of Bridgeport Central and St. Joseph. Those wins helped spark a run to the state semifinals.

Yesterday afternoon’s Wakeman Field onslaught began in the 12th minute. Zach Beebe let Will Murray’s short corner kick run through. Emmett Nivaud’s long shot slithered through the defense and on past the keeper.

Two minutes later, defender Cormac Mulvey played a great long ball upfield to Murray. He found Zach Gorin, who fed Gabe Duque for a close-in header.

The Wreckers’ smooth, poised possession-style soccer was on full display. They controlled the tempo and territory, rarely allowing the visitors past midfield.

In the 24th minute, Murray’s fine pass set up Owen Perry. The sophomore — playing in only his second varsity match — slid through and finished, for his first varsity goal.

Gorin’s straight-on blast, from a lacing Nivaud cross, finished the first-half scoring in the 37th mnute.

Sophomore Adrian Rodriguez picked up a loose ball 10 minutes after intermission. Aaron Varsov threaded the needle; 10th grader Noah Rossoni finished, for the fifth goal.

Number 6 came in the 60th minute, after Mikey Brennan pounced on a loose ball.

Gabe Hellmann’s corner kick to Max Hill made it 7-0.

Jonny Costello closed out the scoring, 3 minutes from time.

Ridgefield will prove a much sterner test at 4 p.m. Friday at Tiger Hollow. (Game schedules are subject to change; click for the latest updates.) 

Everything up to this point has been preparation for Staples. Now, they hope, the payoff will be near.