Staples Secures FCIAC Title With 3-2 Win Over Stamford
Senior Adrian Rodriguez scored twice in the 3-2 victory, which extends Staples' regular-season record to 18-0-1.
By Gavin Wilson ·
Staples boys soccer coach Liam Witham secured his second straight FCIAC championship in as many seasons on Wednesday. The Wreckers defeated Stamford 3-2 at Fairfield Ludlowe High School to claim the conference title. This victory caps a campaign in which the team has maintained the No. 1 spot in the GametimeCT Power Rankings all season.
Staples enters the match with an 18-0-1 record. The team's only non-win this season was a 0-0 draw against Stamford earlier in the year. Stamford finished the regular season with a 12-4-3 record. The matchup served as a rematch of last year's conference final, which Staples won for the first time since 2010.
Adrian Rodriguez, a senior, provided the decisive scoring in the contest. He opened the scoring in the second minute with a goal assisted by Noah Rossoni. Stamford equalized just under eight minutes into the game on a penalty kick by Benjamin Gaite. The score remained 1-1 until Rodriguez struck again in the 23rd minute to put Staples ahead.
Rossoni extended the Staples lead to 3-1 in the second half, scoring in the 53rd minute. Stamford's Matthew Atiencia pulled the visiting team within one goal with under 11 minutes remaining. The final margin stood at 1-0 in favor of Staples, with the scoreboard reading 2-1 for the Wreckers in the first half and 1-2 in the second.
Witham noted that his squad has allowed just five goals during the regular season. He credited the team's chemistry and internal knowledge of each other's playing styles for the result. Rodriguez echoed this sentiment, stating the group knew it was capable of beating Stamford despite their tie in the regular season.
Staples will enter the CIAC Class LL tournament as the No. 1 seed and receive a first-round bye. Stamford is the No. 8 seed. Both teams are positioned on the same side of the bracket, creating a possibility for a rematch in the quarterfinals.
Rodriguez was named Player of the Game for his two goals. Witham described Rodriguez as one of the best high school players he has seen, citing the senior's contribution to back-to-back titles.
