Two-time defending state champion Staples Wreckers Boys Lacrosse faced a fired-up New Canaan Rams team at home on Thursday, and despite fighting hard on defense and leading 1-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Wreckers were unable to find the net more than once early in the match. Tristan Schaefer, unassisted put Staples only goal on the scoreboard.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

The tone of the game changed quickly, with New Canaan returning to the field in the second quarter scoring in just over the first minute to tie the match 1-1. Just two minutes later the Rams scored again going, into the locker room at the half leading by a goal. Again, they scored quickly after the break to bring the score to 3-1 and New Canaan would then go on to score twice more.

Staples was only able to win 2 out of 10 face-offs putting pressure on goalie Josh Marcus who had 9 saves, closely matching the 10 saves for New Canaan goalies Cam Lyden and Jack Crowell, however the Rams fired more shots than the Wreckers resulting in the win for New Canaan.

Staples Head coach Will Koshansky told WestportLocalPress, “Our defense played very well, our offense generated good scoring opportunities but did not put the ball in the net. We had 21 shots. Need to score more than 1 goal to win. Credit to their defense and goalies, however if we would have shot at an average level instead of very poorly I think the outcome would have been different.”

Staples will again take the field on Saturday at 3:00 for a non-conference match against St. John’s Prep of Massachusetts which will be preceded by the Wreckers annual Sticks For Soldiers event which begins at 2:30 PM.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com Click on an image to enlarge and open gallery.

A future Wreckers star kept an eye on the match as did a Blue Merle Boston Bulldog. Wreckers fans included some girl’s team members posing for a few snaps.