Mark Schwabacher

Web A&E Editor

Saturday marked Staples Varsity Field Hockey’s first win of the official season with a 2-1 triumph over the Hall High School Warriors from West Hartford.

Misha Strage, ’12 scored the first goal for Staples early in the first half, which gave Staples a lead until after the halftime. A strong Staples defense headed by goalkeeper Chris Lueb, ’12 kept Hall off the scoreboard until three minutes into the second half when Caroline Bye of Hall evened the score.

Once the score was tied up the Lady Wreckers redoubled their efforts.

“We had been up by one point for a while, but as soon as they scored one on us, we realized that we realized we had to pick up our play,” said varsity player Callie Hiner, ’12, “We wanted the win and gave it 110% to make it happen.”

As the timer wound down closer to zero, a stalemate seemed increasingly likely, until, with only forty seconds remaining on the clock, Strage soared back and scored her second goal of the day.  This last minute goal and Staples’ subsequent victory sent the sidelines into an uproar.  Strage appreciates how slim the victory was.

“It was close,” said Strage, “too close for comfort.”

Still, the team happily accepted a win as a win.

“That was an important win,” said assistant varsity Coach Steve Dennis, “We needed that win.”

After last week’s opening day 0-3 loss to Wilton, the team hopes that Saturday’s important win represents a swing of momentum into Staples favor.

Only time will tell how far this win will propel the Lady Wreckers, and anticipation is mounting in the team for field hockey’s next game against Darien on Monday.