Staples field hockey top seed in FCIAC playoffs
WESTPORT — Staples field hockey coach Ian Tapsall thinks his program is way ahead of where he thought it would be just four years into his tenure.
Two state championships in the past two seasons will do that.
What’s missing from Tapsall’s team — the proverbial feather in the cap, if you will — is an FCIAC championship.
This fall, the Wreckers went through the league undefeated and will take the No. 1 seed into the upcoming tournament.
“I think we’re way ahead of where I thought we’d be,” Tapsall said Tuesday before the team’s practice on Ginny Parker Field. “The one I want to win is the FCIAC playoffs.”
The 16-0 Wreckers, 14-0 in FCIAC play, will host Fairfield Warde in the first round of the league tournament this week.
The fact that Staples has earned the No. 1 seed is a surprise to many.
After all, 12 seniors graduated from last year’s Class L state champions, and only three seniors are on this year’s roster.
“I think our goal in the beginning of the season was to be able to be where we are now, though we haven’t proven anything until we get some championships under our belt,” senior captain Elle Fair said. “I think this team had lower expectations because of the seniors we’ve lost, but we’ve just come together.”
The Wreckers have come together using a new formation, as well, adding to the surprise.
“You have to work with what you’re given,” Tapsall said. “You can’t just force a system on the girls you have.”
Tapsall has employed a setup with two forwards and four defenders — plus returning goaltender Bridget Mulloy—which allows plenty of freelancing and adjusting amongst the players as the ball is carried up the field.
“It’s worked incredibly well,” Fair said. “With that and the chemistry we have
on and off the field, I think that’s why we’ve had so much success.”
In front of Mulloy is junior cocaptain Grace Cooper, who is joined by a couple more newcomers on defense, including Maisie Dembski, Hannah Paprotna and Erica Fanning.
“I thought we all accepted the changes pretty well,” Cooper said. “It was a learning experience for every one, but we’ve all adapted to it and worked on it.”
The basis for Staples’ defense is simple.
“I think the key to field is if you keep it out of the circle, they can’t score,” Tapsall said. “You just try to stop it from even coming into the 25 and our girls have been really successful at doing that.”
The Wreckers have been so successful, in fact, that the team has only
given up five goals all season. Just two of those goals have come in the last 11 games.
“The fact we have four in the back has helped us tremendously,” said Fair, who was moved from defender to center mid this season. “Some of our best players are defenders.”
Up top, Tapsall has turned to a pair of freshmen — Jessica Leon and Ava Ekholdt — and sophomore Julia DiConza to lead a group of six players who rotate through and put up some gaudy numbers.
This season, the Wreckers have scored 94 goals — or 5.9 goals a game.
“We’re coming in with some quick young kids who weren’t quite experienced enough to play midfield or defense, but I knew they would chase every ball,” Tapsall said. “They’ve done a good job for us.”
In the midfield, Fair has been a steady hand to a group that includes junior Kyle Kirby and sophomore Laine Ambrose.
Senior Alexis Tuccinardi has been a backup goalie who has seen a lot of action and helped the Wreckers pile up 11 shutouts this season.
After such a successful regular season, Staples needs to stay focused as it heads into the postseason, in which everybody is undefeated and it only takes one loss to shatter dreams.
“Falling short two years ago was really devastating,” Fair said. “Getting that FCIAC championship would mean a lot to the program, to prove we can do that.”
Staying focused will be the key. “I think we’ll definitely take our confidence and momentum into the postseason,” Cooper said. “But we’re still going to be playing some really strong teams. We need to work really hard and not get comfortable because we had such a good regular season. We need to come out stronger than before.”