After winning nine games during the regular season, the Staples varsity girls soccer defeated Southington 2-1 during the first round of the CIAC state tournament on Tuesday. The Wreckers’ outside back defender, Lauren Kratky ‘11, scored both goals off of free kicks.
“Southington got fouled a lot and I was fortunate to be able to make the two free kicks I took,” Kratky said.
Kratky shot the first goal from roughly around 40-yards out and the second goal was shot from several yards outside of the 18-yard box.
However the win did not come easy for the Class LL’s 11th seeded team. During the first half of the game the Wreckers were down 1-0. Tri-captain Shannon Moss ’11 noted that the wind was one of the factors that influenced the game.
“We realized that long balls in the air wouldn’t be effective because of the wind so we settled the ball down and played on the ground and they couldn’t stop us,” Moss said.
After halftime the team came out much stronger during the second half and were determined to beat the 22nd seed team in the tournament.
“We have worked too hard to lose in the first round of States,” Kratky said.
The Wreckers’ second round game will be played Nov. 11 against Naugatuck, the sixth seed in the tournament, at Naugatuck High School.