Greenwich High boys soccer team loses first game of season in FCIAC Tournament title matchup against Staples

By David Fierro on October 30, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Greenwich High School senior Alexander Amato, left pursues the ball as does Gabriel Hellman of Staples during the championship game of the 2025 FCIAC Tournament.

One of the Greenwich High School varsity boys soccer team’s toughest wins came when it rallied for a one-goal, come-from-behind victory over Staples after facing a two-goal deficit against the Wreckers on Sept. 16th. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the scenario didn’t follow the same script when they played the Wreckers in the championship game of the FCIAC Tournament on Oct. 27th at Fairfield Warde High School.

Second-seeded Staples seized a two-goal first half lead on top-seeded Greenwich and held on for a hard-fought 3-2 win to capture its first FCIAC Tournament championship since the 2010 season. The loss was the first of the season for the Cardinals, who were seeking to repeat as FCIAC Tournament champions.

Greenwich, which defeated Stamford for the FCIAC Tournament title in 2024, has a record of 17-1 heading into the rapidly approaching CIAC Class LL Tournament. The FCIAC final between the No. 1-seeded Cardinals and No. 2-seeded Wreckers was a duel featuring squads with contrasting styles but of course, the same goal of claiming the championship hardware.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** James Whiteside of Greenwich (No. 8) and Mateus Bongiolo (No. 6) go after the ball during the FCIAC Boys Soccer Tournament final against Staples. The Wreckers won, 3-2.

Junior Adrian Rodriguez scored two goals and senior Brendan Allen added a goal for Staples, which led 2-0 in the first half, before going into halftime with a 3-1 advantage. Seniors Matheus Bongiolo and Henry Davis scored one goal apiece for Greenwich, which threatened to tally the equalizer late in the second half, but fell just short in this championship matchup.

“We kind of knew what they were going to do and the fact is, we didn’t deal with it well enough in the first half,” Greenwich High coach Kurt Putnam said following the FCIAC final on Oct. 27th. “They play territorial soccer, deep and long. Liam has done a heck of a job coaching them in a way he thinks they’re going to be successful. Tonight, it proved to be successful.”

Staples scored the game’s first goal in the 18th minute. Senior captain Gabriel Duque sent a cross to Rodriguez, who got a good touch on the ball and quickly sent it past GHS junior goalie Oliver Almeida, giving the Wreckers a 1-0 edge. Cardinals senior captain Manuel Bonilla registered a pair of shots on goal, one of which was a header directed at Staples’ goalie, who kept his team in front, 1-0.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Senior Henry Davis of the Greenwich High School varsity boys soccer team goes up for a header against Staples in the FCIAC Tournament title game.

It became a two-goal advantage for Staples when it executed a set piece well with 5:50 remaining in the first half. Senior Gabe Hellman booted his corner kick into the box and Allen got his right foot on it deep in the box and tallied, putting the Wreckers on top, 2-0.

Greenwich cut Staples’ lead in half, closing to within 2-1 when Bongiolo latched onto a free kick and with his left foot and directed his volley past D’Amore in the 36th minute. That gave the Cards a quick momentum boost, yet the Wreckers regained it with a goal late in the opening half.

Staples scored another goal from close range, with Rodriguez scoring off a Hellman corner kick, making it 3-1 in the 38th minute. Trailing 3-1, Greenwich came out especially strong in the second half.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro**: Members of the Greenwich High School varsity boys soccer team gathers prior to playing Staples in the championship game of the FCIAC Tournament.

“We just didn’t do a good enough job of minimizing their opportunities,” Putnam said. “They scored three goals inside the 6-yard box, it happens. We have to learn from that, but I thought we played a great second half.”

“We were all over them in the second half,” Putnam continued. “Unfortunately, in the end, good football didn’t find its way to score enough goals in the second half.”

The Cardinals crept to within one goal again, tallying in the 71st minute. Senior defender Nick Martschenko took a free kick from 35 yards out, which was headed into the net nicely by Davis, cutting Staples edge to 3-2.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography**: Greenwich senior Francisco Luzuriaga controls the ball vs. Staples.

“We got one goal back, we had some other chances, it’s disappointing for the boys,” Putnam noted about his squad. “Two different contrasting styles and one style just did enough over the other.”

“Our team went out and did what I asked them to do,” Putnam added. “I asked them to go out there, minimize their opportunities go play our game with movement and I thought we were great in the second half.”

Greenwich had several more chances in the second half to tie the championship matchup, but the Wreckers held off the Cardinals and held on for the win, securing their first FCIAC Tournament title in 15 seasons. Almeida made several stellar saves for Greenwich, which was led defensively by Davis, Martschenko, senior David Boside and Jason O’Brien, also a senior.

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Alexander Amato of the Cardinals (No. 9) in action vs. Staples.

“This is not how we wanted it to end, but I think we played better football, especially in that second half,” said GHS senior captain Francisco Luzuriaga, who helped ignite the Cards up front versus the Wreckers. “That’s how Kurt wanted us to play. We came up short, but we played the game we wanted to play in this game.”

Said Davis: “At the end of the day, it’s not the result we wanted. It’s not the idea of a perfect night, the perfect end to the FCIAC season that we wanted. But I can’t say how proud I am of these boys. There’s only one reason why we’ve gone 17 games before we were beaten, it’s the amount of hours we put on the training field, the amount of heart we put out on the pitch. Every single one of these players, whether it’s the starting 11 or everyone, we all push each other to be better every single day.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Cardinals goalie Oliver Almeida gets ready to make a save against Staples.

Greenwich is seeded No. 2 in the CIAC Class LL Boys Soccer Tournament and has earned a first-round bye. The Cardinals will host either No. 15 Wilbur Cross or No. 16 Platt in the second round of the Class LL Tournament.

The Cardinals last won the CIAC Class LL state championship in 2022, defeating Hall for the title.

“We wanted to win everything, this team has what it takes to win everything, so we’re not expecting anything else except a state title now,” Luzuriaga said. “This is just for fuel for that.”

**06878 Photography by Antonio Monteiro:** Cardinals goalie Oliver Almeida clears the ball in the title game vs. Staples.

**Photo by Antonio Monteiro/06878 Photography:** Greenwich High senior defender Nicholas Martschenko takes a free kick.

“I’m so proud of these boys and I know we can bounce back,” Davis noted. “There’s still so much more to come. I know this team has so much more in them. We have so much more to prove still and I know we are going to be up there for states – don’t count us out.”