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Practice
Woodstock Academy field hockey goalie Rachael Roberts works on her form in practice. Photo by Marc Allard.
Losses to graduation are a fact of life in high school athletics.
But it hurts when a program loses double-digit numbers not just in one year but in two consecutive years.
It’s the challenge that faces the Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer program this season.
What makes it even worse is that three of the graduated players will not be easy to replace.
Leading scorer Ethan Holcomb had 11 goals and 4 assists.
He is now playing lacrosse in college.
Cole Hackett was the anchor of the defense and now wears a Boston University jersey.
Chase Anderson, another defensive stalwart, still plays at The Woodstock Academy, but he is a member of the Blue post-graduate boys’ basketball program and is no longer eligible to play soccer.
“I think they all count as two players,” Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden said. “Those are some big shoes to fill, on and off the field.”
Those three along with players such as Alejandro Gonzalez (6 goals, 5 assists) and Jake Marsalisi led the Centaurs to a 13-6-2 record last season.
They also surprised some by winning the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship and made it into the second round of the Class L state tournament.
That may not be helpful for this newest group of Centaurs.
“We’re going to have to play harder, play better probably, because you know teams will be looking to beat us this season,” said senior captain Sean Rearden.
A repeat performance of that may or may not be in the cards.
“It’s a little bit like last year where I didn’t quite know how it would all pan out,” Paul Rearden said. “In an ideal world, if everybody hits the ground running, we could have something here which is what happened last year. This year could be similar. If we can take the attitude and positivity from last year, maybe.”
One thing that may be different from a year ago is the personality of the team.
It will now be led by senior captains Sean Rearden, Nate Craig and Doug Newton.
“I think there is a good rapport and I think the seniors are closer to the underclassmen. That’s really something we’re trying to focus on this year and that includes those on the JV and freshman teams. We’re trying to get them all feel like they’re on the team,” said Sean Rearden.
Newton is probably the most vocal of the three but his voice will have to be heard from the sideline for much, if not all, the season.
Newton suffered a broken ankle in a summer league soccer game and is just getting off crutches this week.
It means Sean Rearden and Craig will have to be the leaders on the pitch.
“Nathan Craig is the valedictorian of the (senior) class. There is not a better student-athlete in the school. He’s a great captain to lead by example,” Sean Rearden said.
So far, Paul Rearden has liked what he has seen.
“Practices have been very good, the level has been really good,” the Woodstock Academy coach said. “I think this time last year, I was worried about the physicality and that is also similar this year. We’re not going to be the biggest of teams.”
The Centaurs, even without Holcomb and Gonzalez, should be OK offensively.
Eric Phongsa (8 goals, 3 assists), Reid Butler (5 goals) and Sean Rearden (4 goals, 4 assists) should be able to find the net.
Juniors Richard Hickson and Huck Gelhaus will also have to contribute.
Newcomers Logan Talbot and Logan Fairchild will also see time up front in the Centaurs 4-2-3 alignment.
“You could see Eric Phongsa was growing as the year went on. His confidence has grown and grown. He’s been outstanding in practice, he’s always scored a bucket of goals and I think he’s going to enjoy that responsibility. Reid has one of the sweetest left foots that you will see and most of his goals were from a good distance out,” Paul Rearden said.
The Woodstock Academy coach will likely move Craig from the left side to the middle of the defense.
“He’s actually faster than Cole. He’s a good, quiet player,” Paul Rearden said.
Hickson may also see time in the back as will Colin Smith and Jack Butler who may also find himself in the middle.
The Centaurs will also be new at goalie after senior Isidro De Icaza graduated and Jack Lotter decided not to come out for the program.
Sophomores Zach Roethlein and Collin Manuilow will be vying for time in front of the net.
“Both are more than capable,” Paul Rearden said. “Zach has a little more physical presence than Collin but I want to see them battle it out to be the No. 1 goalie rather than being satisfied with sharing,”
The Woodstock Academy coach said with the raw, technical talent the Centaurs have, equaling last year’s record is not out of the question.
However, there is one other intangible.
Woodstock Academy will play in Division I of the ECC this season.
It tied with Ledyard and Bacon Academy for the top spot in Division II last season and went on to win the league championship.
“It’s a completely different ballgame. We go into a game and everyone knows we are last year’s champions and they want to show us who is on the ball this year. There is a big target on the back. Some people thrive on that, others shrink from it. Hopefully, we got the personalities in there and I think we do. I’m genuinely excited with the group we have,” Paul Rearden said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Boys’ soccer:
Thurs., Sept. 12: at Fitch 4 p.m.
Sat., Sept. 14: vs. Valley Regional 11 a.m.
Tues., Sept. 17: vs. Ledyard 3:45 p.m.
Fri., Sept. 20: at East Lyme 6 p.m.
Tues., Sept. 24: vs. Stonington 4 p.m.
Thurs., Sept. 26: at NFA 3:45 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 3: vs. New London 4 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 5: vs. Amherst (MA.) 1 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 7: vs. East Lyme 3:45 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 9: at Coginchaug 4 p.m.
Tues., Oct. 15: at Stonington 4 p.m.
Sat., Oct. 19: at Auburn (MA.) 11 a.m.
Mon., Oct. 21: vs. NFA 3:45 p.m.
Thurs., Oct. 24: at Waterford 6 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 28: vs. Windham 4:15 p.m.
Wed., Oct. 30: at Bacon Academy 4 p.m.
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