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Centaur boys
qualify for
state tourney
The Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team will have a postseason experience.
The Centaurs took it down to the wire but qualified for the Class L state tournament in their final regular season game with an 8-0 win over Plainfield.
“It’s massive,” said Centaurs coach Paul Rearden. “We had a tough start to the season and were in a tough group (in the ECC). With the way the boys have played, it’s great that they have some sort of reward at the end of the season.”
Woodstock won only one of its first six games but finished on a 5-3-1 note to end the season at 6-8-1 and above the 40 percent needed to qualify for the state tournament.
Plainfield has had it even tougher. The Panthers fell to 1-10-1 with the loss and had a very thin bench.
The Centaurs took advantage early with junior Max Ferreira putting his team up early. Ferreira took a pass from Ty Morgan just over five minutes into the match and put it into the Panthers’ net.
Then Collin Manuilow sent a ball in from near midfield but Ferreira was again in the right place at the right time. He got his head on the ball and directed it into the net.
It was Ferreira’s fifth goal of the season and added to his three assists, he finished tied with Morgan for the regular season team lead in points with eight apiece.
Woodstock added two more goals in the first half against the shorthanded Panthers. Noah Page scored two minutes after Ferreira’s second goal off the first of two assists on the day by freshman John Bennett. Beltran Velasco finished up the first half scoring with 18:19 to play with an unassisted tally.
Morgan had a hat trick in the second half. The three goals gave him a team-best seven on the season. Freshman Austin Byer added a goal to equal the Centaurs first half production.
Earlier in the week, whether it was the lack of practice the day before, the Senior Day festivities prior to the match, Bacon Academy, the windy and cold conditions or a combination of all those factors, the Centaurs could get little going against the Bobcats.
Woodstock finished its ECC Div. II season with a 3-5 mark following a 2-0 loss to the Bobcats.
The Centaurs took only four shots at the Bacon net.
“We tried a few different formations, trying to get a little jump, but like I said to the boys, ‘Some games it doesn’t matter how hard you try,’ Rearden said.
The Centaurs were a couple of moments late on a pair of crosses in the first half. In the second half, the best opportunity was a 45-yard bomb by Gabriel Viau that had to be tipped up and over the Bacon goal by Bobcat keeper Ryan Claffey.
The Bobcats (11-4, 6-2) didn’t have many more opportunities. The first came with 9 minutes, 24 seconds left in the first half when Bacon was awarded a direct kick just outside the penalty area.
Keegan Appleby, instead of taking the shot, shuffled it over to Blumberger who put it home for the 1-0 halftime advantage.
Brian Jameson came on in the second half for the Centaurs in goal and made a great save off a penalty kick awarded to Bacon after a handball in the area.
Jameson tipped Aidan McLoughlin’s free shot over the top of the net. But in so doing, gave Bacon Academy a corner.
Ian Sargent’s corner sailed across the goal mouth to Blumberger who was stationed to the left of Jameson and the Bobcat senior put it over Jameson’s right shoulder for the insurance tally.
The Centaurs were treated to a pregame Senior Day celebration with Henry Driscoll, Ryan Odorski, Manuilow, Morgan, Damian Young, David Ramos and Zach Roethlein honored.
“All are great kids,” Rearden said “The seniors have done great and even those who have not played many minutes have given massive support from the bench.”
Woodstock did not qualify for the ECC tournament and the state tournament won’t begin Nov. 9 unless the Centaurs have a playdown match Nov. 6.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
caption, page 2:
Senior Day
Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer seniors, from left: David Ramos, Zach Roethlein, Damian Young, Ty Morgan, Collin Manuilow, Ryan Odorski and Henry Driscoll were honored on Senior Day prior to the match with Bacon Academy. Photo by Marc Allard.
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