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Senior Day
The seniors on the Woodstock Academy football team gathered for Senior Day festivities. Photo by Marc Allard.
There are still two big football games to go against Ledyard and Killingly.
And Woodstock football coach Sean Saucier wanted to give his next two opponents something to think about. So, the Centaurs (6-2) moved quarterback Ethan Davis to receiver, and installed Saucier’s son, Braiden, the heir apparent to Davis, in at quarterback and the result was a pair of touchdowns in a 27-6 win over the Griswold/Wheeler. Woodstock got the ball on the first of two interceptions by safety Austin Amlaw at the Centaur 36.
Braiden Saucier (3-for-9 passing, 145 yards) launched a ball down the right sideline. Davis caught it and went in for the 64-yard score.
The Centaurs recovered their onside kick and five plays later, running back Payton Barna found some running room. Barna, who led the Centaurs with 50 yards in seven carries, swept to the right side and found daylight, going 22 yards for the score.
Braiden Saucier hit Carter Saracina (two catches, 67 yards) with a crossing route. He took Braiden Saucier’s pass into the end zone from 54 yards out for a 21-0 halftime lead.
The Wolverines got their only score in the fourth quarter when Ryan Pelilo (15 carries, 40 yards) ran it in from two yards out.
The Centaurs finished things off when Davis (6-for-15 passing, 78 yards) hit Jackson Goetz for a 9-yard score with 1:28 left.
Woodstock, with its 3-0 divisional record, has already clinched a tie for the ECC Div. II title with the Ledyard Colonels. But the Centaurs, with a win on Nov. 13, could finish undefeated in the division and clinch the title outright.
Prep Soccer Wins Tournament
The Woodstock boys’ prep soccer team, in its inaugural season, won its own tournament with a 2-0 victory over Putnam Science Academy Nov. 7.
The Centaurs opened the tournament with a 4-2 win over St. Thomas More. Woodstock broke out to a 4-0 lead and cruised from there. Striker Mario de la Cruz scored two goals for the Centaurs with Niall O’Brien and Tiago Assis getting the others.
Nov. 7 the Centaurs and Mustangs played to a scoreless first half. But the Centaurs broke through just 5 ½ minutes into the second half when Zach Lorenz took a through ball from Marc Belart and converted for the 1-0 lead.
The insurance came with 2 minutes, 27 seconds left when Belart took a short corner from Lorenz, dribbled back toward the middle and rocketed a shot that found its way inside the far post.
Volleyball Season Done
There was no doubt that the Centaurs wanted to see their volleyball season extend past the ECC tournament, but that was not to be this season. The Centaurs played a quarterfinal game against the top seed in the Div. I tournament, Lyman Memorial, and fell 3-1.
It was the 14th win in a row for the Bulldogs who advanced to the ECC tournament championship, but lost in the final to E. Lyme.
The Bulldogs took the first two sets relatively handily, 25-16 and 25-11. The Centaurs rallied to win the third set, 25-19. The Bulldogs closed out the evening with a 25-14 victory in the fourth set. Liliana Bottone had 12 digs and five aces for Woodstock. Ellie Nunes added 12 digs and Annarose Avery had seven assists.
The loss ended the Centaurs season at 5-16. But lots of youngsters got lots of minutes against competitive teams.
The Centaurs only lose three seniors but they had impact this year. Aurissa Boardman led the team with 215 kills at outside hitter as well as service points (188) and aces (46). She was named an ECC All-Star. Annarose Avery was tops on the team in assists with 274 and also added 155 service points. Lizzy Lovrien lost much of the season to COVID but when she returned was a steadying influence in the back as she finished with 82 digs. Lovrien was given the ECC Sportsmanship Award while Leila MacKinnon received the team’s ECC Scholar-Athlete nod. But it will be Boardman who will be most difficult to replace. Coach does have two quality middle hitters in Morgan Bonin (47 kills, 6 blocks) and Reegan Reynolds (28 kills, 5 blocks). Bonin has played outside but is not as effective as she is in the middle.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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