- Details
- Category: Past Issues
caption, page 10:
The Lineup
Left to right: Woodstock Academy's Midfielder MacKenzie Papuga, forward Molly Thompson, Danielle Nowak, defender Harley Blodgett and defender Amanda Gladu. Courtesy photo.
By Ron P. Coderre
One of Woodstock Academy’s five departing senior soccer players closed out her career by being selected to participate in a prestigious all star game.
Senior goalkeeper Danielle Nowak was chosen to participate in the Connecticut Girls Soccer Coaches Association Senior Bowl All Star game. Nowak was nominated by her coach Dennis Snelling for the Dec. 1 contest, which was played at Berlin High School.
Nowak, who was the starting goalie for the Centaurs for four seasons, has posted outstanding credentials during her tenure minding the net for the Acads. Her stats include more than 500 career saves, three years as an All-League selection and 30 career shutouts. This past season Woodstock posted an 8-7-1 record with five of the losses coming as the result of 1-0 shutouts. With any luck and thanks to Nowak’s 210 save the 2012 Lady Centaurs could easily have been 13-2-1.
“It’s rare in high school that someone will be a starting goalkeeper for four years. Danielle however is a natural leader and probably the best goalie I’ve had the good fortune to coach during my five years as a head coach,” said coach Snelling.
Nowak was one of only two players from Windham County to be selected in the 82-player event. While in the contest in which she shared time with other goalies, she was the only net minder who didn’t allow a goal, posting eight saves in a 3-2 victory for her team.
“Danielle can be proud that she played among high school seniors who were considered the best in the State of Connecticut. She’s equally proud of the fact that for the past four years she’s been part of a group of players who consider themselves family,” said Snelling.
In addition to the loss of Nowak, the Woodstock lady’s soccer program will lose midfielder MacKenzie Papuga of Brooklyn, forward Molly Thompson of Canterbury, defender Harley Blodgett of Woodstock and defender Amanda Gladu of Canterbury to graduation.
“Losing five outstanding seniors to graduation will leave a big hole to fill for next season. We’ll be looking for some of the younger players to step up and fill leadership roles as we carry on the tradition that is Woodstock Academy women’s soccer,” Snelling added.