The Centaurs girls’ lacrosse team is off to a rather nice start this spring season.
Ivy Gelhaus scored four goals and had four draw controls to lead the Centaurs to their third consecutive win to start the season, 14-4, over Griswold in Jewett City April 7.
Rachel Canedy added a hat trick for Woodstock Academy while senior captain Emma Ciquera scored her 12th goal of the season.
Aislin Tracey (1 assist) added two goals while Peyton Saracina (1 assist), Ashley LaFramboise, Julia Schad (2 assists) and Katie Mason also scored for Woodstock Academy.
It was the first loss in three games this season for the Wolverines.
“Super-happy, super-proud of the girls, we’re just a fabulous team and, as the girls have talked about, we have a lot of threats all over the field so it’s making it a team game and makes it difficult for opponents to defend or challenge us,” Woodstock Academy coach Kathleen Johnson said of the fast start.
Indeed, there has been little in the way of a challenge so far.
The Centaurs opened with a 13-2 win over RHAM April 1 and followed that up with a 16-4 one-sided win over E.O. Smith April 2.
“I think we’re just a really close team,” said senior captain Ciquera. “We really connect and that really helps us. We know where to put the ball and know where everyone is supposed to be.”
Ciquera has been a scoring machine for the Centaurs early.
She scored half-dozen goals in the win over the Sachems in the opener and followed that up with a five-goal effort versus the Panthers.
“She has been on fire,” Johnson said.
It’s a little different for Ciquera.
She plays defense for her club lacrosse side.
“I’m a little surprised, but I couldn’t do it without my team,” Ciquera said. “I love playing all the positions. I love playing defense also, but it’s good to put some in the net too.”
Gelhaus (9 goals this season) also scored five goals in the win over E.O. Smith while Arielle Johnson had a goal and a pair of assists. Emma Redfield, Tracey, Saracina, Schad, and Canedy also scored.
Redfield, Tracey and Saracina all had two goals in the opening win over RHAM with Schad also netting one. Gelhaus had eight draw controls against the Sachems.
“People don’t realize how much Ivy does on the draws. She will win over 50 percent of the draws each game and if you don’t have possession, you can’t score,” said Kathleen Johnson.
Another help has been the experience. The Centaurs feature 11 seniors.
I think they have come hungry, ready to play and some have played club in the offseason. I’m not surprised, just excited, but the toughest (games) are still to come. We’re looking forward to facing them and, hopefully, we will have some good results,” Kathleen Johnson added.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy

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