Italian 'fire'

in boys' soccer 

Nine goals in four games.

“That’s not bad, is it?” Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer coach Paul Rearden said with a laugh.

It’s what senior Italian exchange student Jacopo Ambrosetti has tallied in his first four games as a member of the Centaurs boys soccer team.

He scored both of Woodstock’s goals in a 2-1 win over Waterford on a breezy, damp Sept. 19 at the Bentley Athletic Complex.

“We were worried about who was going to replace Ryan Black. This was totally unexpected. He just fell into our lap. That boy can play,” Rearden said.

Ambrosetti hails from Verasa, Italy.

It’s a city of about 80,000, located 34 miles north of Milan on the border with Switzerland.

“It’s a very beautiful city. We have several lakes and mountains,” Ambrosetti said.

Ambrosetti didn’t choose to come to Woodstock, the exchange program he signed up with decided this was a good fit for him.

“I just chose the United States, they picked Woodstock,” Ambrosetti said.

He has been playing soccer since he was five-years-old.

“In Italy, it’s a passion,” Ambrosetti said. “Kids play soccer, their parents follow them, everybody wants to become a professional.”

Ambrosetti admits it’s a dream that he harbors.

So why come to the United States?

It’s not exactly a world leader in the sport.

“Soccer is expanding in America. I see that (Americans) want to learn from Europe. I’m positive that soccer will become an important sport in the United States,” Ambrosetti said.

But while he’s here, he has to adapt to American soccer and that isn’t always easy.

“I will be honest with you, in years past, when I came over to play – it’s a massive adjustment,” said Rearden, a native of England.

“(In Europe), you are allowed to protect yourself with your arms. In the rest of the world, that’s a given. There is a difference between using your arms to protect yourself and extending them. I feel the referees here, not just in high school soccer, as soon as the arm comes up, they think the worst of it. The punishment attacking players, such as Jacopo who has a reputation now, take on challenges from behind and they’re not allowed to protect themselves,” Rearden said.

It’s not only soccer that Ambrosetti is adjusting to.

“It’s a big change, not only for soccer, but for life,” he said. “I didn’t come here to play soccer, but for the life experience. I will do my best (in soccer) here. It’s quite different. It’s a matter of culture I think. It’s a tough game, not easy.”

He’s making it look easy.

Ambrosetti scored four goals in his debut for the Centaurs against St. Bernard. He had both of the goals for the Centaurs in a win over Montville and one in a win over Killingly.

Sept. 19, Ambrosetti almost had another hat trick. He scored early in the match with the Lancers (1-2, 1-1 ECC Division II) but was ruled to be offside.

He didn’t make that mistake just moments later when a rebound off a shot came to him and he calmly stuffed it into the lower right side of the net just 11 minutes, 22 seconds into the game.

Nine minutes later, Ambrosetti took a through ball from Cole Hackett for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

The Lancers only tally came on an own goal late in the second half.

“We were more patient with the ball (Tuesday). We passed it, made them chase us all over the field. I was a lot happier with our play,” Rearden said.

Boys’ Soccer

Bacon Academy 3

Woodstock Academy 1

COLCHESTER – Jacopo Ambrosetti scored his 11th goal of the season for the Centaurs, but Woodstock Academy fell two goals shy Sept. 23.

Tyler Donovan scored all three goals for the Bobcats (2-2-1, 2-1-1 ECC Division II), one in the first 10 minutes and the other two in close proximity to one another with about 15 minutes left in the match.

Chase Anderson had an assist for Woodstock (4-2, 3-2).

Stonington 2

Woodstock 1

STONINGTON – Jacopo Ambrosetti scored his 10th goal of the season for the Centaurs, but the Bears won the battle of unbeatens in ECC Division II, 2-1, Sept. 21 in Stonington.

Ambrosetti converted on a penalty kick for Woodstock Academy (4-1, 3-1 ECC Division II) midway through the second half to tie the game.

But Stonington (6-0, 3-0) scored late to remain spotless for the season.

Marc Allard

Sports Information Director

 

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