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Lacrosse
team rules
win column
Spring break is not easy on athletic teams.
The Woodstock Academy girls’ lacrosse team was missing some 15 players over the course of the week. It didn’t hurt them in the win-loss column.
The Centaurs rolled past Norwich Free Academy early in the week, for just the second time in the history of the program, 11-5. After their game with Northwest Catholic was postponed by inclement weather and field conditions, the weather cleared April 21 and allowed the Centaurs to score an 8-3 win over RHAM High School in Hebron.
It gave the Centaurs a 3-0 record to start the season.
“I’m surprised, but we’re just pushing forward. We are going to keep going,” said coach Kathleen Johnson.
The key last week was the play of freshman Bridget Horst.
Horst scored three goals and added an assist in the win over the Sachems. That followed a four-goal effort against the Wildcats in less than ideal conditions earlier in the week.
While Horst is a first year player for the Centaurs, she is not new to the game.
“I’ve been playing for seven years. I like soccer and hockey, but I like lacrosse the most,” Horst said.
Johnson was familiar with the freshman before she came to The Academy.
She coached her in Pomfret youth lacrosse several years ago.
“She is a phenomenal athlete who comes from a family of phenomenal athletes,” Johnson said.
Horst showed off her abilities quickly against NFA.
In a game played in less than ideal conditions at the Bentley Athletic Complex where temperatures were in the 40s, the wind was gusty and biting and, to add insult, rain and sleet intermittently joined the fun, Horst was steadfast.
Just 10 seconds into the game, Horst found herself with the ball in front of the net and had an open shot.
She hardly hesitated, putting it past NFA goalie Jillian Brunelli.
“I hope I’m fitting in pretty well,” the freshman said afterward.
Most would agree that she has.
“She is just a joy to have for her talent, her leadership on the field, but also her lacrosse IQ,” Centaurs coach Kathleen Johnson said. “People don’t realize when they are watching how many times she uses her left hand, or she fakes, or knows who to go to. It’s her knowledge of the game that helps us so much as well.”
NFA rallied to take the lead on goals by Kathleen Kelly and Elefteria Kilimos, but Arielle Johnson (2 goals, 1 assist) tied it for the Centaurs with 15:38 left in the first half.
Horst then put Woodstock ahead to stay on a free position goal with 9:54 left. After Julia Schad scored for the Centaurs, Horst completed her hat trick on a goal with 3:34 left.
Two Ivy Gelhaus goals put the Centaurs up at the half, 6-2.
“It was important to get off to a good start,” said Kathleen Johnson. “Our game this year is a running game, a transition game, we want to push it from the beginning because we have phenomenal athletes. We need to come out tough.”
The Centaurs not only came out tough, they stayed tough.
They were even better in the second half, dominating possession, and holding the Wildcats to three shots in the first 15 minutes.
“What you saw was our draw control.” Kathleen Johnson said. “Just having Emma Redfield and Ivy Gelhaus on the circle with Bridget is so important. They are just awesome on ground balls and control.”
Against RHAM April 21, Arielle Johnson (1 assist) and Redfield each scored two goals while Emma Ciquera had the other.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director