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It’s certainly a truism.
The Woodstock Academy Centaurs girls’ soccer team has not allowed a goal yet this season.
“We’re happy with it because you can’t lose if you don’t let any goals in,” said Woodstock Academy coach Dennis Snelling.
The Centaurs delivered two more shutout victories this past week.
“We have a lot of experienced players back for their second or third year and have been pretty much together. We practice really hard and play at a complicated, really advanced level and that has a lot to do with the progression of the ball,” Snelling said of his team’s defensive prowess.
They traveled to Waterford for a 1-0 victory Sept. 11 and came home Sept. 14 where they delivered a dominant effort in a 2-0 victory at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
The Centaurs (2-0-1) failed to score in the first half in their win over East Lyme although they had plenty of opportunities.
The Centaurs took 15 shots on goal in the first half alone, six were saved by East Lyme keeper Avery Owen, the majority of the rest sailed over the top or just wide.
But the silence was broken 7 minutes, 49 seconds into the second half when senior Ivy Gelhaus scored her second goal of the season.
Gelhaus picked up a clearing boot from Linda St. Laurent near midfield.
She did the rest herself with the East Lyme defense closing in as she closed in on Owen.
Gelhaus was forced to switch to her left foot which she used to send the ball to the left of Owen and into the corner of the net.
“She’s very good with both feet finishing the ball. It’s good that she is scoring early this year with important goals in close games. She’s got the confidence going early,” Snelling said.
Sophomore Brynn Kusnarowis delivered the insurance goal.
She took a free kick from 35-yards out with just over 17 minutes left.
“It was a rocket,” Snelling said. “The goalie didn’t even have time to react. It was almost like she wasn’t ready for the quick shot. We tell her to do what she thinks is right which is either serving it into the box or shoot it at the goal. She had three or four of those last year.”
Earlier in the week, Regan Stuyniski sent in a ball from midfield that bounced over the Waterford keeper’s head and on to the foot of Gelhaus who put it into the net with four minutes left in the match.
The Centaurs outshot the Lancers (1-1), 10-8, while keeper Irene Askitis made six saves. Askitis got a little assist from back Hallie Saracina who cleared a ball off the line late in the match that could have tied it for Waterford.
Boys’ soccer
While the Centaurs girls haven’t allowed a goal all season, the Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team hadn’t scored a goal all soccer season.
That changed Sept. 14 in New London.
Woodstock Academy handed New London a 9-0 defeat.
“Normally, these kinds of games turn out scrappy, but our boys kept their standards and work rate and played some fantastic soccer. The New London lads never stopped working until the final whistle; they kept their heads and discipline too. I was really impressed with them,” said Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden.
Ethan Holcomb finished with the hat trick for the Centaurs while Matt LaBounty, Aaron Johnson, Eric Phongsa, Sean Rearden, Eridon Mehmeti and Reid Butler also scored.
The Centaurs are now 1-2 overall and 1-0 in Division II of the Eastern Connecticut Conference.
Earlier in the week, the Centaurs lost to Amherst, Mass, 1-0.
Just 70 seconds into the match, Soul-Jah Ferreira took a deep cross from Brayan Rivas Martinez and headed it past Centaurs goalie Jack Lotter for the only goal of the match.
It was one of only two shots the Centaurs allowed Amherst (2-0) in the first half.
Holcomb had a pair of good opportunities for the Centaurs.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
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