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Lacrosse
Senior Arielle Johnson will be a key up front for the Woodstock Academy girls’ lacrosse team this season.
It was a memorable 2018 for the Woodstock Academy girls’ lacrosse team.
The Centaurs are hopeful that can be repeated in 2019.
Woodstock Academy accomplished a number of firsts last season.
It finished in a tie with Stonington and Bacon Academy for its first Eastern Connecticut Conference regular season title. All three teams finished with identical 5-1 Division II marks.
It made its first ECC tournament appearance where the Centaurs hung tough early against Stonington but eventually fell, 9-7, in a semifinal game.
It qualified for the Class M state tournament for just a second time in its history and won its first-ever state tournament game, 10-6, over Mercy before losing in the quarterfinals to Guilford.
“We exceeded expectations,” senior Arielle Johnson said.
The Centaurs finished with a 14-5 overall record.
This season, the Centaurs have been bumped up to Division I in the ECC alongside East Lyme, Fitch and Norwich Free Academy.
“We’re kind of the underdogs so we have to push through that and we like to prove people wrong,” Arielle Johnson added.
The Centaurs will be missing two key ingredients from last year.
First team ECC All-Star Madison Brennan now wears the uniform of Worcester State while ECC honorable mention choice, Bridget Horst, as expected, is now at Pomfret School.
It will be an experienced team
“Leadership from players in each class will be necessary to compete and win,” Kathleen Johnson said. “Hard work will continue to be at the forefront of our program.”
Captain Emma Ciquera, who has already committed to going to Fairleigh Dickinson College in the fall, will anchor the midfield. Ciquera was also an ECC Honorable Mention All-Star choice last season.
Springfield College commit Arielle Johnson will be up front with seniors Ivy Gelhaus and Aislin Tracey and junior Emma Redfield in the middle.
The defense will be anchored by seniors Regan Stuyniski and Katie Mason while sophomore Kyleigh Gagnon will play in front of the net.
Kathleen Johnson was still getting a look at some of the newcomers to the program but was excited about the return of sophomores Rachel Canedy and Peyton Saracina.
“Our athleticism is our strength. We have a ton of great athletes who come over from other sports. Great speed, athleticism and great teammates. We love to support each other. That was definitely one of our big strengths last year,” Arielle Johnson said. The team also has something else as a result of last season. “We have a lot more confidence, a lot more motivation knowing that we can do this, we can do well and know how good we can be. We’re just going to try and improve on that and get better,” Arielle Johnson added.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
Date Opponent Time/Location
Apr. 1 RHAM 4 p.m./ Home (Bentley)
Apr. 2 E.O. Smith 3:45 p.m./ Home (South Campus)
Apr. 6 Griswold 11 a.m. / Away
Apr. 9 Stonington 6:30 p.m. / Away
Apr. 11 Ledyard 4 p.m./ Home (South Campus)
Apr. 16 Fitch 4 p.m./ Away
Apr. 18 NFA Noon/ Home (Bentley)
Apr. 20 Montville 11 a.m./ Home (South Campus)
Apr. 25 Bacon Academy 4:30 p.m./ Away
Apr. 26 Ellington 4 p.m. / Home
Apr. 27 E. Lyme Noon/ Home (South Campus)
Apr. 30 Waterford 4:15 p.m./ Home (Bentley)
May 2 Fitch 4 p.m. / Home (Bentley)
May 3 Ellington 4 p.m. / Away
May 9 E. Lyme 7 p.m. / Away
May 11 NFA Noon / Away
..