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With 1 minute, 7 seconds left in the field hockey game between the Woodstock Academy Centaurs and Stonington Bears last week, Stonington called a time out. Bears coach Jenna Tucchio called it to go over some last-minute strategy.
Centaurs’ coach Lauren Gagnon urged her team to dig down. “Are you satisfied?” she asked. To a player, the answer was “No.” Unfortunately, time was not on their side.
Stonington was able to run out the clock and held on for a 2-1 win over the Centaurs.
“They weren’t satisfied, neither was I. It wasn’t the result that we wanted, but every day we’re getting better, we’re playing better, never giving up. Last year’s team might have packed it in a little bit, same thing as in the past, but I’m proud of their effort, attitude, and sportsmanship,” Gagnon said.
The Centaurs also didn’t let the close loss bother them throughout the week.
They fought through a driving rainstorm to score a 6-0 victory over Norwich Free Academy before Valley Regional got the best of them Sept. 28, 3-1.
It left the Centaurs just about even for the season going into the week with a 3-4 overall record and a 2-2 mark - tied with Killingly whom they meet Oct. 5.
The Centaurs had high hopes going into the Stonington contest. They have yet to beat the Bears on the field. Those hopes were further buoyed in the first half.
The Centaurs took the 1-0 lead when Brin put one by Stonington goalie Claire Evans with 8:01 left in the opening half.
Lily Brin was on the post on the right side when Rachel Canedy took a shot. Canedy’s shot didn’t find its mark, it rebounded off the post but found the stick of teammate Eliza Dutson. The junior pulled it around and passed it Brin. It was the first career varsity goal for the senior.
Unfortunately, the Centaurs needed more. They almost got it. With just 3:12 off the clock in the second half, Avery Jones and Dutson almost combined off a corner but Evans was able to make the kick save.
The combination had another chance off another corner but again, Evans shut the door.
With 22:37 left in the match, Elena Korinek was part of a large group in front of the Woodstock Academy goal.
There was little keeper Kaily Lachappelle could do.
Korinek worked it around Lachappelle’s foot and put it into the cage to tie the game.
Just 4 ½ minutes later, the Bears got a much prettier effort from Korinek who took a cross from teammate Sandy McGugan and put it home for what proved to be the game winner.
Sept. 26 Olivia Ott gave the Centaurs the early lead over the Wildcats when she took a pass from Canedy and put the ball into the back of the cage just 1:53 into the game.
Sophia Rakovan made it 2-0 when she put in a rebound off an Ott shot with 17:07 left in the first half for her third goal of the season.
Canedy began the scoring parade when she scored just over five minutes into the second half.
Danielle Chaput, Avery Jones and Madelyn Lecuyer also scored in the second half for the Centaurs.
Sept. 28, the Centaurs burst out to the lead early, but Valley Regional rallied and posted the win.
Canedy (4 goals, 4 assists this season) scored the only goal for the Centaurs off a Maria Santucci assist to give Woodstock Academy the lead. The Centaurs thought they were up by two goals when they scored off a corner, but the tally was disallowed and the Warriors (2-4) had the better of the play the remainder of the way.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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