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Field hockey
season closes
It was not an easy path for the Woodstock Academy field hockey team to close out the season.
The final seven games for the Centaurs took place on the road.
“They were exhausted,” said coach Lauren Gagnon. “They didn’t even remember what their home uniforms looked like.”
As a result, the Centaurs finished with a 5-11 overall record and a 4-8 ECC mark and failed to qualify for any postseason play.
The final two Centaurs games were perfect examples of how the season went for Woodstock Academy.
The Centaurs lost in Waterford, 2-1, and then traveled to Killingly and fell, 3-0.
Woodstock Academy needed to win both to earn a Class M state tournament berth and had to beat Killingly to be part of the ECC tournament.
Eliza Dutson scored the only goal for the Centaurs in the final two games.
She put home her fourth of the season against the Lancers when she inserted to Sarah Delaney off a corner and Delaney passed it back to her for the goal that tied the game.
Shortly after, Dutson had to leave the game when she was struck in the hand and suffered a broken finger.
In the time it took to reduce the swelling and pain and Dutson was able to hold on to a stick again, the Lancers had scored the game-winning goal.
The game against the Red Hawks was difficult for another reason.
It was played on grass. It’s something the Centaurs are not too fond of.
Hailey Radtke put Killingly on the board with 11 minutes left in the first half. Goals by Soudalath Souvanhnaphan and Brianna Caffrey late in the first half sealed the win and an ECC tournament berth for Killingly.
Rachel Canedy and Olivia Ott both had three shots for the Centaurs in the loss, one of Canedy’s found the cage but was called back because the ball had hit a foot before going in.
Avery Jones was named a first team Division I ECC All-Star while both Dutson and Canedy received honorable mention. Emma Durand, for a second straight year, was the team’s scholar-athlete and Danielle Chaput was the sportsmanship award winner.
One of the big areas that Woodstock Academy will focus on next season is putting the ball in the cage. The Centaurs get their top two scorers back as Canedy (6 goals, 4 assists) and Dutson (4 goals, 1 assist) return.
Canedy really improved when it came to her emotional maturity this season and has become a leader both on and off the field. Dutson, who has battled injuries, is healthy now outside of the finger issue.
The defense remains solid with Delaney, Meg Preston, Suzanne and Madeline Silbermann, and Sofia Murray.
It’s the midfield where the Centaurs will miss Jones, Durand, Sophia Rakovan (3 goals this season) and Madelyn LeCuyer.
The Centaurs also lose Rachael Roberts in goal but Kaily LaChappelle saw plenty of action this season and will return.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
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