Prep soccer celebrates 2nd national title
It’s something that Woodstock Academy coach Owen Finberg said never grows old.
A banquet to celebrate a National Prep Soccer championship.
The Woodstock Academy prep soccer team was feted for a second year in a row at the Anya Restaurant in Thompson last week after being named National Champions by prepsoccer.com in December.
“I don’t mind it, it’s a lot of fun,” Finberg said. “There is a level of expectation that brings with it a lot of pressure and you have to enjoy that. Winning is a by-product of doing things the right way and, sometimes, you do things the right way and it doesn’t work out especially in soccer. For it to come together and for us to celebrate as league and national champions is a testament to the group and coaching staff.”
The Centaurs finished with a 14-1-2 overall record and a Prep Premier League championship in addition to the national title.
The night was not only good for the stomachs but also meant some players went home with some hardware to show for their efforts.
Jude Essuman was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
“It’s a great feeling right now because I was not expecting this. At the beginning of the season, I told myself I was going to do great things to help the team and as a captain, I did my part. I tried to be a good person both on and off the field so that we all helped each other,” Essuman said.
The senior led the team with 13 goals and three assists.
“He had a great season and is a great leader, something that he has grown into. He worked to hold his teammates accountable and holds himself to the standards that we expect. It starts with that example but being a leader is doing so much more than what you are supposed to do,” Finberg said.
Essuman will not be on the Woodstock Academy campus much longer as he will head out to attend Rutgers University in New Jersey where he will play soccer for the Scarlet Knights.
“They’re expecting a lot from me so I’m very prepared to go and get the work done but I’m going to miss Woodstock Academy. I’m going to miss the nice people, teammates and teachers,” Essuman said.
Kevin Christensen and Alvaro Medrano Jr. shared the Golden Gloves honor as both keepers recorded four shutouts for the Centaurs.
“Two great goalies and we’re excited to have Kevin coming back because he played unbelievably well in key moments and has a bright future ahead of him. Alvaro has been an outstanding representative for the team both on and off the field and had another tremendous year for us,” Finberg said.
Jasper Cox received the team’s Most Improved Award.
“Sometimes, you just have to keep working and trust the process; be in the moment, control what you can control and, eventually, things will work out. It took a little while for Jasper but he really took off last spring and this fall, he was just phenomenal,” Finberg said.
Tommy Broderick was the Prep 2 soccer program’s Golden Boot award recipient as he finished with 15 goals and four assists.
Broderick played three sports in high school in Rye, N.Y. and came to Woodstock as a post-grad to concentrate on soccer.
“He knew that it was probably his best path to playing college athletics and using that to help him get into a great school,” Finberg said.
It worked as Broderick recently committed to play college soccer for Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva. N.Y.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
8752: Tyler Hoadley Most improved Player: Jasper Cox
8770: Abel Mickey Watson Most Valuable Player: Jude Essuman
8750: Co- Golden gloves award winner: Kevin Christensen
8747: Prep 2 Golden Boot Award: Tommy Broderick
(2nd person in photos is Woodstock Academy prep soccer had coach Owen Finberg) Photos by Richard Glemawu/Woodstock Academy.
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