Undefeated season
in rearview mirror
It’s the obvious question. How does the Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team improve on last year’s undefeated record?
Centaurs coach Paul Rearden just dropped his eyes to the floor when asked that and quietly muttered, “Match it.” If the Centaurs do, it would be a marked improvement.
“With all due respect, even with the squad we had last year, it would have been a different season had we played the teams we’re playing this year,” Rearden said.
Gone are the Windham Tech, Putnam, Parish Hill and Tourtellotte matches.
Back are the games against the likes of Stonington, Waterford, E. Lyme and Norwich Free Academy.
“It’s going to be an eye-opener for (his players). This is a different level,” Rearden said.
Junior defender Wyatt Robbie said of the more difficult schedule. “I think everyone is always looking for a bigger challenge."
Despite not having played each other for a couple of years, Rearden also knows that the undefeated record the Centaurs sported a year ago will be bulletin board material for their opponents.
They will carry that around minus some of their key components from that undefeated team.
Among those key players who are no longer in a Centaur uniform are leading scorer Eric Phongsa (12 goals, 7 assists last season), All-State player Huck Gelhaus (8,5) and ECC All-Star Rich Hickson (7,7). Ty Morgan, the team’s second-leading scorer with nine goals a year ago, is back. Noah Page will move up from the back to the mid.
Jack Marshall, Jeff Phongsa and newcomer Manuel Vidal will join Page in the middle. Robbie will be a key in the back.
“He’s a great leader with loads of experience and plays with a very high-level club,” Rearden said.
Baden Eaton and Colin Manuilow will also be stationed in front of keeper Brian Jameson.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Boys’ soccer schedule; Thursday, Sept. 9: at Fitch, 4 p.m.; Sat. Sept. 11: at Windham, 11 a.m.; Tuesday, Sept. 14: vs. NFA, 4; Friday, Sept. 17: at Ledyard, 4:15; Friday. Sept. 24: vs. Waterford, 4; Tuesday, Sept. 28: vs. Stonington, 4; Thursday, Sept. 30: vs. Killingly, 3:45; Saturday, Oct. 2: at Valley Regional, 6; Wednesday, Oct. 6: at E. Lyme, 4:15; Friday, Oct. 8: at Bacon Academy, 4:15; Wednesday, Oct. 13: vs. Windham, 4; Saturday, Oct. 16: vs. Ledyard, 11; Wednesday, Oct. 20: at Waterford, 6; Saturday. Oct. 23: vs. Burrillville, 11; Wednesday, Oct. 27: vs. Bacon Academy, 4; Saturday, Oct. 30: at Plainfield, 11.
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caption:
Ready
Wyatt Thienel and the Woodstock Academy football team are ready to kick off the football season Sept. 10. Marc Allard photo.
High hopes for
Centaurs’
football in ‘21
It’s not just the numbers. It’s the distribution of those numbers.
The Woodstock Academy football team has just over 50 student-athletes out, which may actually be on the high side for ECC programs.
Almost half are seniors.
“We’re senior heavy,” said Centaurs coach Sean Saucier. “We have high expectations. I know what we can be. I know what our potential is. We’re not there yet. I know how much work we have to do to reach it, but I’m optimistic because of the attitude of the kids. We’re going to be a handful. We’re going to compete and we’re going to win football games.”
If there ever was a time for Woodstock Academy to challenge for a state playoff berth, this might be it.
Saucier and the team know that.
“I want to go to the playoffs, so does everyone else I’m sure, that’s the goal. Twenty seniors is a lot of kids and I’m happy to have one last ride with them,” said one of those seniors, quarterback Ethan Davis.
That ride begins Sept. 10 when Woodstock Academy travels to Willimantic to play the Windham Whippets in the season opener for both at 6 p.m.
It’s been a long time coming. High school football teams didn’t play a real season last year. Most took part in a passing league/skills competition season. The Centaurs elected to skip that to play intrasquad games. It was far from normal.
The senior threw for 1,570 yards and 13 touchdowns as a sophomore, completing 129 of his 229 passes and also rushing for 569 yards and six scores for the 7-3 Centaurs.
“Ethan is a gifted athlete. He will make plays that few kids can make and he’s exciting to watch,” Saucier said.
Braiden Saucier, a junior, will back up Davis.
In front of them will be an experienced offensive line with seniors Keenan LaMontagne (center), Huck Flanagan (tackle), Everett Michalski (tackle), and Sean Fitzpatrick (guard) and junior Evan LaBounty (guard).
“We have some decent size there. They are intelligent, have lifted a lot of weights and are physically capable. They also understand what we are doing whether it’s the zone-blocking concept or pass protection. We just have to improve our execution,” Saucier said.
With the exception of Davis, the skill positions will be occupied by players who didn’t see much varsity time two years ago.
Seniors Jackson Goetz and Parker Anderson and juniors Carter Saracina and Will Basiliere will handle much of the receiving duties with River Favreau at H-back. Payton Barna, a junior, will head a running back-by-committee approach with five or six players filling that role.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior Evan Roy will be a key. Flanagan and junior Jared Eaton will be at the ends.
Behind the front, twins River and Scout Favreau, both seniors, will comprise the outside linebackers with Tyler Green and Wyatt Thienel both in the middle. Goetz and Saracina will be on the corners with several juniors still competing for the starting safety spots. Thienel will handle the kicking and Davis the punting responsibilities.
The Centaurs have had two scrimmages. They went north to play Auburn, Mass. two weeks ago and played Quinebaug Valley last week.
“It feels like we haven’t played a real game in forever and I’m so excited and everyone else is so excited to get back out there (Friday),” Davis said.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
Football schedule: Friday, Sept. 10: at Windham, 6 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 18: vs. Norwich Free Academy, noon; Saturday, Sept. 25: vs. Plainfield, noon; Saturday, Oct. 2: vs. Waterford, noon; Friday, Oct. 8: at Montville, 6; Saturday. Oct. 23: at Bacon Academy, noon; Friday, Oct. 29: at E. Lyme, 6:30; Saturday, Nov. 6: vs. Griswold/Wheeler, noon; Saturday, Nov. 13: vs. Ledyard, noon; Thursday, Nov. 25: at Killingly, 10:30.
Putnam Elementary/Middle
Monday – Breakfast for lunch: French toast sticks, scrambled eggs, hash browns. Tuesday: spaghetti, meatballs, broccoli. Wednesday – Wolf Meal: Beef burgers with cheese, sherbet. Thursday: Chicken tenders, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn. Friday: Primo cheese pizza, salad, fruit.
Putnam High
Monday: New Pasta bar or spicy chicken sandwiches. Tuesday: General Tsos Chicken or bacon cheeseburgers. Wednesday: Clipper Burgers or three-cheese quesadilla. Thursday: Waffle bar or calzone pizza boli. Friday: Stuffed-crust pizza or Mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce.
Woodstock Elementary/Middle
Monday: Hamburgers, carrot sticks, fruit. Tuesday: Waffles, sausage, fruit. Wednesday – Elementary: Chicken tenders, mashed tomatoes, wax beans, fruit. Wednesday – Middle: Beef and bean burritos, fruit. Thursday – Elementary: Beef and bean burrito, fruit. Thursday – Middle: Chicken tenders. Friday: Pizza, salad, fruit.
Pomfret Community
Served every day: fresh fruit and veggies and Alt. Sunbutter and Jelly.
Monday: Turkey, bologna, salami and cheese on buns. Tuesday: Beef and cheese nachos. Wednesday: Chicken patties on rolls. Thursday: Cheese quesadilla with salsa. Friday: Pizza.
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Fund-raising
food events
coming up
PUTNAM --- A fan favorite, Savor the Flavor is coming Sept. 12 at participating restaurants in Putnam.
This year the flavor savored is apples, from noon to 2 p.m.
The event , sponsored by the Putnam Business Association, IHSP and the town of Putnam, costs $5 and benefits Daily Bread.
Restaurants taking part include: Baker's Dozen, The Broken Crust, Bear Hands Brewing Company, Bill's Bread and Breakfast, Chubby Dog Coffee Co. The Courthouse Bar and Grille, The Crossings Brew Pub, Deary Bros., Mike's Stand, The Hare and The Hound, Henry's Diner and Variety, The Inn at Woodstock Hill, Little Falls Nutrition, Nikki's Dog House, The Quarterback Club, Renee's Bistro and Catering, Sadie's Sweet Shop, The Stomping Ground and Sugarz Bakery.
The Empty Bowls Project will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Two hundred hand-crafted bowls will be displayed for purchase for $20 each.
They are created by the community of potters at Sawmill Pottery.
The check-in station is on Canal Street. Savor participants will get a wristband to tour participating restaurants and taste their specialty apple creations.
Empty Bowls participants will be given a ticket to redeem for the bowl of their choosing.
Roaming music will be provided.
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