WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer coach Paul Rearden said the season opener with Stonington was a bit different than in games of the recent past between the two programs.
“I don’t think it was as physical a game as it has been in the past. It was still hard fought and contested, but it didn’t have the edge that it might have in previous games,” Rearden said. “It was the season opener and a lot of players who had been at the hub of things in the last couple years who weren’t there on either side. I don’t think we had those personality battles.”
The Bears, according to Rearden, had a little more experience than his Centaurs and that may have played more of a role in the 1-0 loss for his club in Stonington Sept. 7.
“We warned them that this was varsity soccer and it was the fastest that they were going to play,” Rearden said. “But we adjusted, got used to it and some of the younger lads, as the game went on, got stronger and settled into it.”
The early part of the match proved to be the Centaurs undoing, however.
The only goal came just 5 minutes, 10 seconds into the match in a situation that the Centaurs could have prevented, according to Rearden.
Woodstock Academy had three opportunities to clear the ball, but Stonington’s Tyler Fidrych was able to get a header over to Graham Johnstone who kicked the ball past keeper Jack Lotter for the only tally of the match.
The Centaurs did challenge Bears keeper Peter Fernholz who had to make nine saves.
The best opportunity coming on a pass from Doug Newton to Ethan Holcomb but the senior’s shot struck the post and bounced harmlessly away.
As expected, the offense will need the most work as Woodstock Academy lost the majority of its goal scoring from last season to graduation.
There has also been another issue.
The suddenly midsummer-type weather that descended upon the region for the last two weeks has made it difficult on many to practice. “The preseason has been interrupted massively,” Rearden said. “But most coaches, when they get a new set of players and this includes myself, first and foremost, you work on knocking goals away. If you don’t give goals away, you don’t lose games. You use that as the foundation to build on.”
Rearden said he thought the defensive effort was pretty good. “The defense looked steady. We moved the ball around really well at times, but now, we know we have confidence in the guys in the back to defend. Now, we can afford to push up and be a little braver going forward and attacking,” Rearden said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.
caption:
Throw In
Heather Converse with a throw-in for Woodstock Academy Sept. 8. Photo by Marc Allard
The Woodstock Academy Centaurs took 15 of the last 17 shots on goal Sept. 8 in their season opener against Bacon Academy.
Unfortunately, nothing found the back of the net and the Centaurs and Bobcats settled for a 0-0, double overtime, scoreless tie at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
“Similar start to previous seasons,” said Woodstock Academy coach Dennis Snelling. “We were strong, possessed the ball well, and didn’t give up any goals. I was happy with the defense. We just need to figure out how to get the offense to connect and I’m sure we will.”
Snelling added that the recent spate of hot, humid weather which limited practice was not an issue in the season opener which was played under cloudy skies with temperatures barely nudging 70 degrees.
“Everyone was in the same boat and I thought we were a little bit ahead of teams with the amount of time we’ve actually had to practice,” Snelling said.
The Centaurs did take part in a preseason jamboree and scrimmaged E.O. Smith prior to the Sept. 8 opener.
Bacon Academy took the majority of their shots, six, in the first half, but most were from long distance. “Most were set plays from far out. If we’re going to give up shots from 30 yards out, that’s fine,” Snelling said.
The Bobcats had only one such opportunity in the second half, a free kick that sailed over the top of the net minded by Irene Askitis who had to make only four saves all match.
The Centaurs couldn’t cash in some much closer chances. Ivy Gelhaus was foiled twice on breaks in the second half.
She took the ball away from Bacon keeper Sammi Ciaglo early in the half, only to see her shot blocked by Bacon fullback Sarah Valardo.
Another Gelhaus break was foiled by Ciaglo who came out of the net to kick it away from the Woodstock Academy senior.
Those were two of the five shots taken by Gelhaus.
“We need to get more people involved in the offense because Ivy is just going to get double-teamed all year,” Snelling said.
Snelling also didn’t like the pace the game was played at. He wanted to see his Centaurs push the ball, play fast and go through the midfield.
Instead, the Centaurs were pretty predictable. “We were just going from defense to Ivy, over and over, and they were winning the balls,” Snelling said.
Linda St. Laurent had three attempts for the Centaurs. The Bobcats didn’t make it easy for the hosts to score.
They did hang back in a defensive posture, sending only one player forward and keeping nine players back in their own half.
“I expected that,” Snelling said. “They have been defensive oriented since (Bacon Academy coach) Lee (Elliott) took over last year. It’s probably a pretty good way to do it if you think you are rebuilding. Go for the ties and try to be efficient.”
The lessons learned by Snelling is that the team will have to work on getting players up the field quicker and get away from the long, defense-to-offense, game.
“We start with five in the midfield and we weren’t stringing passes together. We need to figure out how to play as a team with the ball and be confident that we’re doing the right things,” Snelling said.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.
WOODSTOCK —The Woodstock Academy football team fought hard in its season opener on the road in Greenfield, Mass., and even had a chance to tie the game in the waning moments, but fell short to the Green Wave, 26-18.
“I told the kids that there comes a time when you cannot overcome all the mistakes and that was what it was all about. It wasn’t necessarily about their effort and the fourth quarter comeback was a testament to their desire to play the full game and win the game. We just made too many mistakes and dug ourselves holes that we ran out of time to get out of,” said coach Sean Saucier.
The Centaurs had a chance at the end.
They scored in the fourth quarter and followed that up with a nice defensive stop. That opened the door for a run at the possibility of overtime.
Centaurs quarterback Derek Thompson got a good look at a potential touchdown pass to Luis Miranda but it sailed over the receiver’s head as time expired.
It was one of the few disappointments for Thompson on the night.
“All around, he was solid,” Saucier said of Thompson. “His demeanor, his attitude, his performance. He scrambled well, stepped up in the pocket and I thought he made good decisions.”
Thompson completed 13 of his 30 pass attempts.
That percentage could have been better had the Centaurs not dropped a number of passes.
Thompson threw for 218 yards and three touchdowns; a 43-yard touchdown pass to Travis White; an 11-yarder to Luis Miranda (3 catches, 48 yards) and a 3-yard score to Caleb Feen (6 catches, 90 yards).
The Centaurs took the 6-0 lead late in the first quarter on the touchdown pass to Miranda.
The defense, however, was a little generous especially to Green Wave running back R.J. Byrd.
Byrd, who finished with over 200 yards rushing, tied the game on a short run and, after Woodstock Academy fumbled the kickoff back to Greenfield, scored on a 45-yard carry.
“Our tackling wasn’t great and that is one thing that we will focus on this week in practice,” Saucier said.
The Centaurs coach is hopeful practices won’t be interrupted by the weather as it has been for the past two weeks.
Hot, humid weather has limited the amount of time on the practice field and the amount of contact drills.
“Not being able to be in pads last week, not an excuse, but a reality. Not being in pads for four days, I don’t know if that is it, but it certainly didn’t help. The tackling needs to be shored up for sure,” Saucier said.
The Centaurs made it 14-12 at the break when White reeled in the 43-yard pass from Thompson.
But Byrd made it difficult on the Centaurs in the third quarter, scoring on a pair of long runs.
“He was a solid running back and I think we made him look better than he was,” Saucier said.
The Centaurs pulled within eight points when they completed a 13-play drive in the fourth quarter that ended in a 3-yard score to Feen.
Ian Welz led the Centaurs in rushing with 48 yards in seven carries while Gavin Savoie also carried the ball seven times for 43 yards.
The Centaurs play the first home game of the season at the Bentley Athletic Complex at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against Amistad.
Amistad struggled in its season opener, a 41-0 loss to Newington.
“I feel good going into this game. The kids were disappointed we lost (at Greenfield), but the kids aren’t down on themselves. They know we made too made too many mistakes, they want to improve and I think we will,” Saucier said. “This is another opponent where, if we play well, we should have the opportunity to win the game. That’s all you can ask for. I’m confident we will rebound and be ready for Saturday.”
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
.
WOODSTOCK — It’s a nice situation to be in.
“This is probably one of my most seasoned teams that I have had in a long time. They don’t seem nervous about things, they don’t seem to let things get to them, they’re laid back which is a nice atmosphere to have,” said Woodstock Academy girls’ volleyball coach Adam Bottone.
The Centaurs have a lot to live up to.
Last season, they finished runners up in Class L, losing to RHAM of Hebron in the state championship match, 3-0.
“We definitely had a great season last year,” said senior setter Sammie Orlowski. “It’s still too early in the season to say where we will end up and we’re still figuring out where we are right now but I want to get back there and prove that we can win. Being second last year was a bummer, getting that far and losing in the end was hard, but we were able to make it that far and the players on this team are strong enough to make it there again.”\
The Centaurs showed what they were made of in their first match, rallying from a two-set deficit for a 3-2 win over East Lyme Sept. 7.
The players, for the most part, are the same.
Only three key players graduated from last year’s team, outside hitter Caroline Eaton, defensive specialist Hannah Walley and middle hitter Denali Johns.
Paula Hernandez, who came to the team midway through last season and sparked a 20-match win streak that lasted until the state championship match, returns as a junior.
“I asked the team what type of people do we want to portray ourselves to be. Do we just care about ourselves and our playing time or do we want someone to come in and, potentially, help the team. At the time I had that talk, I had no idea about her abilities,” Bottone said about Hernadez’s arrival on the scene.
The team quickly found out how good the then-sophomore was, some of them quickly learning to retreat when she wound up her arm.
That has changed.
“They have that year under their belt, know what (Hernandez) is capable of, and how she makes the team better. I watch them practice and if she gets up there and rips one, they aren’t running out of the way, they’re digging her this year. They get excited when they do and she gets excited when they dig her. That two months we had with her last year, really helped build that relationship,” Bottone said.
Hernandez, who finished with 295 kills, 212 digs, 48 aces and 154 service points, should be even better this season.
She played for the Husky Club from Windsor and was a member of its highest 16U team which played in the Nationals in Chicago over the summer.
“She played from the day after the season ended, every week, multiple days a week with the highest level team in New England,” Bottone said. “They had the best of the best on that team.”
Not everyone got that much playing time in the offseason which Bottone admits to being a bit of a concern.
Orlowski (703 assists) returns at setter, but may also see time at opposite hitter.
“She can hit the ball rather effectively so I’m flirting with the idea of running a 6-2 with Natalie (Low) because Natalie can set. I have a lot of options,” Bottone said.
Eaton started at outside hitter, but moved over to opposite when Hernandez entered the picture. Eaton’s 304 kills and 146 digs will be difficult to replace.
Junior Katie Papp will be in the middle along with a trio of newcomers, sophomores Sierra Bedard and Amelia Large and senior Danuse Horka.
Horka hails from the Czech Republic while Marta Cuenca Sabuco, a defensive specialist from Spain, adds to the international flavor of the squad.
Senior Maddy Gronski (508 digs, 482 service returns) comes back at Libero with help from sophomore Marissa Mayhew.
Seniors Emma Green, Rachel Durand, Bekah Wesler and McKenna Gagnon will man the back line.
The familiarity, in this case, could breed success.
“Our first practice (this season) wasn’t our best practice, but it was pretty close to our last practice last year,” Orlowski said.
The Centaurs, who finished 23-4, will need to be on their game from the start.
The target will be large and they can expect only the best efforts from their opponents.
“Last year was kind of unexpected so that may have affected some of our wins and losses, but this year, everybody will be ready for us,” Orlowski said.
The Centaurs have been bumped up to Division I in the Eastern Connecticut Conference this season.
“(East Lyme coach) Jack (Biggs) always has East Lyme prepared; (coach) Steve (Banks) has a good, young group at Fitch; NFA may have a little learning curve with a new coach but that’s a big school that you always have to compete against,” Bottone said. “I’m glad to be back in Division I because the divisional games will always be a challenge.”
The Centaurs fell behind the Vikings in the season opener for both when East Lyme won the first two sets, 27-25 and 25-16.
But Woodstock Academy avoided the loss by taking the next two sets 25-17 and 25-22 and easily won the fifth and deciding set, 15-4.
Hernandez led the Centaurs with 34 kills while Low added 20.
Orlowski chipped in with 47 assists.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
The Woodstock Academy
..