WOODSTOCK — In the mind of coach Dennis Snelling, the Sept. 18 girls’ soccer loss to Waterford was erased on Sept. 22.
Woodstock Academy pulled itself even with Bacon Academy in Division II of the Eastern Connecticut Conference with a 1-0 win over the Bobcats at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
“It’s a huge win because we knew if we didn’t get the result, we would be two games behind them in the league standings,” Snelling said. “We handed them their first loss, it’s always nice to be the team to do that rather than having it done to them.”
It was not an easy contest. Although the meteorologists predicted a much better day on Friday, the weather chose not to cooperate.
The unflappable hurricane or tropical storm named Jose never released its grip sending breezy conditions with periods of rain into the area. It made for a slippery surface and for tricky ball flight as the game progressed.
Fortunately for the Centaurs (6-1. 4-1 ECC Division II), the score was in their favor early.
Makara Sorel found an opening and the ball found her, leading to a goal just 5 minutes, 43 seconds into the match with the Bobcats.
“I saw the (Bacon) defender with the ball and I think she was pretty confident that she could shield it off from the goal. I just gave it everything I had to sprint to the ball, got it, and just tried to stay calm and put it in the net,” Sorel said.
It was her second goal of the season for the Centaurs. It was also one of the few chances either team had.
“We had to keep the intensity up the whole game and worked really hard. We needed this win because we didn’t start off the week too great,” Sorel added.
Woodstock finished with only eight shots on goal while Bacon Academy (5-1, 4-1) had only three.
“It was never the plan,” Snelling said of the battle to protect the one-goal lead. “You score five minutes in, you want to score again five minutes later. It’s nice to score early two games in a row, get on the board, and have the game in hand rather than chasing.”
Woodstock 4
Stonington 1
It may have been a little wake up call.
The Woodstock Academy girls’ soccer team was smarting after being shutout by Waterford Sept. 18 .
It rebounded Sept. 20 with a 4-1 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II victory over Stonington at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
“It seems like we have to do that every year,” coach Dennis Snelling said of the loss to the Lancers on Monday. “It’s just part of it. You take all of your hard work for granted just one time and the other team capitalizes.”
The Centaurs are the defending Division II champs and field essentially the same team this season. That and a 4-0 start with all the wins coming via shutout can lead to a little complacency. There was none of that against the Bears.
Just 4 minutes, 5 seconds into the match, junior Ivy Gelhaus saw her classmate, Ashleigh Angle, heading for the net with no defender on her. Gelhaus sent the ball in on the cross.
“I know that Ashleigh can finish really well,” Gelhaus said. “She’s had a couple of goals this season like that this season. She’s very good on the cross.” It was the third goal of the season for Angle.
Makara Sorel made it a 2-0 lead for the Centaurs (5-1, 3-1 ECC Division II) just a little over eight minutes later when Linda St. Laurent found her with a through ball. Sorel split the defenders and scored her second tally of the year.
But the Bears (1-6, 1-3) didn’t go away silently from the first half.
With the wind swirling and the rain coming down in squally fashion, Lainnie Connor was awarded a direct kick just outside the penalty box. She got the ball up into those winds and found the right bounce to get it into the back of the net.
Gelhaus gave Woodstock a little breathing room early in the second half when a goal kick found its way to her foot, she came in from the right and sent it to the left side of the net for her third goal of the year at the 46:17 mark of the contest.
Kennedy Davignon put the finishing touches on the win with a goal with 9:18 to play. “It was good soccer,” Snelling said. “We had good possession and that’s what we talked about (Tuesday). We didn’t really have a hard practice between games, we just talked about doing the right stuff. We try to be a passing team, that’s how we control games and that’s what we did (Wednesday). "
Waterford 3 ~ Woodstock 0
The opportunities were there, but sometimes, things don’t fall a team’s way.
Woodstock Academy lost to Waterford, 3-0, in a girls’ soccer contest Sept. 18 despite holding a 15-4 advantage in shots.
Irene Askitis made three saves for the Centaurs (4-1, 2-1 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II). Ciana Chiappone, Khay Hatcher and Julia Florek scored for the Lancers (2-3, 1-2).
Volleyball
Woodstock Academy 3 ~ Waterford 1
WOODSTOCK – Natalie Low had 20 kills and 11 service points for the Centaurs who lost the first game, but rallied to win the next three.
The Lancers (4-2, 0-2 ECC Division III) won the first set 25-18, but Woodstock Academy came back to win 25-15, 25-19 and 25-16.
Sammie Orlowski added 30 assists and 10 service points for the Centaurs (4-3, 2-1)
Woodstock 3 ~ Killingly 2
It went the distance. Killingly and Woodstock Academy battled for five sets before with the host Redgals winning the fifth, 19-17, for the 3-2 victory in a volleyball match Sept. 21.
The Centaurs (3-3, 1-1 ECC Division II) took two of the first three matches, winning 25-18 and 25-23, after losing the opening set, 25-18.
But the Redgals (6-0, 2-0) won the fourth, 25-16, to force the decisive set.
Caroline Eaton had 21 kills while Natalie Low added 15. Libero Maddy Gronski made 30 digs for the Centaurs.
Woodstock 3 ~ Bacon 0
Senior middle hitter Denali Johns has been working for the past several practices on her serve.
“It’s really been my weak suit,” Johns said. No more.
Johns set the tone Sept. 18 for the Woodstock Academy volleyball team in a 3-0 win over Bacon Academy at the Fieldhouse. She was handed the ball with the Centaurs nursing a 9-8 lead in the first set. When she gave it up on a service fault, Woodstock enjoyed a 19-9 advantage.
Centaurs’ coach Adam Bottone used to be a fan of the jump serve, but has adapted a different philosophy. He now favors serves that are flat and clean, just clearing the net with little or no rotation. Johns did that to perfection against the Bobcats.
“We’ve been working a lot on that,” Bottone said. “Denny didn’t serve at the start of the season, but she has improved a lot. When she got serving in that first set, it totally took the wind out of (Bacon Academy’s) sails. You could see it on their face, they got down on themselves.”
Johns said her serve may not be overpowering, but has a “weird float to it at the end.”
She finished with 15 service points and eight of the 14 aces that Woodstock served up in the 25-12, 25-16, 25-11 victory.
It was the Centaurs’ third consecutive win, putting them back above the .500 mark at 3-2. It was also their first Eastern Connecticut Conference Division II victory of the season.
Bottone said there is still a lot of work to be done.
“Our service and our passing is still inconsistent,” Bottone said.
While the Centaurs had 14 aces, they also committed 17 service faults.
“When we can get to a point where we’re making less errors passing and serving, low and ready on defense, than I will be happy. A win is a win and I’m always happy with that and we didn’t let a team back in so I’m happy with that, but we still have to do those fundamental things a little better than we’re doing now.”
Sammie Orlowski had 18 assists for the Centaurs while Natalie Low contributed eight kills and Caroline Eaton added seven.
“At the beginning of the season, we were really down on ourselves. Now that we have three wins behind us, we’re in a really good mindset going into matches versus Killingly and Waterford which are our biggest competition now,” Johns said.
Field Hockey
Stonington 4 ~ Woodstock 1
The Stonington Bears are the team to beat in the Eastern Connecticut Conference in field hockey.
That is hardly breaking news.
So when a team posts a good challenge, it walks away feeling pretty good.
Such was the case for Woodstock Academy Sept. 21.
The Centaurs may have lost to the Bears, 4-1, at the Bentley Athletic Complex, but they trailed by only one goal at the half and they got the Bears’ attention.
“From our first season just getting absolutely trounced (by Stonington) to giving them a game. (Stonington) was getting a little nervous and I was happy with that,” Woodstock coach Lauren Gagnon said. “We played a lot faster, stronger and fitter than usual. We gave them a bit of a scare.”
Stonington (4-0, 4-0 ECC) scored first when Erin Craig sent the ball in, it was deflected by a Woodstock stick on to Trinity Lennon’s stick and she pushed it into the cage.
But Woodstock (1-3, 1-3) answered with just under 12 minutes left in the half.
Casidhe Hoyt pushed the ball to Hannah Chubbuck and Chubbuck converted to tie the game.
“It was a heck of a goal,” Gagnon said. “It was a great cross from Casidhe and Hannah put it away strong. Before I put (Chubbuck) on, I asked her if she was going to score (Thursday). Her response was ‘Sure.’ So I said I would like a little better response than that, something like ‘Heck yeah, Coach.’
That was her response when Gagnon asked her the same question prior to sending her out for the second half.
Unfortunately, Chubbuck’s goal was the only one the Centaurs would muster.
Daisy Williams scored just 90 seconds after Chubbuck and Stonington owned a 2-1 lead at the break.
Miranda Arruda added two second half goals for the Bears.
“We definitely played up rather than down, sometimes we get nervous, but we came out strong and knew we had nothing to lose. We had to make up for coming out slow on Tuesday (a 4-0 loss to Waterford),” Gagnon said.
Woodstock 4
Waterford 0
Sophomore Molly Quiles scored a pair of goals to lead Waterford to a 4-0 victory in a field hockey contest Sept. 19.
Kaylee Wilcox and Cassidy Susi also scored for the Lancers (3-1, 2-1 ECC).
The Centaurs (1-2, 1-2) took 11 shots in the loss.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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Robert F. Austin,
Army vet
N. GROSVENORDALE and Florida — Robert F. Austin, 79, formerly of St. Albans, Vt., died Nov. 24, 2016. He was the husband of Marie (Gamache) Austin. Born in 1937 in Fairfield, Vt., he was the son of the late Fay and Grace (Ducharme) Austin.
Mr. Austin attended numerous colleges taking courses pertaining to his work in the paper industry.
Robert was a member of the Vermont National Guard and was a veteran serving with the U.S. Army where he achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class.
Mr. Austin worked as a marketing manager for Thermo-Electron Corporation of Portland, Org., and Auburn, Mass., formerly the Lodding Engineering Corporation where they manufactured paper making machine equipment. He was also employed by W.E. Green Corporation in New York, Perkins Machine Company in Warren, Mass., Fonda Container Corporation in St. Albans, and the St. Albans Police Department.
He was a member of National TAPPI, member and past Chairman of National PIMA, former chairman of the New York State TAPPI, former secretary and chairman of the New York – Canadian PIMA, and Lions Club International. He enjoyed boating, bowling, playing bridge, deep sea fishing in Alaska, and building things.
He leaves his wife Marie; a daughter Andrea M. Austin of N. Grosvenordale; a sister Ramona Giroux of Swanton, Vt.; four grandchildren Ryan, Lindsey, Amber, and Samuel, three great-grandchildren Griffin, Bryson, and Holland. He was predeceased by a son Jeffrey R. Austin and brothers and sisters.
A private graveside service was held in St. Mary Cemetery, Swanton. Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Bruce Allen Tefft,
Navy vet
EASTFORD — Bruce A. Tefft, 69, of Union Rd. died Sept. 1, 2017, at home.
Bruce was born in 1948 in Putnam, the son of the late Robert and Dorothy (Weeks) Tefft.
Bruce enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1965 and lived in the San Francisco area.
He earned his bachelor’s in sociology and continued his education in 1987 by attending the Quinebaug Valley Community College in Danielson.
Bruce enjoyed working with his hands and took pride in everything that he did. He was self-employed and worked with other contractors in the construction field as a carpenter and painter.
He also worked for Putnam Furniture in Putnam.
Bruce wanted to give back to his community and worked for many social services agencies as a teacher and a social worker.
This work included teaching for the New England Adult Education Program and Quinebaug Valley Youth and Family Program.
He was an assistant teacher for the Quinebaug Valley Community College Welfare to Work Program and worked as a social worker for NECT.
In addition, he worked for the Community Development Corporation for five years.
Bruce enjoyed fishing, gardening and had a love for animals, especially his pot belly pig, who he raised for 14 years until his passing in 2016.
In addition to his longtime companion of 43 years, Debra A. Billings of Eastford, he leaves one brother, William (Bill) Tefft of Johnstown, Penn.; six sisters; Nanci Hattin of Thompson, Patricia Landry of Lake Havasu, Ariz., Jill Burger of Naples, Fla., Susan Tefft of Greenfield, Mass., Robin Fulford-Brown of San Jacinto, Calif., and Gemma Benoit of Putnam. He was predeceased by his sisters Judy Eskelson and Deborah Phelps.
Donations: NECCOG Animal Services, PO Box 759, Dayville, CT 06241. Gilman Funeral Home and Crematory, 104 Church St., Putnam.
Philippe F. Roy
N. GROSVENORDALE — Philippe F. Roy, “P.F. Roy,” 75, died Sept. 17, 2017, at home.
He was born July 3, 1942, in Lewiston, Maine, son of Francis May Goss and Philippe Roy. He was a long-time resident of Connecticut. He met his first and only wife Thelma Eileen Kidd in Richmond, Va.
For more than 50 years, Phil was a proud and devoted member of the South Woodstock Baptist Church, serving there as a trustee, deacon and, most recently, as head usher. He volunteered for many years at the Woodstock Fair.
In his younger days he enjoyed his membership in the Country Cruisers motorcycle club, taking his son on numerous tours of the northeast U.S. with other members of the club.
Professionally he was an award-winning salesman at Gomes Total Chrysler dealership in Putnam. Later he worked as a food broker, representing small New England bakeries and training the staff of large grocery stores in the art of donut making. He was educated at the Pomfret Community School and Grossmont Adult School in El Cajon, Calif.
He will be remembered for his corny jokes, unique sense of fashion and great head of silver hair.
He leaves his son Philippe “Matthew” Roy of Brooklyn, New York and his sister Shirley Scott in Florida. He is predeceased by his brother Victor Roy and sister Karen Marois.
A Memorial Service was Sept. 23 at the South Woodstock Baptist Church on Roseland Park Road. Donations: South Woodstock Baptist Church. Smith and Walker Funeral Home, 148 Grove St., Putnam.
Eva Cormier
PUTNAM — Eva Cormier, 96, died Sept. 24, 2017, at Matulaitis Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Facility in Putnam, CT, where she had been since 1995.
She was born Dec. 29, 1920, in Putnam, the daughter of the late Emery and Marie Louise (Balard dit Latour) Marion. She graduated in 1935 from St. Mary School in Putnam, and then attended Putnam Catholic Academy. On May 29, 1941, Eva married Louis Victor Cormier at St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Putnam. Except for a period of a few months early in their marriage, Eva and Louis spent their 56 years together in Putnam. Louis died Dec. 5, 1997.
Eva’s life was guided by her strong faith and her commitment to her husband and family. She presented a loving home environment where she was always present, offering physical and emotional care, support and guidance based on her wisdom and life experience.
Once her children were grown, Eva worked during pre-Christmas seasons as a clerk at Toni’s Specialty Shop, a children’s clothing store in Putnam. For many years, she volunteered as a library aide at St. Mary School and held memberships in AARP, Ladies of St. Anne, Daughters of Isabella, and League of Catholic Women. In the early 1990s, she also joined Quinebaug Pomona Grange No. 2 and Putnam Grange No. 97.
Eva enjoyed reading and sewing, and was especially skillful with knitting. She and Louis had a special relationship with Eddie and Irene Briere; together they enjoyed traveling, ballroom dancing, and performing with the RSVP Happy Singers.
She leaves her children, Claire Emond (Philip) of Woodstock, Al Cormier (Joyce) of Putnam, and Janet LaBelle (John) of Dayville; grandchildren, Deborah Bayne, Carolyn Riendeau (Christopher), Amanda Bernat (James), Joanne Sward (Ross), and Jacqueline Young (Joshua); great-grandchildren, Brandon Emond, Samantha Pedersen, Stephanie Emond, Marcus Riendeau, Miller Riendeau, Caitlyn Sward, Garrett Sward, Louis Young, Marion Young, and Emmanuel Young; great-great-grandchildren, Sage Bibbee, Christian Bibbee, Kezlee Baker, and Maxson Morrarty. She was predeceased by her siblings, Lillian Marion, Doris Provencal and husband Gabriel, Leo Marion and wife Leonie, Lawrence Marion and wife Marjorie, and by her grandson, Steven Emond.
Visitation is from 8:15 to 9:45 a.m. Sept. 30 at Gilman Funeral Home, 104 Church St., Putnam, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Mary Church of the Visitation. Interment follows in St. Mary Cemetery, Putnam. Donations: St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105-3678 (stjude.org or 800-805-5856); or The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, 565 Ashford Center Road, Ashford, CT 06278-1720 (holeinthewallgang.org or 203-772-0522).
W. ‘Wayno’ Cotnoir,
Vietnam era vet
THOMPSON — Wilbur Wayne “Wayno” Cotnoir, 62, of Quaddick Town Farm Rd., died Sept. 18, 2017. He was the husband of Harriett (Keech) Cotnoir.
Born in 1954 in Putnam, he was the son of Helen (Gawlik) Cotnoir of Thompson and the late Arthur W. Cotnoir.
Wayno worked as a machinist for Wycoff Steel and then later worked for Pratt & Whitney. He served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era.
He was a member of Thompson Rod and Gun Club, Thompson American Legion Post 67, Danielson American Legion Post 21, Past Commander of Putnam American Legion Post 13, the Men’s Auxiliary of Albert J. Breault VFW Post 1523, the Worcester County Van Club, and a past member of the Valley Springs Sportsman Club. He volunteered for and was a founding member of Christmas in August Toys for Tots Drive. He enjoyed van meets, his Harley Davidson, fishing, camping, hiking, painting, etching, playing horse shoes and shooting pool. He especially loved cooking for his family and large groups, and playing fetch with his dogs.
In addition to his wife and mother, he leaves his son Christopher Cotnoir (Cassie) and their children Dakota, Kaden, Isabelle, and Emmalin of Wichita Falls, Texas; his two daughters Jamie Aubin (Craig) of Thompson and their children Ashel and Bodhi and Michelle Teague (James) and their children Justin, Aidan and Austin of North Attleboro, Mass.; his stepdaughter Jessica Jellison of Pomfret; his stepson Karl Kuhn Jr. of Thompson; and a brother Brian Cotnoir of Thompson. He was predeceased by a brother Joseph Cotnoir.
The Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 23 at St. Joseph Church, N. Grosvenordale with burial with military honors in St. Joseph Cemetery. Donations: Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation, 282 Washington St., Hartford, CT 06106. Valade Funeral Home and Crematory, 23 Main St., N. Grosvenordale.
Jeanne Robert
PLAINFIELD — Jeanne T. Robert, 101, of Plainfield died Sept. 18, 2017, in Plainfield.
She was born Feb. 16, 1916, in Natick, R.I., daughter of Albert and Amelia (Blais) Robert.
Jeanne was a communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Wauregan and she donated much of her time to the upkeep of the church.
She belonged to the Daughters of Isabella and was also secretary for many years.
She loved Misquamicut Beach and also loved the Senior Center in Plainfield. She worked at Wauregan Mills, Grant Shirt Factory and Wauregan Dairy Farm in the payroll department. She was a very giving person and assisted the sick and elderly.
She leaves her nieces Phyllis Beaudoin of Plainfield and Elaine Lavallee of Woodstock; great-nieces and great-nephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 21 in Sacred Heart Church, Brooklyn, with burial I Sacred Heart Cemetery, Brooklyn. Gagnon and Costello Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Danielson.
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Coat drive success;
more coats welcome
PUTNAM — Thanks to many generous donors from throughout the area Sept. 23 the Cargill Council 64, Knights of Columbus was able to collect more than 50 good, clean, used winter coats for men, women and children, along with dozens of blankets and bags of baby clothes. Donors filled two pickup trucks and part of a car.
The nine K of C councils from throughout Windham County are collecting winter coats, blankets and baby clothes, which they will give away the day after Thanksgiving, strictly on the basis of need. Donations are still needed, so if you can help, please call Brother Knight John Ryan, at (860) 928-7241 and leave a message.
Honors
Michael DiColella of BSA Troop 25 was accorded his Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony Sept. 16 at the United Methodist Church in Putnam. His Eagle Scout project was creating four Little Free Libraries in Putnam including in Putnam’s Rotary Park. American Legion Post #13 Commander Ronald P. Coderre, left, and Sr. Vice Commander Alan Joslin presented DiColella with Recognition Certificates from the local Post, the 4th District and the American Legion Department of Connecticut Commander Edward DeGumbia. Courtesy photo.