Week 3: Tough offensive week for WA
Offense was hard to come by for the boys soccer team in matches this week against Bacon Academy and East Lyme.
Fortunately for the Centaurs, they were able to scratch out a scoreless tie against Bacon Academy early in the week.
On Friday, Woodstock Academy played host to East Lyme and fell, 2-0, at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
"Unfortunately, that has been the story of the past two games," Centaurs assistant coach Jason Tata said of the lack of offense against the Vikings. "We haven't put one in the back of the net in the last two games and you can't win games without putting the ball in the back of the net. You look at the way we're playing and we're dominating teams in possession but it's the six minutes that they get a hold of the ball and put it in the back of the net. We just have to figure out how to score more."
Tata was filling in for head coach Paul Rearden who had a family emergency.
Woodstock Academy did have chances early including a header by Randall Rawcliffe that East Lyme keeper Connor Piper was able to snatch out of the air.
The Centaurs (1-3-2, 1-2 Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I) had three good chances early but the momentum began to shift.
"You have to win the midfield and we began to lose possession and started to give them a little more room and that made them more comfortable and they took advantage," Tata said.
It led to the Vikings (4-2, 2-0 ECC Division I) getting what proved to be the game winner 25 minutes into the contest when senior Ian Cambridge scored.
East Lyme added an insurance goal just about 10 minutes later on a tally from Ryan Wargo off a rebound from a shot by Quincy Gates-Graceson.
"Paul loves being down 2-0, he loves being in that position because it is so dangerous. It's just enough where teams get a little overconfident and start throwing games away. Unfortunately, we couldn't capitalize," Tata said.
The Centaurs did not have a shot in the second half.
Despite the loss, Tata enjoyed his brief sojourn as head coach of the boys soccer team.
He serves as head coach of the Woodstock Academy boys lacrosse team in the spring.
"We know my realm is in the spring but just like we ask the kids to step up, sometimes, someone else has to step up. With Paul at home, taking care of what he has to take care of, it was my turn to step up. It was a blast. It would have been better to win but head coach, assistant coach, whatever it is, as long as I'm on the sidelines with these kids- it's perfect," Tata said.
Against the Bobcats, Brian Jameson made nine saves in goal to save the scoreless tie for the Centaurs in Colchester.
"Honestly, the things that Brian are doing in net are absolutely incredible. He's playing on his head every single day and is keeping us in games left and right," Tata said.
