Week 7: Centaurs celebrate Senior Day
Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden had a problem coming into the match with Bacon Academy.
He wanted to put all of his seniors into the starting lineup.
That is mighty difficult to do, considering the rules, when you have 13 seniors on your roster.
“I always start 11 seniors, it’s never been a problem before, so this was a tough one” Rearden said. “It’s great to honor these guys who have given us everything over the last four years. It’s a tradition that I really like. Would I have liked to qualify (for the state tournament) before (Senior Day)? Yes. Because, however nice this is for Senior Day, it takes away a bit (from the match).”
The Centaurs honored Baden Eaton, Owen Tracy, Noah Page, Max Ferreira, Jeff Phongsa, Mario Kasneci, Quintavanh Sangasy, Randall Rawcliffe, Ethan Craig, Jack Marshall, Brian Jameson, Wyatt Robbie, Chance Graley and Gabe Viau (out for the season with a torn ACL) prior to the contest.
Unfortunately, the results were not what was hoped as the Centaurs lost to the Bobcats, 2-1, at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
That, combined with a 2-0 loss to Fitch on Wednesday, combined to drop the Centaurs to 4-7-2 overall and 1-4 in Division I of the Eastern Connecticut Conference.
The problem for Woodstock Academy against the Bobcats: a lack of opportunities.
“I don’t think we had a 1-on-1 with their goalkeeper through the game. I can’t think of many balls flying across the area. We have to make more chances,” Rearden said.
The Centaurs had only six shots on the Bacon Academy goal.
The Bobcats struck first when a throw in by Keegan Appleby got over the head of Woodstock Academy keeper Brian Jameson and fell behind him.
Nico Matteucci made the most of the unfortunate event as he streaked in from the left side and tipped the ball into the open net for a 1-0 Bacon Academy lead 23 minutes, 2 seconds into the contest.
The Centaurs tied the match off a set play.
They were awarded a corner and John Bennett delivered the ball from the right side of the net to the head of Noah Page who directed it home for his fourth goal of the season.
It was Bennett’s sixth assist of the year.
“Great corner,” Rearden said. “John has that in his locker. He has done that a number of times, putting that quality (corner) in and gave Noah the opportunity and, you know, he’s going to bury it.”
Unfortunately, the Centaurs only took four shots in the second half and Bacon Academy put the game winner in with 3:43 left in regulation.
Matteuci sent the ball across the field and found the foot of Birch Collins. The sophomore lifted it up and over Jameson and into the upper right corner of the net.
“I couldn’t see any way we were going to lose especially when we got it to 1-1. I can’t wait to see the video because it might be a completely different game than what I was watching. I don’t know how we lost,” Rearden said.
On Wednesday, Fitch scored a goal in 25 minutes into the first half and added another in the second for the victory.
The loss to the Falcons means the Centaurs still have to post one win and a tie over their remaining three matches to qualify for state tournament play.
The boys soccer team travels to Granby on Monday and to East Lyme next Wednesday before finishing off the regular season with a match at home against Ledyard on Saturday, Oct. 29.
