Week 4: Centaurs seeing improvement

The Woodstock Academy field hockey team hung in against East Lyme on Thursday at the Bentley Athletic Complex.

The Vikings scored only three goals in the first three quarters before getting two late for a 5-0 victory.

“We were moving to the ball better. We had a couple of breakdowns early. I felt like we played with them and were even with them for the first three quarters and each goal was a breakdown on our part,” Woodstock Academy co-head coach Gerry LaMontagne said.

Caroline Daugherty scored both of the first half goals for the Vikings (3-1-1, 3-1 Eastern Connecticut Conference) while Violet Maziarz tallied in the third quarter to essentially put the win away.

Despite the loss for the Centaurs (2-6, 0-5), LaMontagne did see positive signs.

“There was a lot of individual improvement I saw,” LaMontagne said. “I thought Mikayla Bessette played a lot better, moving the ball in the center of the field offensively. We had a couple of decent offensive chances. Abby Converse was all over the field, a lot of stuff came together for her as well. Alyson Bunning took a few balls off the feet on some of the corners. She stood strong the whole game”

Goalie Ava Basak was solid in the cage, allowing only one second quarter goal despite six corners by the Vikings and finished with 10 saves.

“She has been a rock all season long. I can’t fault anything she has done,” LaMontagne said.

Woodstock Academy was coming off a match in which it did find the back of the cage, twice, but fell short to Norwich Free Academy on the road, 4-2, on Tuesday.

“We’re trying for improvement offensively and the girls need to get rewards for that improvement, they need to have goals like that, it was a good thing. I still say we’re going to get more of those opportunities,” LaMontagne said.

Maggie Marshall scored off an assist from Ella Musumeci in the first half for Woodstock Academy against the Wildcats and Caroline Harris tallied in the second half.