Putting the ball into the net has been a challenge for the Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team this season.
The Centaurs have scored only four goals in their first six games.
That challenge continued Sept. 26.
“The boys gave their all and totally dominated the game. We just can’t buy a goal,” said Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden.
As a result, the Centaurs left Norwich Free Academy with another loss by shutout, 3-0, at the hands of the Wildcats.
The loss dropped the Centaurs to 0-6 overall and 0-3 in Division I of the ECC.
There was little the Woodstock Academy boys’ soccer team could do Sept. 24 either.
“I just said to the boys, sometimes, you have to get slapped around the head for the mistakes we made, but other times, you just have to hold up your hand, and say, ‘Good team’ ”Rearden said.
Such was the case with Stonington.
The Bears were dominant and went home with a 5-0 victory over the Centaurs.
No one was more dominant than Stonington’s sophomore striker Sam Montalto.
“The thing that I was the most grateful about (Tuesday) was that I wasn’t on the field marking him,” Rearden said. “When you have a striker like that, it wasn’t just what he was doing on the ball; it was his movement without it. They have the kids behind with the vision and ability to play some through balls that they got to him.”
Rearden wasn’t happy with the first two goals which he thought were the result of defensive breakdowns.
Montalto took a pass from fellow sophomore Will Sawin just 3 minutes, 18 seconds into the match and beat Centaurs goalie Colin Manuilow.
Manuilow was starting in place of Zach Roethlein who was saddled with a red card in the previous match against East Lyme.
Manuilow recorded nine saves for the Centaurs.
One of his goal kicks, however, found the wrong jersey.
Montalto picked it off, dribbled it in and fired it home just five minutes after his first tally.
Montalto got his hat trick before the first half was even half over.
A Montalto shot was rejected by Manuilow, but Tyler Fidrych picked it up for the Bears, and gave it back to the striker who scored for a third time with 20:12 left in the first half.
Fidrych would get one of his own with 9:17 to play in the first half and Ethan Allen finished the scoring off with a goal for Stonington 8 ½ minutes into the second half.
Rearden said the team has been a little snakebit thus far this season.
A bounce or two, here-and-there, might have helped.
“We’ve had two goals this season where the ball has come right off the crossbar and landed straight at the feet of the other team. It’s little things like that you just have to shake your head at,” Rearden said.
But Rearden remains optimistic because of the manner in which his team continues to play.
Despite being down the five goals Sept. 24, his Centaurs were still challenging for 50-50 balls and winning them.
“They never gave up,” Rearden said. “One day, we will, hopefully, have a little luck on our side. As long as you keep on trying to do the right thing, it’s all you can do. You just have to keep reinforcing that. They are a great set of kids.”
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy

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POMFRET — Just four days after a large varsity only invitational at Canterbury, the Pomfret boys’ cross country team traveled to nearby Marianapolis to participate in the 17th annual Marianapolis Invitational. The race permits entire teams to race so with 13 schools (only 12 with the requisite 5 runners required to officially score), there were 155 runners in the boys’ race - likely the largest field for Pomfret this season. For scoring purposes, only the top seven finishers from each team count.
Pomfret brought 15 runners, some in the JV ranks were participating in their first race of the season.
Senior co-captain Jeffrey Gibbs ran a crafty and determined race. Hanging back just a bit at the outset to let the rabbits go, Jeffrey used the early downhill to find a comfortable rhythm before characteristically moving up through the field during the 2nd and final mile. Running in the top 7 with roughly 1/3 of a mile to go, Jeffrey moved up and charged to the finish, going back and forth between the 4th and 5th position. In the end, he, by just a step, was beat out by a Chase Collegiate runner. However, in a show of great sportsmanship, both runners, near collapse in the finish chute congratulated one another on their epic efforts.
Junior co-captain Blake Zahansky improved upon his time last weeks.  In his triumphant return to racing, junior Cam Adams - always an XC gamer when the lights are on - shot up the ladder to the third slot for Pomfret.
Sophomores Cooper Ames and Kellen Horst flip-flopped places from last week. Both continue to gain fitness though battle typical early season running specific soreness. For the team to be more competitive, it will be critical for each to shave seconds from week to week. The sixth runner was sophomore Ian Wolanin, who dropped almost 30 seconds off his prior time. He used his teammates to motivate him to run faster, endeavoring to move up the Pomfret ladder. Toward the end, Ian passed steady senior Jack Terwilliger and beat him by a second.
Among our JV finishers, sophomore Cole Hecker just missed the 7th spot. He was disappointed in the effort, knowing he can perform better. Another sophomore Alex Chen, who has professed a deep and abiding passion for cross country, ran boldly and finished 9th for us. Rounding out the top 10 for Pomfret was senior Kevin Li. Kevin has one of the best kicks on the team and employed it in a valiant sprint to the finish to beat out three other runners, including our own junior Danny Wang. Other finishers for Pomfret include Terry Kim ’21, David Wu ’21, Ben Gordon ’22, Bill Tian ’23, and Jay Kim ’21, all of whom demonstrated much grit, especially David, Ben, and Jay who donned the Pomfret singlet in the first time in a race.
At the “Fun Run” O’Connell Invitational hosted by Cheshire School, senior co-captain Jeffrey Gibbs came into the day Pomfret’s number one runner and had his sights set on making a go of winning this race outright. And he did.
The racers disappeared into the woods early in the race; with Jeffery was in 4th place and fellow captain, junior Blake Zahansky, ran in the top 10. When they emerged from an upper playing field, Jeffrey was in first place and Blake in 4th. It was Jeffrey’s first outright win, an impressive feat in a field of 77 runners. He stretched his lead throughout the race, beating the 2nd place Hamden Hall runner by a minute. Blake’s 4th place finish was an important step for him and for the team. He ran with renewed confidence.
The team’s new motto, courtesy of junior Cam Adams, “The faster you run, the sooner you’re done,” served Cam well today. He started methodically and moved up steadily throughout the entire race, turning on extra speed seemingly at will. He finished third for the team and 15th overall. Without ill sophomore Cooper Ames, a scratch for the race, fellow sophomore Kellen Horst found himself without his usual pacing partner. He still ran determinedly and had the resolve to make some strong passes in the final quarter-mile. Improving each week and with even more potential to do so, sophomore Ian Wolanin had his first top 5 team finish. It’s been fun to witness how his practice work ethic is translating into solid race results. Senior Jack Terwilliger turned in his typically reliable effort, finishing 6th for the team. Sophomore Alex Chen brought his best, despite an early morning injury. He was 7th for the team, his first varsity finish.
Among the JV runners, sophomore Danny Wang was the first finisher, followed by senior Kevin Li. Kevin took a tumble in the woods, injuring his leg and shoulder but picked himself up and finished the race. Other finishers: Terry Kim ’22, Bill Tian ’23, and Ben Gordon ’22.
Team Finishes: Rye Country Day 33, Hamden Hall 57, Pomfret 65, Wooster 93, Woodhall 169, Cheshire 147, Greens Farms 176.
By David Ring

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Griffins go 2-1
The Pomfret varsity field hockey team went 2-1 this past week to improve to 4-3 overall.
Sept. 25, following first half goals by Cate Gallagher and Brooke Zanahsky, Pomfret gave up three in the second half to lose at Dexter Southfield (Brookline, Mass.) 3-2.
Sept. 26, in the pouring rain at Marianapolis, Pomfret pulled away for a 5-1 victory. Goal scorers included: Cate Gallagher, Grace Arsenault, Elizabeth Phalen, Brooke Zahansky and Emma McLean. Hannah Twombly had two assists and Kayla Doan was the winning goalie. Scoring for Marianapolis was Eleanor Raps.
Sept. 28, Pomfret hosted Canterbury School (New Milford) and came away with a hard fought 2-1 victory. Cate Gallagher scored in the first minute of the game and Emma McLean scored midway through the second half with the winning goal. Pomfret had to hold off the Saints attack as they earned a corner when time ran out to extend play. Kayla Doan earned the win for the Griffins.
By Louisa Gebelein Jones

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