Roundup
Woodstock nails down 1st win of season
It took a while but the boys’ hockey team finally got rid of the goose egg in the win column.
The Centaurs got their first victory in 14 games as they blanked Tri-Town, 3-0, Wednesday.
“We’ve been so close on so many occasions already this season and there was some frustration at various points but everybody was still focused. They knew this was a good opportunity. They went out, finally played three periods and took advantage,” said coach Drew Beaupre said.
The win was also big for Beaupre as it was the first career victory for the first-year head coach.
“We were all happy for him, gave him a puck, let him know that all that time was definitely not wasted,” said junior Kieran Shepherd.
And the team was pretty happy too.
“Getting a win was fantastic,” Shepherd said. “All the weight was lifted off of our shoulders. After all the practices, all the months, workouts and everything. It felt great to finally get a win.”
The Centaurs didn’t have to wait long to get on the board against Tri-Town which is also struggling through a winless season.
Jackson Aleman took a pass from Alex Haggerty just 28 seconds into the game and put the puck in the back of the net.
“That was a great way to start, scoring a goal on the first shift,” Beaupre said.
The Woodstock coach changed things up a bit starting Aleman along with Haggerty and Cam Perreault.
“I told them that they had been looking good together, I will put you out there. Aleman got the puck out of the zone, crashed the net and got his first goal which was huge for him. He’s been working really hard. That was the perfect start, certainly,” Beaupre said.
The Centaurs added another in the second period with Camden Marshall getting his sixth goal of the year off a Patrick Griswold assist.
Shepherd then tallied 6:51 into the third period to put the Centaurs up, 3-0,
“I saw the space, started to skate it up and then I saw Patrick Griswold on the wing so I gave it to him and crashed the net. We were both on the same page. He shot it. It glanced off (the goalie’s pads) and I was crashing the net for the rebound,” Shepherd said.
It was time to breathe easy.
“Not quite,” Beaupre said. “With the way the season has gone, even with a 3-0 lead in those last couple of minutes. I think all the guys were really focused too which is what you want to see and I think, even when it felt like we had it wrapped up, the important thing was to make sure Brady (Hebert) got his shutout.”
The goalie did and he only had to make 29 saves.
“He’s carried us through so much of the season and he deserved that,” Beaupre said.
Beaupre knew this season was going to be a building year.
He had only two seniors in uniform at the start before the addition of Haggerty.
“Some of the minutes that the young guys are putting up are full-fledged varsity minutes and they have risen to the challenge. The growth and development that I have seen from the young guys is incredible at this stage of the season. Obviously, we still have a few games left here and looking too far ahead, but another year of physical growth for everyone, where they will be able to work with their other teams, is very exciting,” Beaupre said.
The coach fully expects that the majority of his players will take part in an offseason hockey program to improve their skills.
“I imagine they will come in next year and be ready to go,” he added.
The year isn’t over yet although it may feel like it for a bit.
The Centaurs got a 10-day break and don’t take to the ice again until Feb. 14 when they play Tri-Town again, this time at home at the Jahn Ice Center at Pomfret School.
“We have the same matchup on the back side so that’s exciting but things did get chippy (in the meeting this past week) so they’re going to want that one back. This late in the season, it’s not often teams get this kind of time to work on some stuff. We had a couple of days of practice last week and a full week of practice this week to get more into game planning types of things. It’s easier (to have the break) coming off a win rather than another loss to keep everyone focused,” Beaupre said.
Girls’ Hockey
There are few things better than winning on Senior Night and the five players who celebrated that on Friday as part of the girls’ hockey co-op got to have that experience.
The Centaurs skated to a 3-0 win over Simsbury.
It was something novel for the Centaurs.
“I think in my tenure here, we have not had a win on Senior Night so it was a good feeling for them. It was good to see them smile and it made me smile, too,” said coach Eric Roy.
Ellary Sampson, Maci Corradi, Grace Lescault, Avery Nielsen and Paige Hinckley were recognized prior to the game.
For Corradi and Sampson, it was a long time coming.
Both had played as a member of the Centaurs since seventh grade, making them six-year veterans of the team --- an oddity in high school.
“It’s been great. I’ve been able to play with all my best friends over the years and creating chemistry with people from different schools. I love the team. I feel like we all get along very well,” Corradi said.
Both Sampson and Corradi have been around through the metamorphosis of the program that now features players from many ECC schools in addition to Woodstock Academy.
“It’s crazy to think that the other day we were just seventh graders, middle schoolers on the bus. It’s surreal almost. I never thought this moment would actually come,” Sampson said.
Corradi will leave as the all-time leader in goals and Sampson is tops in assists in the program’s young history.
“That’s a cool stat to have and they should have it for a while. It shows you the camaraderie that they have had and how connected they are,” Roy said.
The star of the game was a junior. Mia Auger put the Centaurs on the board first as she scored in the beginning seconds of a Woodstock power play with just 22 seconds left in the first period.
The Centaurs then nursed the slim lead through the second and most of the third period with goalie Gen Nash getting 16 saves.
Summer Discordia finally gave her a little breathing room when she scored off a Sampson assist with 2 minutes, 44 seconds to play.
Auger then iced the win as she had another unassisted tally with just 19 seconds left in regulation.
“She was out sick this week so we weren’t too sure about her and then she came out and (got two goals). More of that will be helpful,” Roy said.
The win raised the Centaurs record to 3-11-1.
“We definitely needed it. It feels great and, hopefully, we can continue a winning streak,” Corradi said.
The Centaurs need one to make the state tournament.
“I’m a data analyst so I do all the math and there is still a chance. The fat lady is not singing yet,” Roy said.
The Centaurs were scheduled to play a game against Greenwich Saturday but that game was postponed by the weather.
It’s a game the Centaurs need.
“The way the (playoff) points work, you get a lot of points with a win over Greenwich. We lost to them on opening night, 1-0, and have always had battles with them; we went to overtime twice last year. It’s there. If we play our game, we can compete with anyone,” Roy said.
Gymnastics
For a last time this season, the Woodstock gymnastics team competed in a regular season meet.
The Centaurs wrapped up the season in good fashion as they posted a 132.95-117.9 win over Stonington. They also defeated Killingly which did not have enough athletes to score as a team.
The win meant the Centaurs finished 8-3 overall and 7-3 in the ECC.
“The season so far has been a lot of fun,” said coach Kasey Fillmore. “It’s a great group of girls who continue to step up. We are looking to have our best performance at the (ECC championship). We have to focus on really coming together, having solid routines and getting those sticks (at the end of routines.”
That championship takes place on Wednesday at Stonington High School.
The Centaurs prepped for that with a couple of performances that cleared 130.
The second of those was on Friday with junior Rhea Desota leading the way with a 34.1 all-around performance.
Ellis Tech’s Ava Pereira was best with a 36.2 followed by Killingly’s Jessie Williams (35.7).
Desota tied for second with her bar routine and was third on beam. Senior Emma Long was third best in vault and bars.
She was also the only senior on the Centaurs this season and was recognized in Senior Night festivities prior to the meet.
“Emma is one of the most driven people I know,” Fillmore said. “She has improved so much over these four years and has cared so much about making herself the best she can be. I am really proud of who she has become and I am excited for her future.”
Earlier in the week, the Centaurs put up their best team total of the season but fell short to a now healthy Norwich Free Academy team, 139.65-136.05.
Anyah Oatley led the Centaurs in the all-around as she was third best in the meet with a 35.6 total including a 9.6 first-place finish on floor and a first-place finish (9.0) in vault. Oatley also tied Desota for third in bars at 9.0.
Trinity Ambruso of NFA captured first in the all-around with a 37.55 while Pereira was next at 36.6.
Girls’ Basketball
There were a lot of breaths being taken in the Alumni Fieldhouse late Saturday afternoon.
Southington had just hit a 3-point shot to make it a one-possession game with the Woodstock girls’ basketball team with six seconds to play.
The Centaurs attempted a long inbounds pass down the floor into the frontcourt but it was intercepted just over half court by the Blue Knights.
“At first, I thought, ‘OK, she has six seconds to make it’ and then she turns around and gives it to (Ariana) Quick,” coach Will Fleeton said.
Quick, the leading scorer for Southington, had already put down 17 points including a couple of lengthy 3-pointers.
“I thought, ‘Oh no’ and when she let it go, I thought it had the right trajectory,” Fleeton said.
Fortunately, the one-handed heave hit just above the basket and bounded away giving the CIAC Division II Centaurs a rather nice, 57-55, victory over their Div. I opponents.
It was the seventh win in a row for Woodstock.
“That’s a quality team and I was just glad that we were able to get the game in with the weather. I think it was a win-win, we were able to come out on top but I think there were a lot of lessons and opportunity to grow within that game,” Fleeton said.
Both teams now both sport 12-4 records.
The Centaurs took advantage early as Kaylee Saucier, Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain and Vivian Bibeau all hit 3-pointers early to give the Centaurs a 9-0 advantage.
But by the end of the opening quarter, the Blue Knights had their legs back under them and the Centaurs settled for a two-point, 15-13, lead.
“We knew they were going to come back and they did. They hit 3’s right after we turned over the ball but we did the same and once we started limiting turnovers, it really changed the game,” Bibeau said.
It was Southington that built a five point second quarter lead, but Bibeau, who led the Centaurs with 18 points, found her shooting hand and scored eight consecutive points for the Centaurs including two of her four 3-pointers in the game.
Still, the Blue Knights led at the half, 30-28.
A 10-4 run by Southington to start the third quarter gave the visitors their largest lead, 40-32, but it didn’t last long.
D’Alleva-Bochain (12 points) and Bibeau both hit 3’s to cut it back to two.
“I’m proud of my kids for taking an extra lock-in. I think they were locked in the whole game but when good teams play, this is what is expected. It’s going to be a punch fest all the way and that’s what this was. We punched; they punched back. Fortunately, we were able to stay composed and respond,” Fleeton said.
The Centaurs led by two at the end of the third only to see the game tied at 48 with 5:12 to play.
Saucier (12 points) hit a 3-pointer and the Centaurs made all six of their free throws the remainder of the way to pull out the win.
It was a win that may pay dividends come state tournament time.
“We know we’re a good team. I think we played super fast (Saturday) and that’s what we will need to do in the (ECC) and state tournaments,” Bibeau said.
Woodstock had a makeup of a postponed game with Windham to play earlier in the week.
It had to come right back to play Bacon Academy on the next night.
Nothing like a back-to-back.
“It’s not normal for high school athletics,” said Saucier. “In AAU, you’re playing back-to-back in a day so when you think about it that way, it’s not that bad but it is definitely not normal.”
The Centaurs looked a little out of sorts at times but still easily prevailed over Bacon Academy 51-39.
That followed on the heels of a 66-39 win over the Whippets on Monday.
Defense sparked the Centaurs especially when it came to turnovers that led to offensive opportunities.
Woodstock forced 18 first half turnovers and 25 for the game against Bacon.
“We always rely on our defense and it hasn’t been the best but when the offense isn’t the best, you need to rely on your defense,” Saucier said.
Neither team scored for just about the first three minutes of the game before Bibeau broke the ice with a basket for Woodstock.
But despite having eight turnovers in the first quarter, the Bobcats (2-13) were able to hang in as they allowed the Centaurs just two other buckets in the first eight minutes and led, 11-8, going into the second quarter.
The Centaurs did respond to the challenge.
D’Alleva-Bochain and Saucier, who led Woodstock with 15 points, each hit a 3-point basket to open the second quarter.
Two more fast-break buckets by Saucier extended that lead to seven with 5:05 left in the quarter.
Bacon scored the next five to make it a one-possession game but the Centaurs scored eight of the last nine points in the half to go up by nine and limited the Bobcats to three third-quarter points to extend the lead to 16 by the end of the third.
“We’re trying to defend first; that’s always important to us and what we are after more than anything else,” Fleeton said. “We try to create pressure so we’re looking for that as well and I think we did a good job communicating with each other.”
Elise Coyle had 13 points for Woodstock which was the number that freshman guard Ava Galante recorded to lead Bacon in scoring.
D’Alleva-Bochain was the sparkplug on Monday as she put down a game-high 20 points to lead the Centaurs past the Whippets. Saucier and Bibeau, who each had a trio of 3-pointers, finished with 13 apiece.
Boys’ Basketball
Things had been going very well for the boys’ basketball team. They were riding a two-game win streak over Fitch and Waterford going into their game on Friday.
They found one thing to be truth --- it is not easy to win on the Whalers' home floor.
New London jumped out on top early, held a seven-point halftime advantage and maintained that throughout, finished with a 59-47 win over the Centaurs.
The loss dropped Woodstock to 8-6 on the year.
The Whalers were able to do something that few teams have. They held down Drake Abdullovski.
The sophomore guard went into the game averaging over 21 points a game and had two 30-point plus performances last week.
He could muster just seven points against a feisty New London defense.
Senior Jamie Dean Stewart did step up and scored a season and career-high 14 points for the Centaurs.
But it wasn't enough as four New London players finished in double figures.
Jamie Hall led the Whalers (11-4) with 16 points with Jayron Robinson (13), Jeremiah Ikpasa (12) and Kyaire Young (10) also getting into double digits.
Brayden De Oliveira added seven points for Woodstock.
It was the only game of the week for the Centaurs who now have a challenging seven days ahead as they go on the road. Woodstock traveled to Somers on Monday and will go to Windham on Wednesday and East Lyme on Friday.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
2026 Brady Hebert:
Goalie Brady Hebert made 29 saves as the Centaurs picked up their first win of the season, 3-0, over Tri-Town. Photo by Joshua Hernandez / actionframe_media.
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Emma Long was recognized on Senior Night Friday at Deary’s Gymnastics. Long was the only senior member of the Centaurs gymnastics team this season Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.
2026 girls’ hockey:
Seniors, from left: Avery Nielsen, Grace Lescault, Paige Hinckley, Ellary Sampson and Maci Corradi were recognized prior to the girls’ hockey co-op game with Simsbury on Senior Night. Photo by Collin Singleton/Woodstock Academy.
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Vivian Bibeau looks to guard against Bacon Academy freshman point guard Ava Galante in a game won by the Centaurs. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.
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Bacon Academy freshman guard Ava Galante attempts a pass over the outstretched arms of Woodstock senior Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.
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Kaylee Saucier (10) and Anna Hernandez (4) hem in Bacon Academy guard near half court. Photo by Marc Allard/Woodstock Academy.