Woodstock holds on to beat NFA in D-I semis

Waterford — Under constant pressure, Norwich Free Academy desperately tried to hold Tuesday in a scoreless Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I girls' soccer semifinal. The Wildcats almost did. Goalie Allyson Knorr-Anderson piled up the saves and her determined defense blocked several shots.

Eventually, second-seeded Woodstock broke through, as Ivy Gelhaus blasted home the game-winning goal from close range with just over 25 minutes remaining for a 1-0 victory. It was the talented senior forward's eighth game-winning goal this season.

The Centaurs dominated possession and had a 15-1 edge in shots. They won the majority of 50-50 balls and completely shut down the Wildcats.

"I told them that we just had to weather the storm," NFA coach Kyle Baron said. "We can't play defense the entire game and expect to win."

The Centaurs (15-1-2) avenged a 1-0 defeat to the Wildcats last Wednesday.

"They broke up our perfect season," Woodstock coach Dennis Snelling said. "It's a big accomplishment for them. We're happy to get them back when it really mattered the most.

"... We're back to the final. It was an early-season goal. We're happy to keep playing these extra competitive games before the state tournament as long as nobody gets hurt."

Woodstock advances to play No. 1 Plainfield in Thursday's 7 p.m. final at East Lyme.

If not for the sure-handed Knorr-Anderson's sparkling play, the final deficit would have been greater. The senior goalie finished with nine saves, including a terrific sliding stop late in the game. Sophomore Jillian Brunelli and senior Madeline Perrino anchored the defense, short-circuiting the Woodstock attack for long stretches.

The dangerous duo of Gelhaus and Peyton Saracina came oh-soclose to combining for a goal on several occasions.

"For it to be a 1-0 game, it's unreal," Baron said. "The last time we played them we were on the winning end but we played defense again the entire game."

A late surge by the third-seeded Wildcats (10-6-2) nearly produced the equalizer.

After going without any scoring threat for the first 75 minutes, NFA finally picked up the intensity and put the Centaurs on their heels for the first time.

With just under five minutes left, senior Juliette Hogan lofted a long, high ball deep into the box that goalie Irene Askitis bobbled and dropped. A wild scramble ensued.

NFA junior Abigail Tucker popped up a soft shot — NFA's first on goal in the game — that bounced off the crossbar and fell back into the goal mouth. Askitis alertly recovered and fell on the ball.

Woodstock survived the frantic final minutes.

"If we could play with that intensity the entire game, it probably would have been a different outcome," Baron said. "But nothing to hang our heads about. We played a very tough team.

"... Soccer is a game of momentum and unfortunately momentum wasn't on our side. I'm proud of these girls. For us to be so young still, we're slowly building the program to where it needs to be." g.keefe@theday.com