Woodstock denies Vikes in D-I final
East Lyme — Even with a two-goal lead and under a minute remaining Thursday night, Woodstock Academy coach Paul Rearden's voice carried the urgency of a much closer game, imploring his players for every last morsel of effort.
"This game has this horrible habit of biting you in the butt," Rearden said later.
True enough. But Rearden's team also showed the ability to kick the aforementioned body part throughout the Eastern Connecticut Conference Division I boys' soccer tournament.
Woodstock, playing a true road game, again making the hour-long bus ride down Interstate 395, prevailed nonetheless, earning a 2-0 win over East Lyme and its first conference tournament title.
"The belief these kids have in each other is something special," Rearden said.
The Centaurs (12-5-2) took out top-seeded Stonington, 2-1 in overtime, in the semifinals.
Most Valuable Player Chase Anderson, a defender, scored the only goal Woodstock needed late in the first half. It was but his second goal of the season.
"I surprised myself," Anderson said. "I don't score that many."
Alex Quintas Gonzalez scored in the second half for the Centaurs, who roll into the state tournament.
East Lyme (14-4-1), which defeated Ledyard in overtime Tuesday night, had more chances to score early than late.
"We actually played pretty well," East Lymc coach Paul Christensen said. "We had a couple of chances early and just couldn't get it on frame. It wasn't our night to finish."
Not only was this Woodstock's night, but its season. As in the entire school. Woodstock won the ECC volleyball title Wednesday night, also defeating East Lyme, and its girls' soccer team played Plainfield for the Division I title in Thursday's second game Thursday night.
"Any time of day, walk around Woodstock and all you feel is such a positive environment," Rearden said. "I know that sounds corny. But nothing epitomizes that more than Woodstock. You see it daily."
• Top-seeded Lyman Memorial won the Division II tournament championship at Montville with a 3-2 overtime victory over No. 2 Windham. The Whippets had rallied for a pair of late goals to force sudden death before the Bulldogs ended it when Dylan Lucey scored the game-winner just 1:05 into the first overtime. It was Lyman's third win over Windham this year. m.dimauro@theday.com