WOODSTOCK, Vt. - Woodstock field hockey is one step closer to a return trip to the final. The top-seeded Wasps beat eighth-seeded Milton 4-0 at home Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Woodstock improves to 13-1-1 and has won seven straight since its only loss, a 3-4 decision against Burr & Burton on Sept. 18. Friday was the Wasps’ fifth shutout of the season, joining wins over Rutland (1-0), Brattleboro (6-0), Fair Haven (3-0) and Bellows Falls (1-0). The only other blemish on their record is a 1-1 tie with Hartford.
Milton, which won its opening-round game 4-2 over Missisquoi Valley on Tuesday, finishes 4-10-2.
This team has shown it can handle pressure. In the regular-season finale against Bellows Falls on Oct. 15, coach Leanne Tapley sent everyone forward on a late corner, and junior Betta Cirovic scored off a pass from senior Ryann Hughes with two seconds left for a 1-0 win. “We put our entire team up, knowing that they could only have four back plus the goalie,” Tapley said afterward. Senior Mataya Gibson was a standout on defense that day.
There is unfinished business here. Last fall Woodstock reached the final and lost 2-1 in overtime to Montpelier. Before this season, Tapley said, “We are looking strong with nine returning starters (and) a large junior class that have been playing together since elementary school.” Hughes and fellow senior Grace Perreault are the captains.
Third-seeded Montpelier, last year’s champion, is also through to the semifinals after getting past Fair Haven on Wednesday.
Woodstock field hockey is next in the semifinals on Wednesday, October 28, or Thursday, October 29.
BOYS SOCCER
Woodstock at Stowe | Friday, October 23
Woodstock boys soccer’s turnaround season ended Friday afternoon with a 0-2 loss at top-seeded Stowe in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.
Stowe’s Luca Rovetto scored in the 29th minute off an assist from Lucca Willett, and David McLaughlin added a goal in the 46th minute, assisted by Eli Young. Stowe goalie Garnet Matson made one save. Stowe improves to 12-2-1 and moves on to the semifinals.
Stowe also ended Woodstock’s season a year ago, but these Wasps were a very different team. Woodstock went 1-14 last fall. This year the eighth-seeded Wasps finished 7-7-2 and hosted and won a playoff game, beating White River Valley 2-0 on Tuesday behind a goal and an assist from senior Luke Hecker, a goal from freshman Henry Freyer and steady play from sophomore goalkeeper Grayson Hughes.
Coach Alex Montaño set two goals for the season, finishing at least .500 and hosting a playoff game, and Woodstock reached both. “I think that says a lot about how we’ve grown to expect more and more from this team,” Montaño said after Tuesday’s win.
Other relevant play on Friday, October 23:
Fair Haven (10-5-1) 4 at Paine Mountain (14-2) 1 Sixth-seeded Fair Haven pulled the upset on the road against third-seeded Paine Mountain.
Enosburg (11-6) 1 at Peoples (11-2-3) 2 Second-seeded Peoples held off seventh-seeded Enosburg by a goal.
That wraps up the day for Woodstock Union High School sports. We’ll see you next time!