Fast-starting Wasps dispose of Bratt
Toolbox
By Chuck Clarino Staff Writer - Published: June 5, 2009
WOODSTOCK – The seventh-seeded Woodstock got four goals from four different players in the first three minutes of play to get the jump on the No. 10 Brattleboro Colonels and were off and running to a 14-7 Division I playdown victory here Thursday.
The Wasps improve to 9-5 and head into a quarterfinal matchup at No. 2 Middlebury Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Brattleboro closed out its season at 7-10.
As impressive as the first three minutes of play was for Woodstock, it got even better.
After Brattleboro scored its first goal nearly four minutes into play, the Wasps zipped the next four goals in to take an 8-1 lead before the contest was 15 minutes old.
"Woodstock came out gunning," said Brattleboro coach Mandy Lonegrin. "They were real strong and they put the pressure on. They connected their passes got their shots on goal and were going full speed, with very few mistakes."
The way the Wasps started this game is pretty much how they finished their season. They started 1-4 but won six straight games before losing a one-goal game to No. 3 seed Mount Anthony and then finished the regular season with a resounding victory.
"We're peaking at the right time," said Wasp coach Lucinda Hewitt. "We got off to such a good start because we played like we've been playing – using everybody, not just one person."
Six different Wasps scored goals.
But junior attack Sarah Andrews was a scoring machine, pumping in six goals on only nine shots.
Yet Andrews, who displayed great speed in the open field and the ability to dodge and not lose a step, was the first to shrug off the glory and laud her teammates.
"We always play as a team and win as a team," said Andrews. "Teamwork is what it's all about. If our teamwork is on, then we're on."
Clearly, the Wasps were playing a team game. Of the 14 goals they scored, nine were assisted as the Wasps cut and passed, hit the open player to set up their scoring chances.
Sophie Anderson scored a goal but she dished off five assists. Callie Bellimer, who scored Woodstock's first goal 50 seconds into play, had three assists to her credit.
Carrie Wescher chipped in three goals, while Mary Griffin added two and Felicia Newhof contributed a goal and an assist.
But the fast start is just part of the formula for success. Goals can come at a furious pace and a team that seems down and out can climb back into the fray by getting on a scoring run and changing the momentum.
Goalie Carly Harris (11 saves) and defenders Aria Robinson, Hali Roy and Gretchen Kaya were keys to preserving the lead for Woodstock.
"You want to get on top, stay on top and be on top all the way," said Hewitt, who said it's only natural for a team to experience a lull during the 50-minute game. "We didn't sit back."
Meanwhile, Lonegrin said that during her four seasons coaching at Brattleboro the inability to get off to a quick start has been "our Achilles heel in the playoffs."
Brattleboro came back with goals by Brittany Tyler and Ella Young and two by Kelsey Guarino to slice the deficit to 12-4 at the half. But the Colonels didn't find their game until the second half.
Andrews scored the first two goals of the second half to build a 10-goal lead. Hewitt then subbed out her regulars and give her younger players playing time in the playoffs, something that will be valuable down the road.
Brattleboro made a run with Guarino sandwiching her third and fourth goals around one by Natalie Freeman but by that time, the clock was the Colonels' enemy and Woodstock's friend.
chuck.clarino@rutlandherald.com
18