Woodstock
The Wasps have been stopped short of their first state boys soccer title in school history in two consecutive D-II championship games, last year in dramatic fashion with an overtime loss to U-32. Though the Wasps (10-2-2) lost some talented goalscorers to graduation, they worked their way to a No. 4 ranking this season.
Tuesday’s 3-0 win over No. 13 Lamoille (2-10-2) in the tournament’s opening round was just the first step. Many of Woodstock’s veterans have seen this story play out too many times to get overly excited over one postseason victory. This year’s Wasps are trying to write a new ending.
“In years past, we’ve known how good we were,” Campbell said. “We had Mason Thompson and Alex Crompton, guys like that. This year, I don’t think any of us expected to do as well as we did. Going into these next games, we know they’re going to be tough. … You have to stay positive. You have to go into it thinking you’re going to win.
“We don’t have those big names,” Campbell added. “It has to be Woodstock instead of just three players.”
The victory set up a quarterfinal meeting at 3 p.m.on Friday at home with a No. 5 Hartford team that handed Woodstock a loss and a draw in the regular season. The Hurricanes defeated No. 12 Mill River, 3-1, on Tuesday to advance.
“The rivalry (with Hartford) 100 percent fuels us,” Campbell said. “We lost the first game, tied the second game. We’re hoping a third time’s the charm.”
Campbell, listed as a senior midfielder, scored twice in the snow flurries and bitter cold wind that swept across Woodstock’s home field on Tuesday afternoon. Junior Cullen McCarthy added two assists.
Senior Quest Holding scored his first varsity goal just 24 seconds after Campbell’s rocket from 20 yards out broke the scoreless tie with 14 minutes, 32 seconds left to play in the first half. Holding cleaned up a rebound off of Lamoille goalkeeper Phil Rich that bounced between a Lamoille defender to Holding, who chipped the ball high from close range into the Lamoille net.
Campbell added the insurance goal with 11:36 remaining in the game, making moves inside and out before burying the ball just inside the far right post.
Hartley Walker-Money, a Woodstock senior midfielder, hit a crossbar and a post. The Wasps recorded 14 shots on goal.
“It was a great effort,” said Woodstock head coach Tom Avellino. “Listen, this is a great team we played today. We didn’t them lightly, for sure. We knew how good they were. We came in for the challenge. The weather conditions, it was windy and cold, but it worked in our favor. We made them work.
“This senior group really wants to keep playing,” he added. “It was a great team effort today.”
Woodstock senior goalkeeper Jack Arthur had a relatively quiet afternoon, keeping Lamoille off the scoreboard with a diving stop on wide-open Isaiah Gaskell with five minutes remaining in the second half. Arthur recorded three saves.
Avellino and the Woodstock coaching staff like the way the team’s offensive production has come together at the right time; the Wasps have scored 22 goals in their last four games, all of which have been victories. But Campbell and the Wasps recognize that their toughest challenge is still ahead. That comes with an experienced group that understands what it takes to be successful in the playoffs.
Avellino said the foundation of his program is built on a consistent mentality to play hard that carries over from year to year. While some of Woodstock’s prized goalscorers are gone, Avellino hopes that his team’s foundation can continue to put the Wasps in a position to compete for the school’s first state boys soccer title.
“It takes a while for new teams to invest. It takes a while for new teams to get with the idea,” he said. “You don’t get it overnight. But when you get it, you get it. We classify Woodstock soccer as we come to play every day. There’s an intensity out there that we like a lot. It’s a special thing.
“When you start the preseason, you just never know where you’re going to be with a group of guys. From a coaching standpoint, we like the challenge of seeing what we can turn them into.”
Josh Weinreb can be reached at jweinreb@vnews.com or 603-727-3306.