Windsor
Last year, the Cardinals made it all the way to the NHIAA Division III championship game, but graduation and a player transfer resulted in many new faces dotting the landscape.
As a result, the Cardinals were shut out in two of its first three games this season, including a 4-0 whacking at Derryfield. But a different Stevens team has emerged over the last four games, as the Cardinals have gone 4-0 and outscored their foes, 32-1.
The latest win came on Wednesday, when Mitch Paquette had two goals and two assists as Stevens (5-2) took care of business at Windsor, 7-0.
“We’ve got a lot of new faces, but we’re starting to get to know each other a lot better,” Paquette said.
Under coach Jason Stone, Stevens’ passes are short and control is the key as the team is never reluctant to pass the ball back to keep possession.
“We just try to keep it simple, keep it in our possession and move it down the field,” Stone said. “And we have to do it with some intensity.”
Stevens is a school with more than twice the enrollment of Windsor, but that doesn’t bother Windsor coach Andy Tufts.
“One of my players asked me why we play Stevens, and I told him because they are our neighbors and we can learn from them,” Tufts said. “Jason is a great coach and they have a great feeder system. We have been losing to them lately, but it hasn’t always been that way.”
Stevens midfielder Parker Moote had an assist and was instrumental in a transition game that kept denying Windsor the opportunity to cross midfield. But he knows that for the Cardinals to be successful they not only have to play defense, but continue to have offensive games like the one on Wednesday.
“We have shown a lot of improvement since the start of the season as we are getting to know each other better,” said Moote, who played a big role in the Cardinals’ ability to move the ball from the wings into scoring position. “We’re playing the game now the way we’re supposed to play.”
Stevens started the scoring early after Paquette, after taking a tap pass from Moote, emerged from a cluster of defenders to get clear for a shot from in close and near the post to the right of Windsor keeper Eli Milligan.
The Cardinals scored three more times before the half. Paquette, with an assist from Drew Grenier, made it 2-0. Brennan Huntoon scored twice, with assists going to Paquette and Josh Thurber.
In the second half, Grenier knocked in his own rebound, and Gabe Spaulding found a crease in the defense and took advantage of it. The final goal was tallied by Ian Fitzpatrick, with help from Paquette.
Stevens goalkeeper Tanner Durkee, who is a four-year starter at that position, had to make just one save.
“Our defense made it real easy for more me,” he said. “We’re really clicking now.”
Stone figures it was not be as easy on Friday, when the Cardinals go to Mascoma. “They have been playing well,” he said.
While Windsor had just one shot on goal, it was a dandy as Dan Cardillo nearly got a shot past Durkee, who got the tip of his fingers on it to knock away in the second half.
Windsor (2-4) is at Arlington on Friday.