WINDSOR — As the adage goes, the best defense is a good offense.
The same could be said about the Windsor High girls soccer team’s approach, which is to overwhelm opponents with a high volume of shots and a defense that could be mistaken for a midfield.
The Yellowjackets followed their strategy on Wednesday afternoon, defeating Leland & Gray, 1-0. They outshot the visitors, 12-1, and didn’t allow the Rebels to take a shot in the second half.
“That’s the way we’ve been working towards (playing) all season,” said fourth-year Windsor coach Jeff Bachey. “Where our defense steps up and helps pressure in the offensive third to really put the pressure on the opposing team. To play Leland & Gray, which is perennially a strong team, as well as we did, I can’t be happier.”
The Jacks had three corner kicks in the first 25 minutes of the match, working to get Elliot Rupp chances to take a shot, but she wasn’t able to convert thanks to a strong Leland & Gray defense.
Rupp inserted the sixth corner of the first half, however, in the 27th minute of play. The junior sent in a ball from the left corner to Evelyn Page, who was able to get a shot off but it was deflected by a Rebel. Freshman forward Olivia MacLeay was right there to pick up the rebound and quickly tapped it in for her first career goal.
The score gave Windsor (4-1-0) the 1-0 lead that it held on to for the remainder of the game, but that doesn’t mean the Jacks didn’t have plenty more chances to score.
Rupp was constantly a threat in the final third with a handful of breakaways that she couldn’t finish. In the last 20 minutes of the game, she had six clear shots that went wide right or left. Her closest was in the 71st minute, when a shot grazed the left side of the net.
Still, Rupp’s ability to produce plenty of shots forced the Rebels to focus on her rather than advancing the ball.
“It was a little frustrating,” the junior laughed. “We’ve been working on finishing a lot. I mean I’ve done it in other games, it just didn’t fall tonight.
“It was super-important (to take that number of shots) because it also really tired out their defense. Getting those shots off also lets me know that we need to keep taking them because they are there.”
A mix of Windsor midfielders and defenders also stymied the Rebels, including Kansas Marsh, Kate Murphy and Morgan McKeen. The Jacks have now held opponents to only five goals this season, and Wednesday was the second shutout in three games.
Leland & Gray (3-3-0) also didn’t help itself, chalking up 10 fouls in the second half. The Rebels couldn’t move the ball well off throw-ins and also didn’t have a corner kick the entire game.
Page was the constant distributor of the ball for the Jacks, though, moving it up to Rupp and also taking a few shots herself.
“I think, for years, we’ve been trying to maintain this high-pressure style of play,” said Page, who has four assists this season. “I think, this year, we’re starting to put it together, and it’s been exciting to see. We’re moving in a great direction.”
The Jacks’ first loss of the season came last Friday, a 1-0 defeat on the road in double overtime to Green Mountain.
Bachey said the match turned into a track meet, and his team started to play more to Green Mountain’s style of play. Staying true to the system he’s put into place will be the key moving forward. Wednesday was the evidence he needed.
“They’re really starting to understand the system I’m starting to develop,” he said. “They’re starting to grow into their roles on the team. It’s one of those demoralizing styles of plays that when you do it well it’s hard to come back from.”
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NOTES: Windsor hosts Bellows Falls on Friday afternoon. … Jacks goalkeeper Adi Prior had to make only one save thanks to a strong defensive effort. … Windsor’s program was founded in 1999. Bachey said the goal for this year is to host a home playoff game. … Leland & Gray is located in Townshend, Vt.
Pete Nakos can be reached at pnakos@vnews.com.