By Dave Miles
Standard Correspondent
The Woodstock Union High School boys soccer team lost its chance at a state title in overtime against U32 on Saturday. The score was 1-0.
U-32’s Altan Cross sang the national anthem preceding his team’s state championship tilt with Woodstock on Saturday. It was the first of many impressive performances by the junior on a day when defenders shined.
The result was a game in which neither team scored in regulation. But only 2:56 into overtime, Raider Harrison Bushnell took advantage of a rare scoring opportunity, pouncing on a bobbled ball right in front of the Woodstock goal and easily driving it into the back of the net for a 1-0 victory.
Cross spent his day doing his best to bottle up Woodstock’s Alex Crompton, trying to deny the Woodstock star any room to operate near to goal. He and his defensive teammates took away the front of the net, leaving Woodstock’s best opportunities coming in deep from the side.
Woodstock’s defense was equally effective in making things difficult for the U-32 attack. Every time speedy Dashiell Vermilya tried to break away down the left side, there was Patrick Bald racing to keep up with him, taking away any easy drives to the net. When Vermilya shifted over to the right side, Woodstock Coach Tom Avellino played the same chess game, moving Bald to the right side too.
Although both teams had a few shots on goal in the opening 40 minutes, there really were no good scoring opportunities in that half. But the second half turned out to be a different story, especially the deeper the game went into the half.
It was frantic as the game worked down towards its conclusion. Woodstock goalie Lucas Godfrey was called upon to make several great saves to keep the game even. One was a point blank rebound pounded in from close range and another was extending his arm far to the right to deflect what would have been an own goal.
Then with nine seconds remaining the senior leapt high to punch the ball up and over the net, not only stopping the goal, but also running the clock out with the Raiders deep in Woodstock territory, trying to beat the buzzer with a final goal.
“It was two evenly matched teams,” said Woodstock coach Tom Avellino. “We had a chance early in overtime. I was hoping that first look could be successful, because we were getting tired, cramping up.”
The loss ended a long 13-game winning streak for the Wasps, ten in the regular season and three in the playoffs. It was also the second year in a row that WUHS lost a heartbreaker in overtime in the state title game.
“It’s just tough for everybody, but especially the seniors,” said Avellino. “They wanted it so badly.”
Cole Dalton, center, carries the runner up plaque off the field.