BEACON FALLS — Woodland girls’ soccer head coach Cait Witham stood over her team exhausted with a look of utter frustration, knowing how close her team was to being 3-0 on the season. Instead, they were 1-2.
“We outplayed them for almost 100 minutes and for them to be celebrating and us to be here like this, it’s ridiculous,” said Witham to her girls as they took a knee after their 1-0 double-overtime loss to Watertown Tuesday afternoon.
A Fitore Kllobocishta goal in the 102nd minute was all it took for the Indians to down the Hawks, who controlled the ball for over three-quarters of the game in Indians’ territory and didn’t manage to score once.
“When we have 10, 11, 12 shots on goal and put up a nil and they shoot four or five times on net and beat us, we can’t have that happen, it all comes back to execution,” Witham said.
Even when the Hawks out shot the Indians 17 to six, it was the one goal that mattered at the end of the day. Kllobocishta took a pass, centered the ball, fired it on net to where keeper Jenna Pannone was able to swat it to the ground, but Kllobocishta was right there for the put back.
You could’ve heard a pin drop on the field as the Hawks had put so much pressure on Watertown’s defense all night long until the 102nd minute, where they made their first real mental error of the game.
Allowing Kllobocishta to slip past the defense and into position to score was unexpected considering Watertown hadn’t actually held the ball much, they were reacting to Woodland’s moves, instead of being proactive all afternoon on offense.
“Part of the problem is that we take away our own scoring opportunities. When we find ourselves one-on-one in the frame we don’t make the right passes, shoot out of bounds, so we shoot ourselves in the foot in that regard,” Witham said.
Numerous offsides violations cost the Hawks against Watertown as crosses were placed well throughout the game, but those golden opportunities turned into “what would have been.”
After winning the opening game of the season against Naugatuck 2-1 in overtime, Woodland was held scoreless in back-to-back games as they dropped a 1-0 game on Sept. 11 to Holy Cross. Keeper Pannone managed to save 10 shots against the Crusaders.
Against Naugatuck two late goals by Jess Rodrigues and Sam Plasky in overtime capped the come-from-behind effort to open up the year with a victory.
Witham said if her team focuses, they can beat anyone.
“It comes down to focus for us. If we can do that, we’re tough to stop, but right now, we’re our own worst enemy,” Witham said.
The Hawks (2-2) sharpened their focus Wednesday as they beat Metropolitan Learning Center 8-0. The Hawks will host Sacred Heart Friday and Bunnell Tuesday.
