BEACON FALLS — One win can make a difference, just ask the Woodland boys soccer team.
After a 1-3 start to the season, Woodland entered its game against Sacred Heart on Sept. 19 in need of a positive result. And they got it.
Thomas Bethin scored twice, while Sam Merriman added a goal and an assist to lead the Hawks to a much-needed 4-0 win. Jack LaPerriere also scored, and Christian Poirier had an assist. Brandon Ocetnik stopped 12 shots for Woodland.
“The day we played Sacred Heart our morale was down but the win picked everyone up and it carried the next few days,” Woodland head coach Tony Moutinho said. “That day clicked because the players worked as a unit and it showed in the result of a win.”
The defensive play was especially key. Not only did Ocetnik come up with the shutout, A.J. Oliveira has also picked up his game in recent matches.
“A.J. Oliveira has stood out the most,” Moutinho said of his recent play. “He is a natural goal keeper who is versatile enough to use as a center mid when needed and has played better than anticipated.”
After losses to Torrington and Bunnell, Woodland fell to Oxford 4-3 Sept. 26 in the last minute.
Bethin had two more goals for the Hawks, and Merriman added a goal and an assist. Senol Music and Poirier each had an assist, while Oliveira made eight saves against Oxford.
“We told them that they played well we just did not get the breaks,” Moutinho said after the Oxford match. “We told them that if they keep playing that hard the wins would come.”
The hard work paid off Wednesday as the Hawks (3-6) beat Wilby 3-0 Wednesday. The Hawks will look to make it back-to-back wins at St. Paul on Friday.
The coach was simple and direct about how more improvement will come.
“The boys need to communicate better and play as a unit,” Moutinho said.
