The pressure is on but the players are ready. This week, Woodland athletics will be participating in not one, not two, but 3 different NVL championship games.
Girls and boys soccer along with girls volleyball with be competing in their NVL games. To have 3 of Woodlands sports teams competing for an NVL title has never happened throughout the history of Woodland’s sports.
The teams have been working hard on and off the field and court to win this title. The last time these 3 teams have won the NVL championship games were 2013 for volleyball, 2011 for boys soccer and 2004 for girls soccer.
Girls soccer has had an undefeated season. However, like all good teams, they did have suffer a low point. Their game against Wolcott was a wake up call for them and prepared them more for the tournament. The team worked together well and practiced hard on the field.
“Our effort and team chemistry are definitely some of our strong points,” says seniors Sonia Sousa, Jessica Rodrigues and Alexa Casimiro. “We have been playing together since a very young age so it is very natural. We know how each other play.”
Like any other sport team there have been challenges they will have to overcome.
The girls explain that scoring early and playing nervous can be very mentally challenging since they do not want to place themselves in the same situation as before.
Preparing for their games comes with training hard everyday, mentally preparing for the games and drinking a lot of seltzer because as the team says, “seltzer wins games!”
Not only did girls soccer make it to the NVL championship but boys soccer as well. The boys will be facing Naugatuck and do not expect it to be an easy win. They have prepared for this game like any other game, however, by practicing hard, preparing themselves physically and mentally and learning the strengths and weaknesses of the other team.
“We are a team that works from the beginning to the end and won’t be out worked,” says captain Anthony Olivera.
Naugatuck is a top contender in the NVL but that isn’t stopping the boys at all. The teamwork from the team has brought them closer therefore improving the quality of the play on the field.
They have really been working together this season making them come along to the NVL’s.
“It was originally supposed to be a “Building Season” and now we are competing to be NVL champions,” said senior Captain Matt Hopkinson. “I am incredibly impressed and proud of my team for making it to the championship. We’ve worked hard all season and it is finally paying off.”
Woodland volleyball has had an amazing time on the court this season. With only 2 losses they have played with their hearts out throughout the entire season. The team has a lot of confidence for the NVL game with their outstanding defense.
“I’m most confident about our defense because we never let anything come through and hit the floor,” says Senior Captain Piccolo.
Overall, it is no surprise to them that they are in the championship game. Even with their large amount of confidence for the NVL game, they do have to continue to work hard and make sure everything goes according to plan.
“We may encounter the challenge of keeping everyone’s head in the game and making less errors, but we prepared for this game using scatter drills and playing against defense that is identical to Oxfords. We are ready.” says senior Sam White.
With the large amount of confidence and effort displayed by the three teams and their great amount of teamwork put forth on and off the field and court, the teams are ready to play.
Let’s break Woodland history tonight for the first time ever.
Tonight’s Schedule:
Woodland Volleyball vs. Oxford @ Kennedy 7:00pm
Woodland Boys Soccer vs. Naugatuck @ Municipal @7:30pm
Woodland Girls Soccer vs. Watertown @ Municiapl @5:30pm
