Youth Soccer’s Windham 1 team comes close against Marshwood

Windham Youth Soccer Association Windham1 senior Connor
Langstaff kicks the ball toward the goal during a game against
Marshwood at Windham on Monday, July 11. 
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham Youth Soccer Association Windham 1 team was down 3-1 as they were roughly halfway through the second half of their game with Marshwood on Monday, July 11 at Windham but put up a strong fight before falling, 3-2.

Windham senior Owen Weatherby rocketed the ball over the Marshwood goalie’s head and through his outstretched arms and fingers for Windham’s second goal.

While Windham fought hard to tie up the game, Marshwood was able to hold off Windham and emerge with a win.

“Today I think we talked better than usual,” said Windham senior Connor Langstaff. “Our defense and our midfield moved more as a unit; I think we were really connected today. I think we are putting things together; slowly but surely, we’ll get there.” 

At the start of the game, Windham worked hard to be first to the ball. They moved the ball well. 

Windham sophomore goalie Lucas Hammond had multiple good saves.

Windham had several shots at goal, but nothing was getting by early on.

Marshwood scored back-to-back goals in the first half.

Windham answered when junior Nick Marion knocked the ball into the back of the net. At the half, Marshwood led 2-1.

“I think overall we improved a lot,” said Marion. “We just need to mark better on defense and tighten a few things up. We had a bunch of balls over the top and we had a bunch of chances, just some of them didn’t go our way; but we were creating a lot of chances.”

Windham pressured more in the second half. Eagle defense blocked scoring opportunities for Marshwood, while Windham took several solid shots at goal.

Weatherby fired a shot into goal roughly halfway through the second half to close the gap between the teams.

Weatherby said the team chemistry is very good right now, especially since they just got a bunch of new players at the start of the season. He sees these games as a steppingstone to help prepare for the regular season in September.

Windham pressured until the end, but Marshwood was able to hold on.

WYSA Windham 1 coach Mitchell Hodge said Windham’s pressure up top was pretty good and the team focused more on finding their center midfield; they just weren’t able to distribute as well as he had hoped. Adjustments are being made and the team has a lot to process, but they are getting there. It’s a good group of kids. <