Windham varsity boys’ summer soccer ends season with strong win over Cheverus

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham varsity summer soccer team’s older group composed of juniors and seniors played its final game of the season against Cheverus at Manchester School in Windham on Tuesday, July 28 and Windham walked off the field with a 5-2 win.

Windham junior Ben Foster fires a shot directly at the goal
during a varsity boy's summer soccer game against Cheverus
at Manchester School in Windham on Tuesday, July 28.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA    

The Eagles’ offense scored four goals in the first half, while their defense kept the Stags to just one goal. Each team scored one goal in the second half.

“We played with great chemistry today, we possessed very well,” said Windham junior Sean LeBel, who scored twice during the game. “Last week we had Eagle Soccer Camp and that got us a lot of touches on the ball and that made us ready for today. We’re a close group and we’re really positive, and that’s great. Summer Soccer is definitely important with the team chemistry and we’ve improved a lot skill-wise. I think we’re ready for the season.”

Windham began the game by moving the ball well with great communication and took multiple shots at goal as the half progressed.

Cheverus scored partway through the first half.

“We got a goal scored on us early on and that forced us to shift to second gear ... and get our result,” said Windham senior Caleb Hayman. “Playing with relaxation, playing with straight chemistry and good passion led to the win. We all worked our butts off and our finishing when it came down to it, we were able to score our goals when we needed to. Possession and finishing (went well). Our defense played pretty well along with physicality and passion.”

Hayman said through the summer season he’s noticed they we’re all becoming closer and closer as a team. Players are able to get on each other about how to play the game and no one gets mad.

Junior and Windham player Ben Foster scored from a corner kick to tie the game 1-1. Shortly following Foster’s goal, LeBel scored. Then, Windham senior Matt Bilodeau scored on a penalty kick.

Before the end of the half, LeBel maneuvered past the Cheverus goalie and scored again. Midway through, Windham led 4-1.

In the second half, the Eagle’s defense held back the Stags, as Windham controlled the field. Although Cheverus scored one goal, Windham quickly answered moments later when Hayman scored.

As the clock ticked away, the Stags wouldn’t recover.

“Our senior leaders ... were using the word ‘passion’ a lot tonight and having passion for the game,” said Windham varsity boys’ summer soccer coach Cole Washburn. “Going into the game with passion and showed the passion to win against a (tough) team. Our possession was really good tonight. We possessed the ball for a majority of the game and that led to slowly working up the field ... as we went forward and that created chances for us where we scored on five of those opportunities. Our substitutes got the most goals over our starters, but starters held that possession really good and didn’t let Cheverus touch the ball a lot, which was key. We had fun, that’s the biggest part of summer and building a team with good energy moving forward. It’s good to see that team camaraderie early.”

Washburn said that the goal of summer soccer is to focus on the simple things and test out guys in different positions, different formations and to get touches on the ball. Washburn said a couple losses early in the season woke the guys up a bit and the technical level of the team’s a lot higher from the start of the season with a lot cleaner touches. All around he thinks it was just a better team performance and believes the team is starting to gel really well. <