Woodstock CI Red Devils’ boys’ soccer team ‘gets the point’

Woodstock CI’s Dexter Smith (centre) was denied on this shot by both St. Joe’s goalie Ethan Silcox and the referee’s offside call. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Woodstock CI Red Devils boys varsity soccer team got the point.

Both in terms of a modest standings boost in arrears of a Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) South East 1-1 road draw with a powerful St. Thomas St. Joe’s Rams squad Tuesday, April 22nd at 1Password Park in St. Thomas, and also the development value contained within.

“This was a good test,” said Red Devils keeper Justin Deschamps. “Lots to build on.”

“That’s how you play against a really good team,” added WCI coach Jason Poole. “Stingy defence and counter, counter, counter.”

The contest’s opening goal came on a pass-back which eluded the Rams’ keeper, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

“Unfortunate for them,” said Poole, “windy conditions.”

Not ones to look a gift horse in the mouth, the Red Devils could have been forgiven for seeking a little more after taking a one-goal lead into the game’s latter stages.

“I think we could have won it,” said centre-back Nicolas Marques.

It wasn’t as though WCI sat back on the narrow 1-0 lead. The Red Devils continued to try and build on the advantage, most notably a left-wing cross to striker Nardo Rose, denied point-blank by St. Joe’s Ethan Silcox.

However, facing what Poole described as a highly skilled side with great ball movement, WCI stuck to its four fullback, five midfielder, single striker alignment.

“Trust your shape and lean on your intensity,” he said.

The Rams continued to press for the equalizer as the second half wore down, denied by Deschamps with a diving save off an 18-yard strike, and strong positionally as a 20-yard free kick sailed over the crossbar. St. Joe's finally capitalized on a rush off the left wing, curling to the centre before burying a high shot from inside the 18-yard box.

“They’re going to go for the throat night to the end,” said Poole.

The Red Devils met the final minutes’ challenge and also saw a late shot off a corner hooked just past the left post, earning a hard-fought point through a draw standing at the referee’s closing three whistles.

“Not a bad result, we wanted the three points, but…” said WCI centre-midfielder Elisha Dezeeuw. “Pretty hard team to start against, but we did pretty good.”

“Just got to seal those games and learn to finish,” Deschamps added.

The outing continued stiff TVRA Tier I competition for WCI, promoted from Tier II following a strong 2024 season. The Red Devils and Rams have generated a bit of a rivalry said Poole, based on a pair of previous WCI wins in Tillsonburg Gemini Cup tournament action.

“For us to perform like that for 90 minutes I’m pleased,” he said. “I asked them to step up and they did.”

Beyond league goals, the Red Devils are preparing for Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association (WOSSAA) A playdowns and a potential provincial championship berth Poole added, welcoming the elevated challenge presented by teams like the Rams.

“Every tough game in our league is preparation for that.”

TVRA South East Boys’ Varsity Soccer

Tier I

Thursday, May 1

Woodstock St. Mary’s 4, St. Thomas St. Joe’s 1

St. Thomas Parkside 2, Tillsonburg Glendale 0

Ingersoll DCI 0, WCI 0

Tuesday, April 29

St. Mary’s 5, Parkside 1