Williamstown's senior captain, Johnny Earls, goes high in the air to control the ball in the Blue Devil's 1-0 win over Cannan last Saturday in Williamstown. Earl's scored the games only goal just minutes later. The win gave the Williamstown Boys a final regular season record of 10-4- 0. Last weeks soccer action saw the Blue Devil Boys split a pair of 1-0 decisions. Last Tuesday the Blue Devil's traveled down to South Royalton and suffered a tough 1-0 loss to a top shelf team on the field down by the river. On Friday the outcome was reversed when the Cannan Eagles flew into Williamstown and gave the Blue Devil's all they could handle before bowing to the Blue & White 1-0 on senior day.

Three words can describe the pace of the Cannan game-back and fourth.

"This was a tough, hard fought game," said coach Scott Hulbert.

"They are young. They don't have any seniors. They are very quick. They will be tough next year.

The quickness and toughness of the Cannan defense came out at the opening whistle and didn't let up for the full ninety minutes. Tme and again Williamstown's front line would get inside the penalty area but the Canan backs seemed to turn them away at every opportunity. Ray Burgos and Johnny Earls, Williamstown's speedsters on the front line were marked men for most of the game. The first half was a scoreless duel and when they came back out for half number two it looked at first as if it would be more of the same. But Williamstown turned the pressure up a notch and created some scoring opportunities. Johnny Earls was able to spring free for several scoring chances but most of those went high or wide and heading into the game's final 10 minutes it still was a scoreless deadlock. At Just about the ten minute mark Johnny Earls was positively robbed by the Cannan Keeper when they both went sliding after a low ball at the left post. Earl's got even for the theft just a couple of minutes later. He took a nice feed from Ray Burgos with 7:27 left in the game and drove the ball into the back of the Eagle net to break the scoring ice. That Goal gave the Blue Devils all they would need as they hung on in the game closing minutes to pull out the 1-0 victory over Cannan.

"They came at us hard," said coach Hulbert. "Devyn Woodworth our freshman mid-fielder had a great game. He kept them at bay."

Coach Hulbert also had some praise for the game's lone official. "The referee, Bob Lance was working alone and he did a great job. Most people don't realize what a tough job that refereeing can be even with a partner. But he did it alone and did very well," the coach said.

The game down by the river in South Royalton, however, was a different story. South Royalton is always tough at home and already the Central Vermont League North Champs when the Blue Devil's rolled into town.

Williamstown was playing without three players and coach Hulbert said they could have helped. But the undermanned Blue Devils gave the royals all they could handle for most of the game. South Royalton scored the game's only goal midway through the second half. Then the Royal's defense had to dig in and hold on for the last twenty minutes. "This was a well fought match by both sides. It was a fun game to be involved in. We fought hard and showed that we can play with a high quality team. Even without three of our players" coach Hulbert said.