Adult Soccer Team Reaches Tourney Semis

The Newtown Adult Pickup Soccer Team (NAPS) participated in the Men’s Over 35 Tournament on Saturday, February 14, at the Connecticut Sports Complex in New Milford. The team, headed by captain Michael Greenwood, won a spot into the semifinals of the 6-on-6 tournament with their 3-1 standing achieved by beating PBM 2-1, Southbury 3-1, and ICE 3-1. In semifinal action, NAPS lost a hard-fought game to the Ridgefield Kicks who went on to win the tournament. Newtown resident Diego Jimenez led the team’s scoring with four goals including a hat-trick in the third game. Tim Shearin and Hamid Malakpour shared the goalkeeper roles.

NAPS began more than five years ago as a group of Newtown parents, organized by Marlene Smith, who got together at 7 am on Saturday mornings to play soccer before watching or coaching their children’s soccer games. The co-ed group has now grown to over 30 adults that play twice a week on a drop-in basis throughout the year.