By Kim J. Harmon

NEW MILFORD – It suddenly appears as if the Newtown High School is going to have a serious challenger in its quest to win the first-ever South-West Conference girls’ lacrosse championship . . . New Milford.

The Green Wave scored nine second-half goals to ease past the Nighthawks, 13-9, last Friday night in New Milford. Sandy Schmidt scored five times while Shannon Healy and Heather Pizzarello scored two goals apiece to stop the ‘Hawks in their tracks.

The loss dropped Newtown to 3-2 overall, 2-1 in the SWC.

It was not the kind of sendoff that Newtown – which had defeated Brookfield 14-2 just a few days earlier – wanted as it headed into the roughest part of its schedule this week. A trip to Middletown on Tuesday to face Mercy and a trip to Madison on Saturday to face Hand will no doubt end up being punishing and make a return to the SWC schedule on Monday, April 30, very welcome.

An 18-7 loss to Mercy dropped the ‘Hawks to 3-3 overall.

Against New Milford, Ellie Champagne showed off some offensive might by scoring five goals of her own. Kelly Shpunt had a pair while Sarah Whalley and Jen Chuddy also added solo goals to the effort.

Diana McNamara made eight saves in front of the cage.

The loss to the Green Wave now makes the return engagement (New Milford travels to Newtown on Saturday, May 12, for a 10 am contest) a much more important affair because a conference title may be hanging on the outcome.

The Green Wave pushed their record to 4-1 overall on Tuesday with an 11-0 win over Masuk.

In Newtown’s loss to undefeated Mercy (6-0-1) on Tuesday, Erin McDonald, Champagne and Morgan Pacheco scored two goals apiece while Shpunt added a solo goal. McNamara had to make 18 saves in front of the cage.

But the defense could do little against Elaina Haskos, Alicia Hoey and Erin Mathews. The trio combined for 15 of their team’s 18 goals, with Haskos coming up with six, Hoey with five and Mathews the other four.

The ‘Hawks will host Brookfield on Monday in a 7 pm contest and three days later will travel to New Fairfield to take on the Lady Rebels.

GOAL SCORING

 

Players       Goals

Erin McDonald         15

Ellie Champagne       14

Mary Bell      7

Morgan Pacheco       6

Kelly Shpunt  4

Meg Johnson  2

Sarah Whalley 1

Jen Chuddy    1

Megan Anderson      1