By Kim J. Harmon

With games against Brien McMahon, Fairfield Prep, Staples, and Fitch in the space of just eight days, no one really expected it to be a pleasant stretch for the Newtown High School boys’ lacrosse team.

And, so far, it hasn’t been.

After a solid, 11-5 win over South-West Conference rival Joel Barlow back on April 24 – a win that boosted their record to 3-2 overall, 1-0 in the SWC – the Nighthawks have dropped three games in a row.

Two of those were to two of the state’s toughest teams.

The other was to Brookfield, a team which has vastly improved itself in a short time.

On Tuesday night at Newtown High, the Nighthawks – despite playing a very strong first quarter against coach Brian Micena’s former troops – dropped a 17-7 decision to sink to 3-5 overall, 1-1 in the SWC.

Oh, it was a pretty solid first quarter, alright. Senior co-captain Matt Saunders opened the scoring early, finding a seam off to the right of the cage and shooting low. And even though Prep scored three unanswered goals (the first coming just a few moments after Saunders hit the net), sophomore Casey Kirch notched another for the ‘Hawks with just 30 seconds left in the quarter.

But as the ‘Hawks discovered – again – on Tuesday, you can only hold back a team like Prep for so long. The Jesuits exploded for eight unanswered goals in the second period to take an 11-2 lead at the half. For the visitors, it was a simple matter of not only beating the Newtown defense down the field, but a matter of superior passing and finding the opens shooter.

The Jesuits scored two more in the first few minutes of the third quarter before senior John Conlon scored back to back goals to trim the deficit to 13-4. Prep scored two more and then Saunders added his second goal of the game just two seconds before the close of the period.

Pete Yemc (off a nice centering pass from Kirch) and John Oliver both scored in the fourth quarter for Newtown.

The result wasn’t much different last Saturday against Brien McMahon, one of the strongest teams in the FCIAC. Tom Ryan (who had a monster effort against Barlow last Tuesday, scoring four goals and assisting on three others), Saunders, Conlon and Kirch all scored two goals and Oliver added a solo goal. Kirch also assisted on three of the goals, while Ryan had two assists and Saunders had one.

Last Thursday, though, Brookfield dealt Newtown a surprising, 8-7, loss in the SWC. Saunders scored four goals while Conlon scored two and Kirch scored one. Conlon and Ryan were both credited with assists.

The ‘Hawks will host Staples of Westport on Friday in a 4 pm contest and then travel to Groton on Saturday to take on Fitch (4 pm start). The miles will continue to rack up on the bus as the ‘Hawks will travel to East Lyme on Monday.

The ‘Hawks will not return home until Monday, May 14, when they host Immaculate.

BOYS LACROSSE

 

Players  G          A          PT

Casey Kirch             13            15            28

Matt Saunders         20            7              27

Tom Ryan                13            9              22

John Conlon            12            4              16

John Oliver              6              0              6

Matt Sullivan           4              1              5

Dan Maley                2              2              4

Pete Yemc                1              2              3

Ted Yemc 1              1              2

Brian Hamilton        0              1              1