By Kim J. Harmon

It was only three games into the regular season but nevertheless it was still THE game of the year, a much-anticipated rehashing of the thrilling 2002 CIAC Division II boys’ lacrosse state championship between Newtown and Joel Barlow.

And it didn’t go well.

Not for Newtown.

The Falcons – winners of that D-II game by a count of 10-9 – soared on the wings of Ben Megna (four goals) and Mike Distler (three goals) to a 14-9 win in front of a large crowd Friday night at Blue & Gold Stadium. And the Nighthawks, who have soared themselves with 34 goals in their first two games, were grounded by tough Barlow defense.

“They are a good team,” admitted head coach Brian Micena. “They played well and played within their game.”

Joel Barlow jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first quarter, scoring the first five goals of the game, and was able to hold off an early Newtown rally (which took wing on goals by Casey Kirch and John Oliver) to take control of the game.

Spencer Gantsoudes and Dave Carpenter scored two goals apiece for the Falcons while Matt White, Nick Fletcher and Owen Emerson scored one apiece. Distler had a pair of assists and goaltender Frank Mazzucco made 13 saves.

John Oliver scored four goals to lead Newtown while Casey Kirch scored two. Tom Ryan (who also had two assists), Jay Romanelli and Kyle Kirch scored one goal apiece. Goaltender Chris Body made 12 saves.

The ‘Hawks recovered from the loss to Joel Barlow and pounded Guilford 18-5 on Monday night at Blue & Gold Stadium. Ryan scored five goals while Oliver added four goals and three assists and Casey Kirch added three goals and six assists.

The only thing that kept the game from being the third 17-5 win of the season (the first two were over Branford and New Milford) was a goal by Jeff Bell with 16.6 seconds left in the fourth quarter.

Even though the Indians came in winless and were clearly overmatched, it was still a brilliant effort by the ‘Hawks.

And it wasn’t so much the 18 goals put up on the scoreboard (although the Kirch brothers both had spectacular goals), but the 12 assists registered on the night. Casey Kirch had three great passes that resulted in goals while Ted Yemc (to Romanelli) and Ryan (to Casey Kirch) did their part as well.

The ‘Hawks traveled to Monroe on Thursday to take on Masuk and will host Weston on Saturday at 7 pm at Blue & Gold Stadium. They will travel to Conard on Wednesday, May 7, and to Danbury on Thursday, May 8, to take on Immaculate.

Century Mark

Although his two goals were lost among 15 other goals in a 17-5 win over New Milford back on April 17, for Tom Ryan they were two pretty big goals. The first was the 99th of his career and the second – of course – was his 100th.

Ryan (currently with 106 goals) joins Ellie Champagne (148), Casey Kirch (141), Caitlin Collier (134), Charlie Heinzer (123) and Sean Raby (104) in the ever-expanding 100-goal club.