Lightning Seeks State Cup and District Titles

Capping off an impressive season, the Newtown Lightning U12 girls’ travel soccer team has an important weekend ahead.

In State Cup action, the field of 41 teams has been narrowed to two, as the Lightning take on Southbury in the championship game this Saturday at 11 am at Curtis Field in Simsbury.  

This marks the Lightning’s third trip to the State Cup finals out of the four seasons in which they have participated. The team will dedicate the game in honor of the late Bee Sports Editor Kim Harmon.

The U12 girls are also in the running to take the first place title in the Southwest District of the CJSA, to be determined after they play their final league game this Sunday. That game, which is against Monroe, is set for 2 pm at Treadwell Park. The Newtown Lightning team, which consists of 18 6th and 7th grade girls, has been playing together for three years under the guidance of Coach Larry Dunnigan and Assistant Coaches Kevin Keller and Alan Korchman.

 The State Cup semifinal result from this past week is as follows:

Lightning 5, Trumbull 0: Shelby Tolla opened the scoring for Newtown with a nice lob into the back of the net. Kailee Dunnigan followed with two goals in a row, Kelsey Muniz scored during a scramble in front of the net after Dunnigan took a corner kick, and Emily Riley put one in off a setup by Muniz.

Siena Cicarelli dominated in the midfield and Meaghan Brophy played a great defensive game, shutting down any breakaway attempts by Trumbull.

Although the three Lightning players who shared keeper duties saw relatively little action, they showed skills when it counted. Riley made a nice save during the first half and Cicarelli and Kate Fallon were tough in the nets for the second period.