NHS Girls Lacrosse—

Standouts Recruited To Play On D-III College Fields

By Andy Hutchison

Now that the high school sports season is complete, the seniors will go their separate ways, but three members of the Newtown High School girls’ lacrosse team are heading in the same direction — so to speak.

A trio of standouts from the Nighthawks’ squad was recruited to play Division III college lacrosse.

Courtney Gleason is going to Wheaton College in Norton, Mass., Libby Feltch is headed to Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Lisa Isabella will play at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y.

The Nighthawk players stood out throughout their careers and especially during this past season, when they played key roles in leading the Hawks into the Division I State Tournament semifinals for the first time. Gleason led the team in scoring and was named an All-American, becoming the first such recognized lacrosse player from Newtown High. The recognition puts Gleason into a category with the top lacrosse players across the country.

NHS Coach Maura Fletcher said Gleason dedicated herself to the game of lacrosse in eighth grade and worked off season on her stick skills and strength and conditioning. She spent countless hours shooting at open nets in her backyard.

“She loves the game, she loves her team and it is so nice to see someone who worked so hard get the accolades they deserve. Courtney’s success is shared by those who played before her and those who support her now on the field.  She clearly understands that she shares this award with all of them and that maturity carries over into her level of play,” Fletcher said.

Gleason scored a whopping 74 goals and added 46 assists for 120 points. Gleason scored 158 career goals, breaking Ellie Champagne’s school record of 148 tallies.

Feltch was also a key component of the team, specializing in faceoffs, and received Academic All-American honors for the second year in a row. Isabella was the team’s goaltender and was recruited for her ability to block shots.

“I think it’s great,” Fletcher said of her players being recruited.

All three girls brought different elements to the playing fields.

Gleason was the team’s go-to player and when she was double- and triple-teamed, that opened the window for other players to step in and score. Isabella, of course, played the complete opposite role, keeping the ball out of the net. Feltch was the team’s draw specialist whom Fletcher described as “a scrappy player with great stick-checking ability.”

Gleason was a First Team All-State selection, Feltch received Second Team recognition and Isabella earned All-Conference honors.

There’s no doubt, it’s not going to be easy for NHS to replace players with such strong attributes.

“We’ll miss all three of them a lot,” the coach said.

All three soon-to-graduate Nighthawks will miss playing for the Blue and Gold.

“It’s going to be tough starting a new slate,” Gleason said.

Isabella said she is looking forward to moving on and all three players await a new opportunity to play at another level.

“It’s going to be really tough,” Feltch anticipates.

Only time will tell if college-level lacrosse is as tough for these Nighthawks as they were for their opponents. Newtown won four straight South-West Conference titles, dominating the conference competition during the entire four years these seniors suited up for the Hawks.