The Newtown Senior Gold boys’ lacrosse team defeated Weston Blue, 6-1, and concluded the 2005 season on a winning note at the CONNY Tournament this past weekend.

Among the 80 teams representing Connecticut and New York, the locals were ranked sixth and had hopes of competing for a CONNY championship. But a 12-7 loss to Amity – in which Amity scored eight third-period goals – put an end to those hopes.

Still, Newtown salvaged respect.

The game against Amity was a rematch of a regular season contest won by Newtown in overtime. In the first quarter of this one, Newtown dominated the play as Kevin Canavan scored two goals on assists from Christian Beitel and Jacob Dauz. Connor Collier also scored off an assist by Canavan.

Amity stormed back in the second to score three times and tie the score at half time.

The third quarter was Newtown’s undoing as Amity went on a tear, scoring eight goals to the locals’ three. Tim Wheeler, Dauz and Beitel scored goals off assists from Canavan, Matt Hill and John Grimaldi, but the defense that had been so strong all year long had finally suffered a letdown in the brutal heat.

In the final period, Beitel scored his second goal of the game, but Newtown was unable to recover from the horror of the third quarter.

In the win over Weston in the consolation round, Conor Collier had three assists as Newtown out shot their opponents, 27-9.

Dauz opened the scoring off a pass from Collier. Fellow middie Brian Reszoly scored the second goal off another brilliant look and feed from Collier. And in the second half, the offense heated up with Canavan scoring off an assist by Jamie Vavrek. Wheeler got on the board after getting yet another feed from Collier and, in the fourth period, Vavrek scored after he received a leading pass from midfielder Max Paynter.

The final Newtown tally was setup by Vavrek after he found Beitel open to score the sixth and final Newtown goal.

Boys Senior Blue

The Newtown Senior Blue boys’ lacrosse team got a typically stellar defensive effort at the CONNY playoffs, allowing only three goals in two games. But prior to their 3-1 win over John Jay, the Blues suffered a 2-1 loss to Hamden.

In the loss to Hamden, Tim Dalton tied the score at one in the second quarter, but despite out shooting Hamden by a 2-1 margin, Newtown was unable to crack the cage again as they lost a heartbreaker. Goalie Clarence Cheung was brilliant and defenders Jacob Phenix and Nick Pieretti were fierce.

In the win over John Jay, the locals allowed their opponents a goal off the opening face-off and then shut things down the rest of the way. The physical play of Phenix, Pieretti, Michael Locorotondo and Zach Haubert made the difference.

Ryan Murphy scored the first Newtown goal. The second was an own goal that was mishandled by the John Jay goalie. Colby Gleacher scored off a Tim Dalton assist to round out the scoring and secure the win for Newtown.

Boys Senior White

Kurt Nacewicz notched a pair of hat tricks and the Newtown Senior White boys’ lacrosse team recorded wins over Amity (8-5) and Wilton (8-7, OT).

In the win over Amity, Nacewicz scored three times and Timo Roehrs stepped up big to lead the Newtown defense in a very physical game. Rocco Guaragno and Chris Gregory provided help on D as Andrew Golankiewicz had two assists and seven ground balls. Jamie Bowers had two goals as Dylan Heubner, Cameron Gehrman, and Connor McNamara each scored a goal. Andrew Matsis had eight saves in the cage.

In the overtime win over Wilton, Jamie Bowers scored four goals and assisted on another, including the game winning goal in overtime, to lead the way. Andrew Matsis made nine saves and the close defense of Dana Hansen, Roehrs, and Gregory were solid in support. Midfielder Zach Dent and attackmen Tyler Reszoly, Jamie Walsh, and Connor McNamara (who also played defense) were essential contributors to the win.

The scoring started at the wrong end of the field for Newtown, as Wilton drew first blood. Dylan Huebner helped draw the Whites even when he assisted Bowers on his first goal. “Big Ben” Collins then assisted Nacewicz, but Wilton came right back to tie the score at the end of the first quarter. In the third, midfielder Rob O’Donnell assisted Bowers and then assisted Gehrman to put Newtown ahead 4-3. But Wilton reeled off three unanswered goals to go ahead 5-3.

Bowers started off the fourth quarter by scoring unassisted, then fed Golankiewicz to tie the score at 5-5. Wilton quickly scored to regain the lead, but with time running out, Golankiewicz hurled the perfect long pass to Gehrman, whose equalizer sent the game into another overtime.

With the pressure intense, it was Golankiewicz who again was the playmaker, skillfully feeding Bowers with another perfect long pass. Bowers muscled his way to the net to put one past the Wilton keeper.

Boys Junior Gold

After completing a perfect 12-0 regular season, the ninth-ranked Newtown Junior Gold boys’ lacrosse team came down to earth at the CONNY playoffs with losses to John Jay (6-4) and Darien (6-1).

In the loss to John Jay, injuries and the heat doomed the Gold to first loss of the season. Colby Summerlin (assisted by Lewis Thompson), CJ Ryan, Ryan Korth and Kyle Vignone scored the goals. Brandon Body was once again stellar in the nets with 14 saves.

In the loss to Darien, Vignone scored the lone Newtown goal and Max Nacewicz was his usual bullish self at close defense. Body stopped 11 shots.

In other action –

Senior Girls

Newtown Gold 13, Darien 8 – Lisa Vendel scored four goals while Meghan Bridges and Meg Kelly scored three apiece to lead the Gold. Betsy Vendel added two goals and Hannah Glasrud chipped in with one while also playing an outstanding game on defense. Molly Murtha, Keegan Frobey, Annie Fletcher, and Steph Suhoza shined on D. Jackie Isabella and Haley Keane were great in the goal.

Newtown Gold 13, Ridgefield 3 – The defense led the way to victory over Ridgefield as Keegan Frobey, Hannah Glasrud, Molly Murtha, and Steph Suhoza played well. Jackie Isabella (5 saves) and Haley Keane (3 saves) were outstanding in the goal. Betsy Vendel had three goals as Jackie Isabella (2), Annie Fletcher (2), Meghan Bridges (2), Brittany Wiberg, Meg Kelly, Kara Brown, and Lisa Vendel also tallied.

Newtown 13, Redding 9 – Meg Kelly scored three goals while Kara Brown, Nicole Waterhouse, Meghan Bridges and Jackie Isabella scored two apiece to lead the way. Betsy Vendel and Lisa Vendel also scored. Haley Keane was great in the pipes with six saves while the defense – led by Steph Suhoza, Annie Fletcher, Molly Murtha, Hannah Glasrud and Keegan Frobey – throttled a tough Redding attack.

Junior Boys

Newtown Gold 8, Brookfield Gold 2 – CJ Ryan scored three goals and notched an assist as Newtown beat Brookfield to complete an undefeated regular season. Lewis Thompson had a goal and two assists, Kyle Vignone had two goals, and Evan Gilchrist had a goal and an assist. Ryan Korth had two assists. Justin Spath made a great effort to score an unassisted goal and played well at midfield.

Newtown Gold 11, Bethel 0 – Kyle Vignone scored two goals and had two assists and Lewis Thompson scored two goals and had one assist as Newtown shut out Bethel. Thomas Murphy, Trey Trudell, Max Nacewicz, Justin Brophy, Will Provey, CJ Ryan and Connor Halloran all scored as assists were provided by Ryan, Evan Gilchrist, and Mike Zacarro. Will Northrop, Vignone, and Trudell each had six ground balls.

Newtown Blue 4, Amity B 2 – Lewis Raab had 10 saves to earn the win. John Johnson scored two goals and had one assist and Michael Lord and Brendan McNamara each had a goal. Josh Gilbert and Colin Morris were strong at the midfield, and Joe Pieretti and Emmett White played great defense. Cory Fisher and James Radcliffe kept the pressure on the Amity defense from their attack positions.