By Steve Bigham

The Newtown High School boys’ varsity soccer team opened the 2000 season with a flurry last Friday night, pounding Weston, 7-0, before a large crowd at Bruce Jenner Stadium.

With several players making the first starts of their varsity careers, the Nighthawks scored early and often and Coach Brian Neumeyer’s new style of play showed to be both exciting and effective. But the third-year coach wasn’t going to let an easy win over an undermanned team allow his players to relax.

“That wasn’t the game to test us,” he said. “I’m happy, but there are things that get masked in a 7-0 win. Against a Joel Barlow, those mistakes or problems might be glaring and they could cost us the game.”

Nevertheless, last Friday’s opener was a welcome way to start the season as everybody got into the action. Senior Rob Weiss scored two goals within 60 seconds of each other early in the second half to put the lopsided affair away. Newtown led 3-0 when Weiss picked up the two goals. The first came at the 42nd-minute mark off a pass from sophomore Mike Troy.

Weiss’ second goal was assisted by junior Brendan Cavanaugh at the 43rd minute for a 5-0 lead.

Troy opened the scoring seven minutes into the contest when he hammered a shot home from the left side off an assist from junior Ian Walker. Cavanaugh made it 2-0 with an unassisted goal at the 21st minute after trapping a defender in the corner, stealing it, then breaking in alone.

Junior Colin Armstrong gave Newtown a 3-0 advantage 26 minutes in when he broke through the middle for a goal from Walker.

Troy scored his second goal at the 58th minute of the second half on a pass from freshman Matt McFadden. Six minutes later, McFadden scored a goal of his own off an assist from sophomore Dave Andras.

Junior goaltender Matt Pachniuk succeeded in turning back Weston only shot on goal.

Newtown’s matchup at New Fairfield Tuesday was postponed due to rain. The Nighthawks were next slated to host Brookfield Thursday at 6 pm at Treadwell Park. After that, they travel to Danbury on Saturday to face Immaculate before coming home for a Tuesday afternoon match with Stratford.

With so many offensive-minded players on this year’s squad, Neumeyer is giving his players freedom to “do their own thing” on the field. The coach is encouraging his players to attack more often and to occasionally play out of position if the situation merits it. The key, however, is that the team remain properly spaced and hold its original shape.

“A guy on the right side can end up on the left side as long as there is someone covering for him,” Neumeyer explained. “We’re just as structured as we’ve always been, but we’re giving kids the freedom to make their own decisions on the field.”