NHS Recaps: Rare Field Goal Makes The Difference In Gridiron Victory

By Kim J. Harmon

What a way to open a season!

Yes, and what better way could there be to generate some excitement than to … 1) Have the Newtown High School football team host defending Class S state champion Pomperaug, the team that waxed the Nighthawks last September; 2) Have the girls’ soccer team hosted arch-rival Masuk; 3) Have the boys’ soccer team host arch-rival (or hated rival) Brookfield; and 4) Have the field hockey team host the New Milford Green Wave, the team that bounced the Lady Nighthawks from the South-West Conference semi-finals a year ago?

Things worked out pretty well, too. Girls’ soccer (in a 3-2 decision) and field hockey (in a 3-0 decision) were the only Newtown squad to be vanquished in their openers. Both the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams swept their tri-meets while the swimmers dunked New Milford and the volleyball team swept Tolland.

What a way to open a season!

FOOTBALL

Newtown 10, Pomperaug 7

A weak kicking game may have kept the Newtown High School football team out of the CIAC state playoffs in 2004, but John Nelson began making amends for that last Friday night at Blue and Gold Stadium.

Nelson – a junior – converted on his first varsity field goal attempt, a 28-yarder just five seconds into the second quarter, and lifted the Nighthawks to a 10-7 win over defending CIAC Class S state champion Pomperaug.

The kick was solid and had the kind of distance that would have made it good from 40 yards out.

It stood up, too, as the only score in the first half. Junior Joe DeVellis added an even bigger blow, returning the second-half kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown and – after Nelson added the extra point – providing the ‘Hawks with a 10-0 lead.

The locals had just 115 yards of total offense on the night, but with the field goal, the kick return, and an exceptional defensive effort it was more than enough. Max Reed had the big defensive play in the first half, putting pressure on Pomperaug quarterback Greg Cappuzzo and forcing an interception – gathered in by Billy Beatty.

Later in the first half, it was Marc Ingerman, Thomas Hutchinson and Kevin Regan making the big stops and helping to stall the Panthers on a fourth-and-seven play from the Newtown 15. About three minutes later – after Ingerman got off a low punt that was blocked at the line – Pomperaug had the ball at the Newtown 16 but the Nighthawks defense once again stiffened and Bryan Wrabel’s field goal attempt with four seconds left clanged harmlessly off the left crossbar.

That narrow 3-0 lead quickly expanded to 10-0 just 14 seconds into the second half after DeVellis ran back the kick 75 yards for a touchdown.

Soon after, the Panthers – who pummeled the ‘Hawks, 54-7, a year ago with essentially the same offense – finally began moving the football. But it took a nifty screen pass on a fourth-and-eight play deep in Newtown territory to keep the drive alive and allow Andrew MacDougall to score on a five-yard burst up the middle.

With the lead trimmed back to three points, the ‘Hawks continued to have trouble moving the ball against the Panther defense. The ‘Hawks are unveiling a new passing attack in 2005, but junior quarterback Tucker Kass was just 2-for-9 on a rainy night at Blue & Gold.

His best pass was a 30-yard sideline floater to DeVellis in the fourth quarter, but it ended up amounting to little. And then defensive back Travis Speer snuffed out Pomperaug’s last chance to score late in the fourth period when he intercepted an errant pass from Cappuzzo.

The ‘Hawks will be in Weston on Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is slated for 2 pm.

 Newtown 10, Pomperaug 7

SCORING

Second quarter: N – Nelson 28 FG. Third quarter: N – DeVellis 75 kickoff return (Nelson kick); P – MacDougall 5 run (Wrabel kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Pomperaug – Andrew MacDougall 12-97, Conor Tidgwell 15-64, Donald Lang 9-19, Gregory Cappuzzo 3-4, John Sharkey 2-2, Tom Piccolo 1-2 (TOTALS: 41-186); Newtown – Roy Scheunemann 15-52, Chris Potter 5-15, Tyler Tarantino 2-10, Tucker Kass 4-1, Marc Ingerman 1-1, Travis Speer 1-0 (TOTALS: 28-79). Passing: Pomperaug – Cappuzzo 4-13-2 for 27 yards; Newtown – Kass 2-9-1 for 36 yards. Receiving: Pomperaug – Piccolo 2-11, MacDougall 1-14, Tim Rose 1-2; Newtown – Joe DeVellis 1-30, Grant Speer 1-6.

GIRLS SOCCER

Masuk 3, Newtown 2; Newtown 2, Waterford 0; Newtown 3, Bunnell 0

With a new goaltender stepping in between the pipes and their leading defender, Kyla Miles, out for a couple of weeks nursing an injury, the defending CIAC Class LL state champion Newtown High School girls’ soccer team couldn’t have been in a more unfavorable position opening the 2005 season.

Especially when the first opponent is arch-rival Masuk.

Sure, neither team played particularly well, but it was the Lady Panthers who came away with a 3-2 non-league win as they peppered the weakened Newtown defense and goaltender Lauren Ciccomascolo with 25 shots.

Ashley Testani’s goal with less than five minutes to play (her second of the game) was the difference maker.

The Lady Nighthawks were also without leading scorer Casey Frobey (38-11-49 a year ago), who is nursing a stress fracture in her leg. But the ‘Hawks still were in position to win as freshman phenom Taina Domingos registered the first two goals of her varsity career … one with the assistance of Darcy Fiscella.

That game slipped away from the ‘Hawks, but the next two didn’t. The girls came back to pin a 2-0 loss on highly-regarded Waterford and a 3-0 loss on rival Bunnell and have boosted their record to 2-1 with Brookfield (Thursday) and New Fairfield (Tuesday) coming up on the schedule.

In the win over Waterford,  Megan Hansen and Alex Konneker scored the goals off assists from Domingos and Fiscella. Freshman Emily Kluga stepped into the goal and earned the shutout, making two saves.

In the win over Bunnell, freshman Kasey Schulz and sophomore Colleen Thornberg scored their first varsity goals. Konneker scored her second of the season and added an assist – as did Schulz and Gabby Nastri. Once again, Kluga earned the shutout in goal with a pair of saves.

Masuk 3, Newtown 2

GOALS: Masuk – Ashley Testani 2, Carin Czerniawski; Newtown – Taina Domingos 2. ASSISTS: Masuk – Erica Mansson 2; Newtown – Darcy Fiscella. SAVES: Masuk – Erin Lillywhite 10; Newtown – Lauren Ciccomascolo 18; SHOTS: Masuk – 25; Newtown – 16.

Newtown 2, Waterford 0

GOALS: Newtown – Megan Hansen, Alex Konneker. ASSISTS: Newtown – Taina Domingos, Darcy Fiscella. SHOTS: Waterford – 5; Newtown – 7. SAVES: Newtown – Emily Kluga 2; Waterford – Theresa Pagnozzi 5.

Newtown 3, Bunnell 0

GOALS: Newtown – Alex Konneker, Kasey Schulz, Colleen Thornberg. ASSISTS: Newtown – Kasey Schulz, Alex Konneker, Gabby Nastri. SHOTS: Newtown – 6; Bunnell – 2. SAVES: Newtown – Emily Kluga 2; Bunnell – Devan Alusik 6.

BOYS SOCCER

Newtown 2, Brookfield 0; Newtown 6, Bunnell 3

Marcus Tracy and Brian Miles combined for 48 goals in 2004 and in the shadow of all that Chris Hoagland managed seven.

Now a starting forward, Hoagland is doing his best to fill the void left behind by the graduation of Tracy and Miles and has scored four goals to lead the Newtown High School boys’ soccer team to wins over Brookfield (2-0) and Bunnell (6-3).

Hoagland scored both goals in the win over Brookfield off assists from Noah Kugielsky and Matt Taylor and powered an offensive attack that unleashed 23 shots on the net. Hoagland added two more goals in the win over Bunnell while Alex Meisel added a pair of goals and an assist. Kugielsky and Mike Klein also scored as Justin Miller registered a pair of assists.

The Nighthawks dominated Bunnell on Tuesday afternoon and had built up a 5-0 lead at the end of one half before the Bulldogs finally broke through the Newtown defense. Mike DaSilva led the visitors with a pair of goals.

Louis Ritzinger notched the two wins in net for the ‘Hawks, making five saves in each game.

The locals hosted Brookfield on Thursday night (after press time) in their first annual Soccer Fest. They will be in New Fairfield on Tuesday and New Milford on Thursday.

Newtown 2, Brookfield 0

GOALS: Newtown – Chris Hoagland 2.ASSISTS: Newtown – Noah Kugielsky, Matt Taylor. SHOTS: Newtown – 23; Brookfield – 9. SAVES: Newtown – Louis Ritzinger 5; Brookfield – Chris Smart 12.

Newtown 6, Bunnell 3

GOALS: Newtown – Chris Hoagland 2, Alex Meisel 2, Noah Kugielsky, Mike Klein; Bunnell – Mike DaSilva 2, Brandon Broadbin. ASSISTS: Newtown – Justin Miller 2, Meisel; Bunnell – Anthony Minafiore, Matt Lance, Brandon Broadbin. SHOTS: Newtown – 13; Bunnell – 7. SAVES: Newtown – Louis Ritzinger 5; Bunnell – Matt Carey 10.

Junior Varsity

The Newtown High School junior varsity boys’ soccer team jumped out to a 2-0 record with wins over Brookfield (2-0) and Bunnell (6-0).

In the win over Brookfield, Kyle Droniak and Matt Wright scored the goals. In the win over Bunnell, Zuza scored a pair of goals while Cody Cullens had a goal and two assists. Matt deBrantes, Blake Barreto and Dayton Horvath scored while Wright provided an assist.

FIELD HOCKEY

New Milford 3, Newtown 0; Newtown 2, Masuk 0; Pomperaug 1, Newtown 0

The Newtown High School field hockey team lost two of its most potent offensive players to graduation and saw its head coach step down and yet – in this new era – nearly pulled off something magical on Tuesday afternoon.

The Lady Nighthawks took perennial powerhouse Pomperaug to overtime before finally succumbing. 1-0, on a Caitlin Walker goal just 1:06 into the extra 7v7 session. Newtown goaltender Alissa Gross made nine saves – a couple off some mammoth hits – and if she wasn’t so sharp in the circle then the game never would have made it to overtime.

But the locals have been playing real well on the defensive end early in the 2005 campaign. The ‘Hawks held New Milford scoreless in the first half of the season opener last week before the Green Wave finally broke through and then pinned a shutout on Masuk before holding the Lady Panthers scoreless for 61 minutes.

A week into the season, the ‘Hawks are 1-1-0-1 on the year. Despite the loss to Pomperaug, the locals earned a point since it was an overtime loss.

After Mari Terrio, Michelle Pearl and Sarah DaRos lifted New Milford over Newtown last week, the ‘Hawks blanked Masuk, 2-0, on goals by Kerrie Canavan and Rita Magliocco. Co-captain Erin Clark recorded an assist.

The locals were in Redding on Thursday (after press time) to take on Joel Barlow and will return to the field next Thursday to host New Fairfield. That game will start at 7 pm at Blue & Gold Stadium.

New Milford 3, Newtown 0

GOALS: New Milford – Mari Terrio, Michelle Pearl, Sarah DaRos. SHOTS: New Milford – 13; Newtown – 3. SAVES: New Milford – Ashley Hinz 5; Newtown – Alissa Gross 10. PENALTY CORNERS: New Milford – 17; Newtown – 10.

Newtown 2, Masuk 0

GOALS: Newtown – Kerrie Canavan, Rita Magliocco. ASSISTS: Newtown – Erin Clark.

Pomperaug 1, Newtown 0 (OT)

GOALS: Pomperaug – Caitlin Walker. SHOTS: Pomperaug – 10; Newtown – 1. SAVES: Pomperaug – Sara Shaban 1; Newtown – Alissa Gross 9. PENALTY CORNERS: Pomperaug – 9; Newtown – 0.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

Newtown 15, New Fairfield 50; Newtown 15, Bunnell 50; Newtown 17, Immaculate 46; Newtown 16, Brookfield 45; Newtown 21, Joel Barlow 38

Getting off on the right foot.

The Newtown High School boys’ cross country team is prepared to make a play for the South-West Conference championship this year and if the first two meets are any indication, neither New Fairfield, Bunnell, Joel Barlow, Immaculate nor Brookfield will be able to stand in their way.

The Nighthawks easily swept their first two meets and ran their record to 5-0 with Weston, Pomperaug and Notre Dame coming up next Tuesday at Morehouse Farm Park in Westport.

In the season-opening sweep of New Fairfield and Bunnell last week, Jake Sullivan was the front-runner at 17:16. He was closely followed in by Charlie Baldour (17:17), Eric MacKnight (17:18), Alister Ratcliff (17:18) and Scott Nichols (18:09) as the Nighthawks took the top five positions.

On Tuesday, it was Ratcliff’s turn to lead the pack as he finished first in 18:34. While Joel Barlow broke up the pack with a couple of top six finishers and Immaculate snuck a runner into the top five, the ‘Hawks got solid finishes from MacKnight (3rd – 18:39), Nichols (4th – 18:48), Sullivan (7th – 19:05) and Matt Cole (9th – 19:06).

TEAMS: Newtown 15, New Fairfield 50; Newtown 15, Bunnell 50; New Fairfield 24, Bunnell 31. INDIVIDUALS: 1. Jake Sullivan (N) 17:16, 2. Charlie Baldour (N) 17:17, 3. Eric MacKnight (N) 17:18, 4. Alister Ratcliff (N) 17:18, 5. Scott Nichols (N) 18:09, 6. Bobby Schwartz (N) 18:14, 7. (tie) Mike Mangarella (N) and Zach Schwartz (N) 18:21, 9. Ryan Morrissey (N) 18:44, 10. Kevin Hoyt (N) 18:50, 11. Kevin Donahue (N) 18:51, 12. Rod Howe (N) 19:02, 13. Jordan Reed (N) 19:04, 14. Ben Defabio (NF) 19:05, 15. Greg Hill (N) 19:18.

TEAM: Newtown 21, Barlow 38; Newtown 17, Immaculate 46; Newtown 16, Brookfield 45; Immaculate 24, Brookfield 33; Barlow 24, Immaculate 31; Barlow 23, Brookfield 34. INDIVIDUALS: 1. Alister Ratcliff (N) 18:34, 2. Mike Levene (JB) 18:35, 3. Eric MacKnight (N) 18:39, 4. Scott Nichols (N) 18:48, 5. Chris Frank (I) 18:50, 6. Jeremy Garavel (JB) 18:55, 7. Jake Sullivan (N) 19:05, 8. Taylor Phillips (BR) 19:05, 9. Matt Cole (N) 19:06, 10. Jim Molloy (BR) 19:15, 11. Ryan Morrissey (N) 19:35, 12. Steve Sarica (JB) 19:45, 13. Justin Garavel (JB) 19:53, 14. Zach Schwartz (N) 20:11, 15. Robert Daros (I) 20:24.

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

Newtown 19, New Fairfield 43; Newtown 15, Bunnell 50; Newtown 15, Joel Barlow 49; Newtown 18, Immaculate 45; Newtown 15, Brookfield 50

Even after winning three straight South-West Conference championships, the Newtown High School girls’ cross country team hasn’t slowed down.

With Sadie Ball taking a pair of first-place finishes, the Lady Nighthawks swept their first two meets of the 2005 season to open up at 5-0.

Last week, it was a sweep of New Fairfield and Bunnell in which the ‘Hawks took six of the top seven places and on Tuesday it was a sweep of Joel Barlow, Immaculate and Brookfield in which the ‘Hawks, once again, took six of the top seven places.

Ball won the opener in 17:38, more than 30 seconds ahead of Laura Simons of New Fairfield. Elise DeRoo (3rd – 18:20), Moira Collier (4th – 19:06), Jen Brill (5th – 19:06), Michelle Brennan (6th – 19:10) and Sara Pollock (7th – 19:11) all followed.

Ball won again on Tuesday, coming in at 18:00, but this time she was just 12 seconds ahead of her closest competitor – her teammate, DeRoo. Immaculate’s Maura Mahoney broke up the pack by finishing third, but then Brennan (4th – 18:41), Collier (5th – 18:45), Pollock (6th – 18:53) and Brill (7th – 18:59) rolled across the finish line one after the other.

The girls will be in Westport next Tuesday to take on Weston, Pomperaug and Notre Dame.

TEAMS: Newtown 19, New Fairfield 43; Newtown 15; Bunnell 50; New Fairfield 15, Bunnell 44. INDIVIDUALS: 1. Sadie Ball (N) 17:38, 2. Laura Simons (NF) 18:04, 3. Elise DeRoo (N) 18:20, 4. Moira Collier (N) 19:06, 5. Jen Brill (N) 19:06, 6. Michelle Brennan (N) 19:10, 7. Sara Pollock (N) 19:11, 8. Alyse Keller (NF) 19:21, 9. Elaine McCafferty (N) 19:39, 10. Liz Ericson (N) 19:39, 11. Kelly McPhee (N) 19:53, 12. Jenn Perricone (NF) 19:57, 13. Laura Hickey (NF) 20:04, 14. Caitlen Anderson (NF) 20:06, 15. Carolyn Gingras (N) 20:08.

TEAMS: Newtown 15, Barlow 49; Newtown 18, Immaculate 45; Newtown 15, Brookfield 50; Brookfield 27, Immaculate 30; Barlow 20, Immaculate 33; Barlow 26, Brookfield 30. INDIVIDUALS: 1. Sadie Ball (N) 18:00, 2. Elise DeRoo (N) 18:12, 3. Maura Mahoney (I) 18:18, 4. Michelle Brennan (N) 18:41, 5. Moira Collier (N) 18:45, 6. Sarah Pollock (N) 18:53, 7. Jen Brill (N) 18:59, 8. Laurette Hammill (JB) 19:20; 9. Elaine McCafferty (N) 19:31, 10. Erin Lofink (BR) 19:33, 11. Liz Ericson (N) 19:34, 12. Jenabay Hupman (BR) 19:36, 13. Jen Grant (JB) 19:41, 14. Rachel Lellis (BR) 19:53, 15. Rosaria Seavy-Cioffi (I) 20:05.

VOLLEYBALL

Newtown 3, Tolland 0; Newtown 3, Cromwell 0

Tolland?

Cromwell?

Because of the recent departure of Foran and Jonathan Law from the South-West Conference, a couple of unusual opponents have appeared on the schedule this season for the Newtown High School volleyball team.

But while they had one team (Tolland) hop on a bus for a 90-minute ride or hopped on a bus themselves for a 60-minute ride, the Lady Nighthawks registered a pair of 3-0 sweeps to open the season and prepare themselves for the SWC schedule.

In a 25-15, 25-12, 25-12 win over Tolland last week Diana Grimaldi – unveiling a blistering serve - registered 10 service aces and five kills. Jenna Van Waalwijk and Becky Huot combined for nine more kills, with Van Waalwijk also coming up with three blocks and Huot adding five digs.

In a 25-15, 25-18, 25-8 win over Cromwell on Tuesday, Grimaldi finished with seven kills and six aces while Huot finished with eight kills and four digs. Christie Iwanicki, who shares the setting duties with Jill Logan, finished with 15 assists and nine aces.

The ‘Hawks hosted New Fairfield on Wednesday (after press time) and will be in Monroe on Friday night to take on Masuk.

SWIMMING

Newtown 101, New Milford 75

It isn’t any secret that the Newtown High School girls’ swim team is good. Hands down, it is the favorite to win the South-West Conference championship.

But even though the Lady Nighthawks won’t surprise anyone with the kind of speed they can put in the pool, at least they can surprise some with special performances out of their newcomers – like Dana Gnerre and Liz Anne Kron.

A freshman in her first varsity meet, Gnerre captured the 50 freestyle (25.64) and 100 freestyle (57.31) and anchored the first-place 200 medley relay team (1:57.93). Also a freshman in her first varsity meet, Kroon captured the 200 freestyle (2:14.22).

The pair complemented the veterans – like Abby Atkinson (first in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke), Shannon Kennedy (first in diving), Sally Tabler (first in the 100 butterfly), Maricate Conlon (first in 100 backstroke) and Jen Iassogna (first in the 500 freestyle) lead the ‘Hawks to a 101-75 win to open the 2005 season.

The locals will be in Redding next Tuesday to take on Joel Barlow.

Newtown 101, New Milford 75

200 medley relay – 1. Newtown (Conlon, Atkinson, Tabler, Gnerre) 1:57.93, 2. Newtown 2:05.97, 3. New Milford 2:09.33; 200 freestyle – 1. Kroon (N) 2:14.22, 2. Iassogna (N) 2:14.91, 3. A. Grenier (NM) 2:17.18, 4. Harmony (N) 2:17.96, 5. Coster (NM) 2:30.78; 200 individual medley – 1. A. Atkinson (N) 2:16.92, 2. Tabler (N) 2:22.37, 3. E. Atkinson (N) 2:30.04, 4. Sullivan (NM) 2:33.16, 5. A. Smith (NM) 2:34.12; 50 freestyle – 1. Gnerre (N) 25.64, 2. VanWaalwijk (N) 26.86, 3. E. Dalmeyer (NM) 28.16, 4. Gugino (N) 28.26, 5. Boston (NM) 30.48; Diving – 1. Shannon Kennedy (N) 165.45, 2. Melissa Metzger (N) 161.45, 3. Djonne (N) 137.55, 4. DeVestern (NM), 5. McKenna (NM); 100 butterfly – 1. Tabler (N) 1:05.45, 2. Conlon (N) 1:06.21, 3. Taylor (N) 1:10.98, 4. Sullivan (NM) 1:14.49, 5. King (NM) 1:18.49; 100 freestyle – 1. Gnerre (N) 57.31, 2. VanWaalwijk (N) 59.21, 3. Gugino (N) 1:01.85, 4. DeVestern (NM) 1:03.15, 5. Dalmeyer (NM) 1:05.27; 500 freestyle – 1. Iassogna (N) 6:01.48, 2. Harmony (N) 6:11.98, 3. A. Carnali (N) 6:24.33, 4. Sullivan (NM) 6:52.19, 5. Kaczynski (NM) 7:03.22; 200 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (Taylor, E. Atkinson, Gugino, Van Waalwijk) 1:53.38, 2. Newtown (Remitz, Legros, Kroon, Hull) 1:55.47, 3. New Milford 1:56.41; 100 backstroke – 1. Conlon (N) 1:04.07, 2. Smith (1:09.46, 3. Kroon (N) 1:09.94, 4. Grenier (NM) 1:11.24, 5. T. Smith (NM) 1:19.27; 100 breaststroke – 1. A. Atkinson (N) 1:12.04, 2. E. Atkinson (N) 1:17.53, 3. A. Smith (NM) 1:19.70, 4. Suster (NM) 1:20.27, 5. Carey (N) 1:26.15; 400 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (Gugino, Tabler, Gnerre, A. Atkinson) 5:00.55, 2. Newtown (Iassogna, Carnali, Van Waalwijk, Conlon) 4:13.13, 3. New Milford 4:29.69.

*Newtown swam the final four events unofficially.