By Kim J. Harmon

STRATFORD – The Newtown High School girls’ soccer team just had to be wondering if it would ever play another soccer game in the 2001 season.

Games against Weston and Lauralton Hall had already been postponed because of weather. And early in the school day on Tuesday the rain was coming down in sheets, so the game against Stratford was iffy at best.

But the rain did fade away, Penders Field in Stratford was playable, and the Nighthawks – who hadn’t played in 11 days, since their 6-0 win over Jonathan Law on September 14 – were more than ready to go.

It was almost too easy.

Chelsea Morin scored four goals (giving her seven already for the season) and five other players scored one apiece as the ‘Hawks battered the Red Devils, 9-0, to run their record to 2-0-0 in the South-West Conference.

It was a nice start, but the first real test for the ‘Hawks was going to be on Wednesday (after press time) when they hosted Lauralton Hall at Blue & Gold Stadium. The game was supposed to have been played on Saturday, but heavy rain right before kickoff eventually forced the postponement.

If their performance in their first two games was any indication, the ‘Hawks were ready for the challenge.

Against Stratford, Morin scored a natural, first-half hat trick. She scored first on a break through the center of the defense and then scored after she intercepted a short goalie kick. The third came after freshman Mary Anders pushed her way down the left wing and crossed a beautiful ball to the far post, where Morin – being marked by two defenders – one touched it into the net.

With a 3-0 lead, head coach Rupert de los Reyes continued his effort to involve everyone in the game. He subbed 10 players in at once and eventually, through the course of the game, got all 26 dressed players into the contest.

After assisting on Morin’s third goal, Anders got her first when she accepted a crossing pass right at the left post and tapped it past Stratford goaltender Courtney Stima, who was besieged all afternoon under an onslaught of 20 shots.

Anders wasn’t done with her afternoon. Early in the second half, she dumped another pass into the box right to Alex Helfer, who was about five yards out and in perfect position to scored. Soon after, Anders dropped a little pass off to Morin at midfield and Morin simply beat the Stratford defense into the box before scoring her fourth goal.

With a 6-0 lead, and with players substituting in freely, there was still no slowing down the ‘Hawks. Kim Helfer came down with a ball and crossed to Becky Corrigan, who tapped a ball into the net. A short while later, Helfer stole a ball in the box, spun, and fired the ball past Stima for another goal.

Siobhan Cooper – on an assist from Heidi Ekstrom – finished off the scoring.

With the 9-0 win, the ‘Hawks were set to take on Hall on Wednesday. Following that, the ‘Hawks will host New Fairfield on Saturday at 7 pm. A trip to Bethel on Tuesday and a home game on Thursday against Joel Barlow come next.