By Kim J. Harmon
By Kim J. Harmon
BROOKFIELD â Although the weather might have made the start of the 2000 season a bit of a ragged one for the Nighthawks (two postponements already), it hasnât stopped them from winning.
With a 1-0 win over Brookfield last Thursday, a 8-0 win over Immaculate on Saturday, and a 3-0 win over New Fairfield on Monday, the Nighthawks have gotten off to a cool 4-0 start. And while players like Shannon Rouse, Colleen Davis, Stephanie Miles, Chelsea Morin, Carrie Lipnick, Jessica Oswald and Cara Delvecchio have proven that the Nighthawk offense is as deep and diversified as ever, it is the defense which has allowed just one goal in four games and given goaltender Kate Bouteiller the opportunity to earn three early shutouts.
The week started in Brookfield . . .
An Important Win
It was only the second game of the season, but it was a big one nevertheless for the Nighthawks â especially considering the 2-1 overtime loss the âHawks suffered to the Bobcats in 1999.
Only one goal was needed in this one and it came in the second half off a corner kick. Delvecchio took the corner and fired a beautiful pass to the center of the penalty box â where Rouse was able to get up and head a shot just under the cross bar.
This one started as something of a midfield battle, with each team taking occasional forays into the offensive end. Brookfield got off the first challenging shot but Delvecchio added one of her own late in the first half.
It was not unlike a couple of professional boxers dancing and weaving for the first few rounds, taking a couple of swipes at the other and not quite landing anything damaging.
In the second half, Newtown came right down the field and challenged the Brookfield defense. Rouse got off a hard shot from the right side of the penalty box. Moments later, Newtown earned the corner that got the Nighthawks the only goal they would need.
It very nearly didnât stand up, though. Later on, after Brookfield earned a corner kick, there ensued a mad scramble in front of the Newtown net. Bouteiller made an initial save, but couldnât cover up the ball. With most of the goalmouth open, the ball had to be cleared by a desperate Newtown defense to preserve the shutout.
It was a marvelous effort and it continued two days later in an 8-0 win over Immaculate. In that game, Lipnick and Oswald scored two goals apiece while Delvecchio, Morgan Haines, Ann Delvecchio and Chelsea Morin each scored a goal.
Davis and Stephanie Miles had two assists each while Rouse and Morin chipped in with one apiece. The Nighthawks outshot the Mustangs, 32-5, and forced Nicole Parent of Immaculate to make 27 saves. Bouteiller made five saves for her second straight shutout.
Two days after that, in a game postponed from September 19, the âHawks blanked New Fairfield, 3-0, as Rouse scored two goals and Morin scored one. Davis and Cara Delvecchio both had assists while the âHawks outshot the Rebels 20-4.
Bouteiller and Alison Smith shared time in goal, combining for four saves.
The girls will travel to New Milford on Tuesday, October 3, and then return home on Friday, October 6, for a game against Notre Dame.