Adjustment Leads NHS Boys’ Booters To Another Win

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team overcame an early 1-0 deficit to knock off visiting New Fairfield 3-1 under the lights — and the rain — at Treadwell Park on October 15. The comeback effort, spearheaded by a pair of Greg Campbell goals, carried the Nighthawks to their third straight win and enabled to team to remain unbeaten in eight games. Newtown improved to 7-2-2 overall.

The turnaround effort, which included all three NHS tallies in the second half, was made possible by a key switch in the lineup during the game.

Newtown Coach Brian Neumeyer moved Campbell, a senior defender, up to midfield and dropped sophomore midfielder Steve Conway to the back line. Campbell was not matching up well against the opposing forwards, he and his coach acknowledged after the game, so the players swapped positions.

“He more than made up for it with his effort on the right side,” Neumeyer said of Campbell. “We have all the confidence in him to play. We just had to make an adjustment. We made a small adjustment and it paid off.

“I think Steve did a real good job,” the coach added.

Campbell commended Conway’s efforts in helping to shut down New Fairfield’s attack. He also recognized teammate Andre Capozziello for making a nice cross to set up his first tally. Campbell’s second goal came when he was credited for what he referred to as an “own goal” off a New Fairfield player. Campbell had good positioning on a New Fairfield defender and leaned into him just enough to cause a loose ball to spin back and into the net to cap Newtown’s scoring. “I was in the right place,” he said modestly.

Senior captain Josh Engler said the team’s physical play was the difference in this battle.

“We played great. We were very physical. By the end of the game they just did not want to win any balls in the midfield,” said Engler, who used his height to get to several 50-50 balls with his head throughout the game.

Newtown threatened but just could not finish despite opportunities created by Capozziello, Hank Helgren, and Engler, among others, who were denied by New Fairfield goalkeeper Chris Bevan.

Finally, Campbell and Ryan Dunnigan, who had Newtown’s other net-finder, got balls across the line in the second half. The comeback effort was nothing new for NHS. The team has dug itself out of holes throughout the season, senior captain and goalkeeper Ishan Tatake pointed out.

“We showed character like we have all season,” said Tatake, who made some nice saves, including a full dive to deflect a shot early on.

The Nighthawks left the field with hopes to keep up their winning ways down the stretch, but knowing that wouldn’t be easy. Beginning with the October 19 visit to Bunnell of Stratford, the Hawks entered the week with just four games remaining — all against tough teams. The Hawks saw their unbeaten streak end with a 2-0 setback at Bunnell. Newtown was scheduled to visit New Milford on October 21, travel to Brookfield on October 23, and cap off the regular campaign at home against Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport at Treadwell Park on October 25 (7 pm).

Win or lose in this final stretch of games, the slate should serve as a good tune-up for the South-West Conference and state playoffs, but the Hawks also want bolster their chances for better seedings in each tourney.

“Great way to prepare for the playoffs, but we want to put ourselves in a comfortable spot too — at the same time, getting better,” Neumeyer said.