NHS Girls’ Booters Power Into State Tournament Semifinals

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team has carried over its play from a hard-fought second-half in the South-West Conference title game defeat into the Class LL state tournament. The scenario now: Three wins down and two to go. Just two wins separate the Nighthawks from a state title.

The sixth-seeded Hawks topped No. 14 Cheshire 3-1 in the tourney quarterfinals at Blue & Gold Stadium on Tuesday and will battle in the semifinals against No. 18 Trumbull. The game will be played Friday, November 18 at 6:30 pm at neutral site West Haven High School.

Amy Martin assisted Newtown’s first two goals — Tressa Scott’s score, which was the first of the contest, and Melissa Buccino’s go-ahead tally after Cheshire had knotted things. Martin then put the game all but out of reach with a high drive on a penalty kick with 3:13 to play. The goal, being that it was on a PK, may have to go in the books as an unassisted net-finder, but teammate Bridget Power certainly deserves credit for a helper. Power used her speed and hustle to get behind two Cheshire defenders before getting tripped up, resulting in the penalty.

Power routinely hustled all-out for loose balls and hit the turf. She had to come out of the game to get patched up after blood from one of her many raspberries started showing on her hands and jersey.

“Bridget was the best player on the field today. You can tell from the blood on her shirt and her arms, and her legs. Bridget Power is my MVP for today’s game,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said.

Newtown “Powered” past the competition in more ways than one, thanks to the hard-nosed efforts of the junior forward. The coach noted that he normally does not single out standout players since it is a collective effort that has gotten his team to this point, but Power led the charge as the Hawks put pressure on Cheshire’s defense throughout the contest.

“This is amazing. I can’t even put into words the feeling. Obviously, the wins are great and I think they’re a byproduct of the effort every day — whether it’s practice or a game, a team dinner or a fund-raising activity — they really, really, really just do it with the best of their ability,” the coach said.

The Nighthawks advanced into the quarters with a pair of one-goal wins in the first and second rounds. Newtown got things started with a 1-0 win over No. 27 Conard on November 10. The victory came behind the strength of a late-game goal by Sarah Lynch who booted in a low shot assisted by Buccino. The play was made possible thanks to a cross into the box from the right side by Maddy Keane.

Next came a 3-2 win over No. 11 Hall in the second round two days later. Martin, who has been piling up the points of late, scored twice and Jessica Keller netted a goal. Keane and Power had assists.

The win over Hall gave the Hawks a sense of redemption after falling to the same opponent in the first round a year ago. But getting to the state semifinals was even more of a thrill for the hometown booters.

“It’s probably the best feeling ever. We’re so excited to go this far,” said Newtown captain and defender Keane, adding that the Hawks just set out to play their best with the hopes of winning, and take it a game at a time.

So what are Newtown’s chances? Before Kenney knew the outcome of the quarterfinal round game between No. 7 New Canaan and Trumbull, the coach pointed out that it wouldn’t really make a difference which team his Hawks would face.

“At this point in the season, this deep in the Class LL state tournament, I don’t think seedings matter, and I don’t think what you’ve done in the last three months even matters. You show up and you play, and whoever’s the better team on that given day is going to win that day,” Kenney said.

In regular and state tourney play, Trumbull carries a 10-3-6 record into the game, and NHS boasts a 14-1-4 mark.

“If we keep our focus and keep playing with the intensity and the drive we’ve had these past few games, I think we have a really good chance,” Power said.