Good As Gold …U13 Team Wins Lacrosse Title

Newtown’s U13 Gold boys’ lacrosse team captured the CONNY title at Yale in New Haven on June 5.

After going 11-4 in the regular season, outscoring the opponents by almost 50 percent, the U13 gold team was seeded fourth among 100 teams in the tournament.

In the first win, 10-4 over perennial powerhouse Darien, the team was firing on all cylinders.

The close defense of Charlie Fletcher, Josh Headen, Bobby Haskins, and Gordon Walsh was tougher than it has been all year. The long stick midfield play of Ben Mason was a force not to be handled by the opponent. George Salaris, the Newtown goaltender, was amazing between the pipes.

The championship game against Madison was a replay from the Thursday night before when Newtown handled Madison 12-5 at Blue and Gold Stadium. Madison came out firing this time and was up by two goals right off the bat. Jared Pearson, the midfield leader all season, rallied his fellow middie players John Pierce, Quinn Helmig, Matt Meyers, James Carney, Patrick Conte, Mitchell Savoca, and Nick Genovese. They were ready for the task.

As the midfield helped control the ball, the attack of Newtown rose to the occasion with a flurry of goals. The attack of Scott Bauer, Garrett Whaley, Christian Morlock, Peyton Manning, Kris Whelan, and Ryan Marusi was solid all year.

The championship crown was earned in the last 15 seconds when Newtown broke a tie game. Jared Pearson was called on for an isolation play and a goal. Pearson delivered with a shot to the upper corner for a 9-8 Newtown win.