Boys’ Soccer Team Has Balance

By Andy Hutchison

It isn’t one of the three main facets of the game — offense, defense, or goalkeeping — it’s all of the above that stand to help carry the Newtown High School boys’ soccer team to winning ways this campaign.

“I think it’s just balance in the group for us. I don’t think we have any particular area on the field that we’re going to hang our hat on. I think it’s just going to be a group that’s going to work hard — back to front, front to back,” NHS Coach Brian Neumeyer said when asked about the strength of this year’s team as it geared up for the start of the regular campaign.

The Nighthawks will have to overcome the loss of a small handful of key graduates, but return plenty of experienced players at all positions.

Newtown is led by a trio of senior captains: forward Eric Fiore, center back Drew Sullivan, and midfielder Nick Barreto, and junior goalkeeper Eli Klorczyk.

The Hawks are coming off an 11-2-2 regular season, first-round exit from the SWC tourney, and heartbreaking second-round defeat in the Class LL state tournament. After getting past Ridgefield in penalty kicks in the state bracket’s opening round, Newtown suffered a PK defeat to Fairfield Prep in the next round.

“I think any way you go out is a tough out,” Neumeyer said. That said, the coach is hopeful his team feeds off the disappointment of coming so close, and uses positive energy to its advantage.

“It’s a motivator going out in penalty kicks. We feel like we should have won that game and gone further,” he said.

Newtown was scheduled to begin the season with its final opponent from last year. A rematch with Prep was scheduled for Wednesday (after The Bee sports section went to press). “It should be a good way to get the season going,” Neumeyer said.

Then comes the start of play with SWC foes, beginning with a Friday, September 14, visit to Bethel. The Nighthawks return home to face Stratford on September 20.

The SWC includes Bunnell of Stratford, last year’s conference champs and Class L state winners, along with Pomperaug of Southbury, SWC runners-up and Class LL state champs, in addition to always strong Route 58 foes Joel Barlow of Redding and Bethel, both of which Neumeyer considers perhaps the teams to beat season.

“The conference is tough,” the coach said.

But the Nighthawks believe they are up to the task. “We can definitely win SWCs,” Fiore said.