By Steve Bigham

T

he bulk of the players from last season’s 11-4-4 squad are back and fourth-year Coach Brian Neumeyer seems more optimistic than ever about the upcoming Newtown High School boys’ soccer season.

Newtown had the talent a year ago, but struggled scoring goals in key games. The Nighthawks did advance to the league semifinals, but it lost to a tough Joel Barlow team and then fell to New Milford early on in the states. Despite losing just four games a year ago, Newtown was shutout seven times and never managed to realized its full potential.

Newtown is locked and loaded this year, however, and coach Nuemeyer said it has the chance to reach similar heights to the team he coached four seasons ago. That squad went all the way to the state finals.

“I think we’re going to have a good year,” he said. “The off-season programs and different premier clubs that most of these guys get themselves involved in have really made a difference.”

Gone from last year are Rob Weiss and all-state sweeper Andrew Smith, as well as senior Brendan Cavanaugh who transferred just before the start of school. Everyone else is back and a new crop of athletes is there to back them up.

Leading the way will be tri-captains Matt Pachniuk, Colin Armstrong and Ian Walker, three seniors who have been around the program since Neumeyer arrived in 1998. Pachniuk returns to his goaltending position where he was an all-state selection a year ago. He was a member of the state-champion Manchester premier team and was considered the team’s MVP.

“We’re one of the only teams in the conference to get our goalie back and it helps that he was all-state,” coach Neumeyer said.

Walker has been with the program since his freshman year and, if he can overcome a case of Lyme Disease, could have a huge senior season at midfield.

Armstrong missed most of last year with a knee injury and may eventually have surgery. For now, however, he appears healthy and will be a mainstay on defense.

Newtown has had a tradition of top-flight sweepers in recent years with Bret McEvoy and Smith. Now, coach Neumeyer will turn to Jake Rouse, Armstrong and Derek Miles to man this key area of the field. Rouse, a junior, was at times Newtown’s top player a year ago and will take on a large leadership role this year. Miles, a junior, also returns after a fine sophomore season as a starter.

Sophomore Brian Flatery has impressed coach Neumeyer and will also see time on defense.

Newtown is blessed with “a ton” of midfielders including Walker, juniors Mike Troy and Ryan Tracy, freshman Marcus Tracy and a handful of others.

“We have several different players that can score,” coach Neumeyer said. “We couldn’t score last year, but our team was young. Now we’re more experienced and I think that’s going to help us put more points up.”

Up front, Newtown will look to get scoring from Matt McFadden and Sean Wilson.

A large group of talented sophomores are also vying for playing time, as are members of a strong freshman class.

“A lot of players are fighting for minutes between varsity and JV. That’s what makes the team and the program really competitive,” coach Neumeyer said.

Sophomore Andrew Fiscella will backup Pachniuk in goal.

Coach Neumeyer admits last year’s season was filled with adversity as injuries and disciplinary problems clouded the program, making for an enigmatic autumn. Those days are long gone and the Nighthawks appear to have a new sense of maturity and focus.

“Last year was a struggle because we were young, but this year we’re going to benefit from everything we went through,” he said. “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.”

Chris Donnelly returns as jayvee coach.

Schedule

 

Sept. 14        Jonathan Law 6 pm*

Sept. 20        at Weston     3:45 pm

Sept. 22        at Kolbe        10:30 am

Sept. 25        Stratford       6 pm*

Sept. 29        at N Fairfield 10 am

Oct. 2 Bethel 7 pm

Oct. 4 at Barlow       6:30 pm

Oct. 5 Notre Dame   7 pm

Oct. 9 Immaculate    6 pm*

Oct. 11         at Foran        3:45 pm

Oct. 16         Masuk 6 pm

Oct. 18         at Pomperaug 7 pm

Oct. 20         at New Milford         7 pm

Oct. 23         Bunnell         6 pm

Oct. 25         Brookfield      6 pm*

Oct. 27         SWC quarterfinals

Oct. 30      SWC semi-finals

Nov. 6        SWC_finals

All home games are on the stadium field unless otherwise indicated. Those games indicated by a * will be held at Treadwell Park.