Newtown High School Soccer, Field Hockey And Swimming Wrap

By Andy Hutchison

The Newtown High School girls’ soccer team had a dramatic 2-1 win at Joel Barlow on October 19; the boys’ soccer team, following a 4-1 win over Holy Cross, has dropped two straight; the field hockey team routed Watertown on October 16 and played Lauralton Hall to a 1-1 tie on October 20; and the girls’ swimming and diving team won its sixth straight meet, at Stratford on October 16. Here are some of the highlights:

Last Second Thriller For The Girls

The girls’ soccer team came back to shock Joel Barlow 2-1 in a rescheduled game that had been postponed by rain, in Redding on Monday afternoon. Newtown scored the winner as time was running out in this highly physical, fast-paced game. Down 1-0 at the half, Newtown fought back to tie the game when Brittany Tolla crossed the ball to Melissa Buccino who chipped a shot past Barlow goalkeeper Amanda El-Haj with 21:32 to play. Newtown scored the game winner when Maddie Keane’s free kick from 40-or-so yards out deflected in off of a Barlow defender with just four seconds to play. The game-winner sparked a celebration among the Newtown players and coaches.

Newtown improved to 7-1-4 and Barlow saw its nine-game winning streak get snapped as the Falcons fell to 9-2.

“It’s a big game any time we play Barlow. They’re obviously a good team — they’ve been having an outstanding year,” NHS Coach Marc Kenney said.

Newtown dodged some bullets when the Falcons missed on a small handful of in-close scoring chances, but they clamped down defensively and put the heat on Barlow with some attacks down the stretch. It was a possible preview of things to come with the South-West Conference playoffs just around the corner.

“This is the type of game we expect to see in a couple of weeks. It means a lot to me that they really, really buttoned down the hatches and made sure that they won the game — and they refused to lose,” Kenney said.

“I think we responded well. We didn’t let them push us around,” NHS senior captain Taylor Smith said. “It was really exciting.”

The Nighthawks won their eighth game with a 4-0 victory over New Fairfield on October 20.

Boys’ Booters Try To Rebound

The NHS boys’ soccer team, after starting 7-0-1, has posted a 2-3 record in the last five games. The Nighthawks, following a 4-1 thumping of Holy Cross on October 17, lost consecutive 1-0 games — to Joel Barlow on October 19 and to New Fairfield on October 20.

In the win over Holy Cross, the Hawks got two goals from Evan Kennedy and a goal each from Ryan Dunnigan and Eric Thornberg. The goal-scorers all added assists, as did Andre Capozziello.

The Nighthawks, 9-3-1, will try to get back to their winning ways when they host Bunnell of Stratford on Friday, October 23, at 3:45 pm (at Treadwell Park). The Hawks will have their Senior Night on Monday, October 26, when New Milford visits Blue & Gold Stadium at 7 pm. The regular season concludes October 28 at Brookfield.

Field Hockey Team  Wins And Ties

The field hockey team stands at 7-4-1 with three games to play following a 7-0 win over Watertown on October 16 and a 1-1 tie with Lauralton Hall on October 20.

In the win over Watertown, the Nighthawks got two goals apiece from Kayla O’Leary and Lisa Vendel and a goal each from Shelley Davies, Steph Sanchez and Hannah Koch. Nicole DeFelice had a pair of assists and April Gaddis, Katie Canavan, Megan Fahey, Koch and Vendel also had helpers.

Against New Milford, Davies assisted a goal by Koch for Newtown’s lone score. New Milford tied the game with just 3:02 remaining and neither team could score in the ten-minute overtime despite chances at both ends of the field. NHS goaltender Jess Balsano made four saves in the win and got some OT help from Gaddis, who got her stick down to block a shot from in tight.

The Nighthawks will host Weston on Friday, October 23, at 7 pm at Blue & Gold Stadium, will visit Masuk on Monday, October 26, at 7 pm and conclude the regular campaign October 28 when Pomperaug visits Blue & Gold Stadium at 7 pm.

Making A Splash

The girls’ swimming team won its sixth straight meet with a 96-67 win at Stratford on October 16 following a 101-83 victory over New Milford on October 13.

In the win over New Milford, Newtown earned first-place finishes in the following events: 200-yard medley relay (Kelsey McEvoy, Megan Baylis, Maggie Atkinson and Maggie Hoolehan), time not reported; 50 freestyle, Caroline Lawrence, 28.34; 100 free, Bianca Solano, 1:01.79; 100 breaststroke, Lauren Hutchinson, 1:21.25; and 200 free relay (Atkinson, Evelyn Fahey, Hoolehan and McEvoy), 1:49.51.

Against Stratford, the Hawks had seven first-place finishes: 200 free relay (Baylis, Lawrence, Solano and Abby Falgerholm), 1:54.29; 400 free relay (Baylis, Lawrence, Carolyn Falgerholm and Abby Falgerholm), 4:18.70; 200 medley relay (Kelly Baylis, Megan Baylis, Sally Martinelli and Bolano), 2:11.52; 200 IM, Kelly Baylis, 2:38.43; 100 butterfly, Krysta Gates, 1:13.07; 100 free, Solano; 500 free, Carolyn Falgerholm, 6:05.97.

The Nighthawks will visit Bunnell on Friday, October 23, at 7 pm, host Lauralton Hall on Monday, October 26, at 7 pm in a meet originally scheduled for October 19, and will conclude the regular season October 28 at Masuk High in Monroe at 4 pm. The diving portion of the South-West Conference championships will be held November 4 at Pomperaug High in Southbury and the swimming events are scheduled for November 7 at Masuk.