Girls’ Soccer Team Wins OT Thriller To Kick Off Tourney Play; Gets Chance To Win Share Of Conference Title Sunday

By Andy Hutchison

After 80-plus minutes of scoreless play, which included a whopping 15 shots — most of which were on goal — it took less than two minutes of overtime for the Nighthawks to strike. Jessica Keller netted the decisive goal to lift Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team past Masuk of Monroe 1-0 in the quarterfinal round of the South-West Conference Tournament at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 28.

The goal came 1:49 into the first of a pair of ten-minute overtimes and third-seeded Nighthawks fended off the No. 6 Panthers for the remainder of the extra play to advance to the semifinals. Newtown was scheduled to play in the semis on Tuesday, November 1, but the game was postponed because of the aftermath of the October 29 snowstorm which knocked out power across the town and state. The Nighthawks, under a revamped tourney schedule, will now play on Sunday, November 6. The SWC announced that both semifinal game winners will be recognized as co-champions because of lack of time to squeeze in the games prior to the start of the state tournament this coming week. Newtown will host the winner of Joel Barlow of Redding and Pomperaug of Southbury at NHS at 2 pm. The other semifinal co-champ will come from the Lauralton Hall of Milford-New Milford winner.

In the quarterfinal round against Masuk, Newtown won the possession battle in the first half but really started to click with a multitude of good scoring chances in the second half. The Panthers actually had a great scoring chance about a minute into the game, but Newtown goalkeeper Cait Yakush came out to the top of the 18-yard box to make a sliding grab of a loose ball.

“We got off to a rough start and I think we really brought it back in the second half,” Newtown captain and defender Hannah Maret said.

In the opening half, Melissa Buccino sandwiched a Maddy Keane scoring chance with two of her own in a bang-bang-bang attempt to score during a scramble in the 18-yard box. In the second half, the Hawks controlled the ball even more, en route to outshooting the Panthers 15-4 in regulation. Masuk keeper Megan Fitzgerald, however, continuously denied the home team.

“The kid was absolutely brilliant. She kept them in it,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said.

Kenney was concerned that the Hawks might not win since they were controlling the ball for large blocks of time only to get denied.

“That is always the case with soccer. It seems like the team that has the better of the play always gives up one in transition and you’re scrambling the rest of the game to get it back,” said Kenney, adding that his defense and goalkeeping have remained excellent throughout the season.

In overtime, Keller hustled to get behind the Masuk defense and, with Fitzgerald racing out to intercept the ball, the NHS attacker managed to slip it past her and into an open net.

“Jess worked so hard for that [goal],” Maret said. “I think the team really came together well,” Keller added.

“We got into a groove and everything connected,” said Newtown’s Tressa Scott, who worked hard along with Amy Martin to generate some scoring chances throughout the game.

The Nighthawks hope to continue their strong teamwork on Sunday. “I didn’t think we played particularly well and we found a way to win. And, at this point, that’s all I care about. I’m not concerned with glory points. I’m concerned with playing well – I just want to win and advance,” Kenney said after the game a week ago.

Now, of course, there is no advancing. One semifinal win and the Hawks will be champs.