NHS Girls’ Soccer Team Wins PK Nail-Biter, Then Falls In Championship Heartbreaker

By Andy Hutchison

STRATFORD — The Nighthawks did everything but put the ball into the back of the net. They kept the pressure on New Milford’s defense and goalkeeper Jane Thompson throughout much of the second half, only to get stymied and beaten 1-0 in the South-West Conference girls’ soccer championship game at Bunnell High’s field on November 7.

The third-seeded Nighthawks compiled 15 shots, but nine saves by tourney Most Valuable Player Thompson, who got help from the crossbar on a late-game chance, and a first-half goal by Morgan Gallagher proved to be enough to send the No. 4 Green Wave to its first SWC title.

Newtown kept sending through balls into the 18-yard box, only to have Thompson come out to corral or break up the chances, or her defenders boot it away from harm’s way. Finally, with about 30 seconds remaining, and all of Newtown’s players pushed up on the New Milford half of the field in a desperate attempt to get the game tied, Newtown’s Maddy Keane turned and sailed a 30-or-so-yard boot over Thompson’s head, and just out of her reach. The ball caromed off of the crossbar and hit the ground before the New Milford players cleared it from the box.

“I think we played well. I think we had chances and when you don’t score that’s what happens,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said of the tough-to-swallow loss. “I think we were absolutely excellent in the second half.”

Kenney said his team played the final 40 minutes of the championship round game like the team played throughout the season. “That effort and energy is what I’ve seen from this team the entire year and I’m proud of them. I told them at the end of the game — they have nothing to be disappointed about. We worked hard and we just didn’t win,” Kenney said.

No luck for Newtown on this night. The Nighthawks were an inch or less perhaps — considering how close Keane’s shot was to going in — away from forcing extra time, which they’ve had plenty of luck with in the postseason this fall.

The Nighthawks advanced to the semifinals with a 1-0 quarterfinal round win over No. 6 Masuk of Monroe when Jessica Keller scored in overtime. They moved onto the championship with a 1-0 overtime/penalty kick win over No. 7 Pomperaug of Southbury on Sunday, November 6.

The Nighthawks prevailed by outscoring the Panthers 3-2 in a best-of-five penalty kick round from the hash mark 12 yards away from the goal. The No. 3 Nighthawks and seventh-seeded Panthers remained scoreless through 80 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime. Newtown’s Amy Martin, Bridget Power, and Jessica Keller all scored on PKs. Keller, only a freshman, netted the decisive goal for the second straight tournament game. She scored in overtime to lift NHS past No. 6 Masuk 1-0.

The teams played a rare Sunday game as a result of the October 29 snowstorm knocking out power and pushing game dates back. The SWC planned to have co-champs from semifinal winners but was able to add a championship game when the CIAC pushed back the start of state tournament play this week.

Newtown will look to bounce back in the state tourney and Kenney is hopeful his team members carry over their play from the second half of the title game, and turn their frustration and disappointment into fuel to succeed in states.