NHS Boys’ Lacrosse—

Win Streak ‘Wrecked’ But Title Hopes Alive And Well

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team’s bid for a perfect campaign was ended in a 17-8 loss to FCIAC foe Staples in Westport on May 11. The Nighthawks, however, bounced back with a 20-1 thumping of Bunnell of Stratford two days later as they continued their domination of South-West Conference opponents this spring.

After a tough 13-12 setback to another FCIAC team, Norwalk, on May 16, Newtown had two regular season games remaining. The Nighthawks were scheduled to close out the season at Masuk in Monroe on Wednesday (after The Bee sports section went to press) and Thursday at Weston. The Nighthawks, heading into those games, remained perfect in SWC play, giving the team plenty of confidence as it prepares for the SWC tourney. Even so, the losses were tough to swallow — the first because it ended the season-opening 11-game winning streak, and the second because it was such a nail-biter.

“I think you’re always disappointed — we expect to win every game, so when you don’t win, yeah, we’re going to be disappointed,” Newtown Coach Glenn Adams said.

The conference tournament is scheduled to begin with quarterfinal round action on Monday, May 23. Newtown entered into the final week with a record of 12-2 overall.

In the Staples game, Newtown trailed just 6-5 at halftime, but the host Wreckers pulled away in the second half.

Against Bunnell, in Stratford, the Hawks erupted for nine first-quarter goals and established a commanding 15-1 lead at the intermission. Dan Hebert finished with four goals and two assists, Lewis Thompson had a goal and six helpers, Justin Brophy and Colby Summerlin both had three goals, and Dan Sclafani, Trey Trudell, Will Northrop, and Matt Vavrek all scored twice.

Newtown found itself in a close battle with a hungry Norwalk team, in search of a win to clinch a state playoff berth, under a light rain at Blue and Gold Stadium. The game was a back and forth battle for most of the evening, but the visiting Bears turned a 4-4 tie into an 8-4 lead in a span of 4:27 to begin the second half. The teams traded goals for most of the rest of the night before Newtown chipped away at a 13-9 deficit with three goals in the final minutes only to fall short. Hebert had three goals and two assists, Trudell had two goals and three assists, and Brophy scored twice in the setback. With its seventh win, the Bears qualified for the Class M state tourney.

Adams believed his team got away from its style of play that carried it to an 11-0 start in those setbacks and hopes they serve as a reminder that the team needs to be on its “A” game to win in the playoffs.

The coach said he has the utmost confidence in the Hawks and hopes the recent setbacks serve as a reminder that a win is never a given. The Nighthawks will take aim at an SWC crown and then focus on the Class L tournament but you won’t catch them looking past the SWC quarterfinal round.

“We’re not going to look past anybody — just like we haven’t all year,” Adams said.