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Nighthawk Field Hockey Team Shocked By Comeback Cardinals

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Nighthawk Field Hockey Team Shocked By Comeback Cardinals

By Andy Hutchison

Staked to a 2-0 lead in the second half, things were looking pretty good for Newtown High School’s field hockey team as it battled the visiting Greenwich Cardinals in the qualifying round of the Class L state tournament at Blue & Gold Stadium on November 10.

Unfortunately for the No. 13 Nighthawks, No. 20 Greenwich had a comeback in the cards. The Cardinals rallied for three late-game goals, the decisive one coming on a penalty stroke with just 14 seconds remaining, in a 3-2 win. That ended Newtown’s season in shocking fashion.

The Nighthawks scored less than six minutes into the game when Anna Grillo assisted Nicole DeFelice’s tally. Kelly O’Sullivan, set up by DeFelice, extended the lead to 2-0 less than two minutes after the halftime break.

The Cards struck for three straight cage-finders in the final 20:18. Stephanie Iachetta deadlocked the score with only 9:95 left in regulation, and Claire Feeney won it on the stroke after Newtown goaltender Lauren Sarna covered the ball. Sarna took the loss hard, Newtown Coach Amanda Hadgraft said, but certainly played well, coming up with four big saves.

“We were up 2-0 and they get one in — you know, big deal. We’ll get it back. And then when they snuck the second one in, the girls were still working hard but part of me thinks that maybe got in their head a little bit,” Hadgraft said. “It was great season. They played their butts off during this game — they can’t be upset with it.”

Newtown had gone 6-6-2-2 in the regular season, and Greenwich, coming out of the tough FCIAC, was a deceptive 4-6-3-2. The Cards advanced in the tourney with a first-round win over No. 4 Conard and continued their season this week.

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