By Steve Bigham

TRUMBULL - From time to time, Newtown High School loses out on some fine athletes who take their skills elsewhere during their teenage years. St Joseph High School of Trumbull has been the recipient of more than a few of them in recent years. Star basketball players John Paul Calandruccio and TJ MacKenzie are two recent players who come to mind.

This fall, a pair of Newtown residents - Elizabeth Bishop and Daniel Arsenault - are manning the soccer goals at St Joe’s, and doing a fine job at it to boot.

First, there’s Bishop, who has certainly made a name for herself as a senior goalie. A three-year starter, Bishop was an all-FCIAC and all-state choice a year ago and stands to repeat those laurels again this year. As of mid-October, the St Joseph girls sported an 8-3 record against what the Newtown resident considers the toughest competition in the state. Last year, the daughter of Richard and Kathleen Bishop registered 120 saves and recorded seven shutouts for a team that went 11-3-2. She already has 80 saves this season.

At 5-6, Bishop is not the tallest goaltender in the league, but a lot of people consider her to be the most agile. She plans to be playing Division I soccer next fall and is currently looking at Villanova, Providence, Northwestern and St Michaels. Bishop’s last schooling in Newtown as at the middle school.

This is Arsenault’s second year as a starter in goal. During an interview earlier this month, his team was struggling to a 4-7 record, but Arsenault was hoping the team could qualify for the state tournament.

Arsenault, a 6-0 senior, has played soccer for much of his life, but he only became a goaltender at the start of this junior year. The former St Rose student has found a liking to the position and hopes to continue playing soccer next year at St Bonaventure. It would be a likely choice since his brother Craig, and sister, Jackie, also attend school there.

Daniel is the son of Pam and John Arsenault.

Bishop and Arsenault are the only Newtown players on their respective teams.