FAIRFIELD – The Nitros (U14) were given the opportunity to play in the championship game of the Newtown/Al Taubert Indoor Soccer Tournament at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield and did not let the opportunity go to waste.

At 1-1-1, the Nitros qualified for the championship game by virtue of a point-gap tiebreaker calculation (edging the U13 Navigators of Newtown) and then went on to defeat Stamford, 3-2, in an overtime shootout.

Erica Vacaro scored one goal in regulation and one in overtime to help the Nitros keep the game tied up. Then Allison Bull scored a key shootout goal and goaltender Caryn Lieberman knocked away a key shot by Stamford to hand the Nitros the title.

The Nitros opened the tournament with a 3-2 loss to Stamford as Kelly Bradlee scored a pair of goals. The Nitros earned a 0-0 tie in a tussle with the Navigators and then woke up in time to blank Norwalk, 3-0, as Amelia Taylor, Christine Salbu and Bradlee all scored.

Meghan Miller, Jen Greenwood, Olga Virgalla, Emma Johnson, Heather Young and Jessica Halloran all played well for the Nitros.

Hurricanes Blow

Away Competition

Trying to score a goal against the Newtown Hurricanes looks to be harder than getting a straight answer out of a Washington politician.

For the second time in two weeks, the Hurricanes (U12) dominated an indoor tournament by securing four shutouts in four games. This time, the effort earned the ‘Canes first place in the Newtown/Al Taubert Indoor Soccer Tournament at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

The Hurricanes faced their toughest test right from the start, but beat last year’s champ Easton, 1-0, behind a goal from Megan Hansen. Jen Brewer made several key stops in goal to record her first shutout.

Next up was Northeast United, with Newtown getting goals from three different players – Mary Bloshuk, Nora Lynn Shimko and Kasey Schulz. The third game was a 4-0 victory over the Fairfield Chili Peppers, featuring two goals apiece from Shimko and Schulz, with great midfield play from Tania Domingos and Sarah Shannon.

Newtown faced the Fairfield Shooting Stars in the next game, who never had a chance after Schulz scored two goals in the first 40 seconds. Colleen Thornberg later added a shot off a penalty for a 3-0 win. The Hurricanes then completed the day with a convincing 2-0 win over Brookfield behind two great shots from Hansen.

Across the four games, the suffocating defensive pressure of Emily Weber, Molly Curry, Adelle Cerreta and Thornberg, along with goalie Brewer, never gave the opponents a chance to score.

Striking Gold

Just about everyone had a chance to score a goal as the Newtown Strikers (U10) captured first at the Newtown/Al Taubert Indoor Soccer Tournament at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield.

Kyle Moore, Nicholas Wright, Josh Engler, Daniel Lynch, Kai Ashick, Kyle Wildman and Ishan Tatake all got into the act as the Strikers out-scored their opponents 14-4 and went 4-0-0 to earn the tournament title.

In a 2-0 win over Fairfield, Moore and Wright scored off assists by James Truckle and Ashick. Michael Gould powered the defense while Grant Braun, Wildman and Engler had strong offensive play. In a 1-0 win over Brookfield, Engler’s lone goal lifted the Strikers. Wildman was outstanding in goal to hold off Brookfield while Braun, Patrick Fay and Gould powered the offense.

In a 5-3 win over Bethel, Lynch and Ashick scored a pair of goals while Wildman added a solo with assists from James Truckle and Tatake. In a 6-1 win over Ridgefield, Tatake scored three times and Wright scored twice. Lynch and Ashick added a goal apiece. Wildman did an awesome job in goal while Fay, Truckle and Moore played well.

Rampage Stunned

The Newtown Rampage (U11) were 2-0-1 heading into the championship game of the Newtown/Al Taubert Indoor Soccer Tournament at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, but were stunned by New Canaan, 2-1, in overtime.

Chelsea Fay scored the lone Newtown goal after a penalty kick in overtime, but New Canaan scored the game-winner shortly after. Berenice Bryant and Ally Modzelewski played well on defense while Laura Bittman and Monica Warek sparked the offense.

The Rampage reached the final with a 4-0 win over Fairfield, a 2-2 tie with Bethel, and a 3-1 win over New Canaan.

In the win over Fairfield, Sara Kelley scored twice while Kate Bowen and Bryant scored once. Ellen Ritzinger, Jordyn Good and Bowen all registered assists. Modzelewski and goaltender Katie Pessin were outstanding on defense.

In the tie with Bethel, Bowen scored both goals while Fay had an assist. Warek and Bittman supplied a lot of offensive pressure as Caleigh Boyle played well at center. In the 3-1 win over New Canaan, Fay had a goal and two assists to lead the way. Bowen and Kelley each had goals as Taylor Smith, Good, and Modzelewski anchored the defense. Pessin registered 10 saves.