Junior Gold Lacrosse Team Competes

The Newtown Junior Gold girls’ lacrosse team played two games in as many days this past weekend. Game highlights are as follows:

Newtown Girls Junior Gold 8, New Canaan 7: New Canaan scored two quick goals and controlled play for the first ten minutes until Newtown finally awoke. The Golden Girls clawed their way back into the game and took a 4-3 lead.

New Canaan was able to tie the score at four goals apiece as the first half came to a close. The second half was a see-saw battle that saw both teams trade goals before Newtown finally grabbed a two-goal lead. New Canaan kept battling and pulled within one goal with five minutes left on the clock. Newtown tightened the defense and was able to hold off the tenacious New Canaan attack by keeping it scoreless the rest of the way to preserve the victory.

The Newtown goaltending was outstanding as usual. Al Futterman played the first half and kept Newtown in the game when it looked as though New Canaan would run away with it. Lizz Hodge, fighting off a sore throat and allergies, came in for the second half and frustrated the New Canaan offense.

The defense was led by Julia Haskins, Lexi Leidlein, and Kira Smith. Leading scorers were Olivia Hage and Futterman with two goals apiece. Marcella Dailey, Lauren Carrino, Jenna Carvahlo, and Dylan Zahansky each chipped in one goal for the well-balanced Newtown attack.

Wilton 9, Junior Gold 5: Newtown opened the game with a quick goal but quickly relinquished the lead.

Wilton scored the next four goals. The girls from Newtown never gave in and fought to within two goals at the half. As the second half progressed it was clear this would not be Newtown’s day. Penalties, sloppy play, and several missed scoring opportunities doomed the girls in blue but they somehow managed to stay within two goals until the final minutes when Wilton was finally able to pull away for the victory.

Futterman and Hodge once again split the goaltending duties and were able to keep their team close. Midfielder Cassidy Kortze, filling in for the shorthanded defense, spearheaded the effort with several interceptions. Caroline Condon used her speed and effort to lead the team in ground balls. Zahansky netted two goals and Carrino, Carvahlo, and Dailey had one apiece.