U11 boys

Relax 8, Newtown Gold 7: It was a beautiful Saturday morning and Newtown Lightning Gold U11 boys were on fire, taking the lead early against a talented lax team, Relax, with a score of 2-0. First goal scored by Garrett Norberg, assisted by Vincent Genovese followed by a drive to the goal and score by Kyle “Sully” Sullivan. Newtown’s defense was strong, with shots stopped at goal by defenders Tanner Stergue and Alek Budd. Relax followed up with a comeback to tie the score and advance with a 6-2 lead. Newtown continued to battle, never giving up. Tucker Garritty followed with a tough goal from the box, assisted by Griffin Cross. Newtown then brought the score to 4-6 with a goal scored by Jake Meyer directly off of the face off. There were additional strong offensive efforts by Declan Surgrue, Brendan Hall and Forrest Anderson.

The defense had their hands full as Thomas Coppinger, Andre Sokk, Gren Paynter and goalie Kyle Burbank battled to keep Relax from advancing the score. Tucker Garritty then scored with authority followed by 2 goals by Jake Mayer, bringing the score to 7-7 and sending the game into overtime. A huge comeback and incredible effort by Newtown tying the game vs Relax. Relax then made the winning goal in sudden death with the final score of 8-7. It was a loss for Newtown, but a huge comeback and great success for Newtown Lightening Gold.

Grade 8

Newtown 9, Relax 8: The eighth grade boys gold team returned from a trip to DC a bit sluggish. Owen Grey and Jeremy Salaris shared goal time, holding Relax to 8 goals. Peyton Manning, Josh Headen, Matt Meyers, Chris Whelan and Charlie Fletcher each scored. Jared Pearson’s 2 goals tied the game with one minute left. Colin Smalkis scored the game winner in overtime.

Simsbury 8, Newtown 7: The eighth grade boys traveled up to Simsbury and lost a close one. Nick Samuelson and Gordon Walsh played great defense with 3 forced turnovers each. Colin Smalkis had 2 assists and 2 goals and Jared Pearson had 5 goals but still fell short.

Bantams

Newtown 9, Relax 5: Jeffrey Garrity won the opening face off and after dodging a defender found Luke Wellman in front of the cage for a goal and a quick 1-0 lead. Newtown went back to work with Mathew Carpenter winning the next faceoff and after passing the ball around the Relax defense TJ O’Connell found Garrity open on the wing, who fired a shot past the goalie for a 2-0 lead. Relax would fight back at the end of the first quarter sneaking a shot past Hawk goalie Jake Dandrea. Newtown would answer to open the second quarter when attackman Tristan Andrew was fed by midfielder Phillip Capelli on the wing and ripped a shot past the goalie. The Relax offense would not be denied and scored their second goal of the game as time expired in the half to cut the lead to 3-2.

The Hawks started strong in the second half with Colin Hoffman finding Wellman in front of the cage for his second goal of the game. That goal seemed to ignite a Hawk offense that went on to score 4 consecutive goals. Goalie Jake Dandrea made several great saves and started fast breaks on great clears. One clear to midfielder Colton Hein started a fast break. Hein found Garrity on the wing who slipped through the defense for his second score of the game. Garrity followed that goal with a dodge that left the Relax defense looking for answers to score his third goal of the game. Wellman went back to work and was assisted by Mathew Carpenter for his third goal of the game. Newtown midfielders Andrew and Mathew Jacobs, William Wallace and Luke Hannan harassed the Relax middies all second half, preventing them from being a factor. Newtown defenders Riley Ward, James Iarpoli, Shaine Luzietti and Ryan Ruddy shut down the Relax offense for most of the second half. Relax score two goals late in the fourth quarter before Jack Stenz closed out the scoring to give Newtown the victory.

Newtown 12, Shelton 2: Newtown got off to a quick start when Jeffrey Garrity won the opening faceoff, started a fast break and found attackman Luke Wellman for a quick goal less then 10 seconds into the game. Garrity went right back to work winning the next faceoff and this time found midfielder Mathew Carpenter on the wing, who fired a one-handed leaping shot past the goalie. Eric Burbank took the next faceoff; after winning the draw he found Wellman on the wing who dodged several defenders before firing a shot past the Shelton goalie for his second goal in less then 3 minutes. Newtown continued the onslaught with goals by attackmen Tristan Andrew and Jack Stenz and midfielder Jake Dandrea to close out the first quarter with a 6-0 lead.

Goalie Phillip Capelli made several spectacular saves to start the second quarter as Shelton tried to mount a comeback. Defensemen Macklin Berry, James Iarpoli and Ryan Ruddy helped to shut down the Shelton attack causing multiple turnovers. Midfielder William Wallace had several big hits, one causing a Shelton turnover that led to Garrity starting a fast break who once gain found Wellman in front of the cage for another score. After assisting on two goals, Garrity netted back-to-back goals on explosive moves to the cage. Just before the end of the half Ryan Ruddy ripped a shot past the goalie to give Newtown a 10-0 lead. Shelton started the second half with a quick goal to get on the score board. Newtown answered quickly with Dandrea assisting Wellman for his fourth goal of the game. Newtown goalie Luke Hannan made a spectacular save to end the third period, preserving the 11-1 lead. Shelton got back on the board in the fourth with a shot over the head of the Newtown goalie. The Hawks answered back with Colin Hoffman assisting on a goal to Ryan Ruddy for his second goal of the day.