Date: Fri 13-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Girls-Soccer

Full Text:

Girls' Soccer Preview - 1996

B Y T.W YATT

Last season was one of transition for the Newtown High School girls' soccer

team and, subsequently, ended with the team missing out on the conference

playoffs for the first time in its 12-year history.

But last year is in the books and second-year coach Kim Berglund is happy with

what she sees in the first year of the Lady Nighthawks era.

" We have a very well balanced team, " coach Berglund said. " Last year we had

a million halfbacks, but this year we have set players at every position with

solid backups at each. "

Lost to graduation from the '95 team are six seniors including Melissa Eigen,

Stephanie Nelson, and Maria Robertson, all four-year starters for Newtown, as

well as forwards Megan Czaplicke, Sarah Howard, and Emily Fries.

Topping the list of strong list of returning players is senior tri-captain Jan

Triani, last season's team MVP and All-SWC sweeper. Lauren Pelletreau and

Rachel Gottmeier will join Triani as captains.

Pelletreau was forced to miss last season with a knee injury, but is back in

solid form to start at midfield for Newtown. Gottmeier, who started on the

midfield last season, is back and starting at right half.

Rounding out the midfield will be senior Jenna Jones, in the middle with

Pelletreau, and sophomore Heather Gunn in the left-half slot. Gunn and Jones

both saw significant time at forward last fall.

This season's starting forwards, in coach Berglund's 4-4-2 formation, will be

sophomore Tara Fiscella and senior Melanie Tyrell.

Fiscella scored four goals as a freshman last season and Tyrell, who started

on the midfield last year, brings lightning speed to the right side.

" Its a new formation for us, but we seem to be scoring more goals with it

during the preseason, " said Berglund who's team scored an anemic 25 goals in

16 games last season. " We've looked good in our scrimmages and are optimistic

about it. We plan to put a lot of pressure on defenses this year. "

On its own defensive side, Newtown promises to improve upon last year's effort

which saw the team allow a school-record-low 13 goals. While coach Berglund

needs to replace two-year starting keeper Ali Rief, who moved away, she has

two-year backup, Becky Osborne, to do it.

Meanwhile, the remainder of last year's starting defense is back including

three-year starting fullback Kate McKenzie, a senior, who will move over to

play stopper. Junior Nikki Streegan is back to play fullback on one side with

sophomore Erin Jones returning on the other.

Varsity newcomers Anna O'Sullivan and Kelly Smith will see time as backup

fullback and keeper.

Other returners from last year's varsity, who will see increased time this

season include sophomore forward Lindsay Rice, junior defender Lindsay Malloy,

and junior midfielder Jackie Baressi.

Junior Megan Gossling will be a first-year varsity player, as will freshman

transfer, Stephanie Tilton, a forward.

Last year's team started the season at 7-1-3 and finished by losing five

straight including a 1-0 loss to Fairfield in the opening round of the state

tournament. " One of our big goals for this season is to be more cohesive as a

team, " Berglund said. " And the team wants to get to the conference playoffs.

Those are the two team goals, and I don't see any reason why we can't achieve

them. "

Newtown started its season with a x-x win over Notre Dame of Fairfield at home

on Wednesday, September 11. The rest of the 1996 schedule is as follows:

Schedule

Home games are played at Newtown High School. All games begin at 3:45 pm

unless otherwise noted.

SEPT 11 at Notre Dame; 13 at Barlow (2:30); 16, NEW FAIRFIELD; 19, at

Stratford; 24, BROOKFIELD; 26, LAURALTON HALL; 30, at Pomperaug.

OCT 3, at Jonathan Law (6:30 pm); 7, at Foran; 10, BETHEL; 14, BUNNELL; 16, at

New Milford; 18, MASUK; 21, at Immaculate; 24, WESTON.