NHS Girls’ Soccer—

Nighthawks Unbeaten In First Week

By Andy Hutchison

So far, so good for the Newtown High School girls’ soccer team. The Nighthawks may only have one win after three games, but the team also has no losses heading into the Friday, September 24, battle with Bethel (Treadwell Park at 3:45 pm).

The Nighthawks jumped out of the gates with a fast start in a 5-1 win over Oxford on September 14, then earned a pair of hard-fought ties: 1-1 with Immaculate of Danbury on September 16 and a scoreless duel with Pomperaug of Southbury on September 20.

Coach Marc Kenney says he is very happy with the start to the campaign because of the way his players have dictated the flow of the games in the early going.

“I think we’ve really been able to show some intensity. We’ve been able to work hard, we’ve been able to put our imprint on the game and that’s sort of been the key for me. I want us to sort of set the tone. I don’t want us having to play the other team’s style of play,” Kenney said.

Against an overall fast Pomperaug squad, Newtown possessed the ball in the middle of the field and made passes off to the sides of the field.

“I think the main thing for us is controlled possession. I think the key for us is we definitely don’t want to get into a track meet with teams like this,” the coach said.

The Nighthawks didn’t bury a few scoring chances, but Kenney was pleased to see his players develop those opportunities and added that it’s early on and the finishes will come with time.

“That’ll come around,” he said. “In a week, those are goals.”

Speaking of goals, it’s not as if Newtown hasn’t proven it can find the net this fall. In the opener, Brittany Tolla netted three tallies, and Amy Martin and Melissa Buccino both scored in the 5-1 thumping of Oxford. Tolla scored the lone net-finder against Immaculate.

The biggest strength of this team the Hawks believed, coming into the season, was chemistry. And that cohesiveness has paid dividends.

“The chemistry is awesome and that’s why we’ve done so well on the field,” senior captain Ali Korchman said. “Everyone just works so hard and puts their best effort forth.”

“I think we’ve worked really hard as a team. I think it’s a pretty good start and we’re going to have a really awesome year,” senior captain Sarah Attanasio added.