By Steve Bigham

Newtown High School boys’ soccer coach Brian Neumeyer is hoping the team’s recent woulda, shoulda, coulda woes do not become a recurring theme the rest of the season.

The Nighthawks probably “shoulda” won its matchup with New Milford Tuesday night under the lights at the high school. Instead, they had to settle for their second scoreless tie of the season.

Neumeyer displayed little excitement in the 0-0 deadlock, despite the fact that New Milford came in with a 6-0 record. Newtown has been held scoreless in three of its seven games this year and all three of the shutouts have come at home.

“I felt we should have won the game. We definitely had the advantage possession-wise. We just couldn’t score,” he said. “We’re not being creative enough to finish.”

As a result, Newtown’s record stood at 4-1-2 heading into Friday’s game at Notre Dame of Fairfield. The ‘Hawks record could be worse, but Neumeyer knows that, besides Joel Barlow, they really have not played many of the league’s powerhouse clubs.

“I’m looking for them to pick it up. Just because they are young does not mean they get a free pass,” the coach said. Newtown lost 13 seniors from last season’s 14-4-2 squad and only two starters remain from the 1998 squad, which advanced to the CIAC Class L state title game.

The locals recorded their fourth win of the season Monday with a 5-1 decision at Stratford. Sophomore Sean Wilson opened the scoring for Newtown four minutes into the game on an unassisted goal. Wilson has played well in the absence of junior Colin Armstrong, who remains sidelined due to an injury.

Junior Brendan Cavanaugh made it 2-0 just 24 minutes in when he scored off junior Ian Walker’s corner kick. The ball actually bounced off the head of senior Rob Weiss before finding the foot of Cavanaugh. Weiss was credited with the assist.

Stratford cut the deficit to one goal a minute later off a great shot that hit off the goal post and went in.

“Matt Pachniuk had no chance at it,” said Neumeyer of his goaltender, who has yielded just four goals all season, two of them coming in last week’s 2-0 loss to Joel Barlow.

Cavanaugh increased the lead to 3-1 late in the first half when he broke free on the left side unassisted. Freshman Matt McFadden sealed the victory for the Nighthawks at 48 minutes of the second half on an assist from Walker. McFadden then closed out the scoring three minutes later after receiving a pass from sophomore Mike Troy.

 Despite its recent struggles, Newtown has dropped just one game this year, and it came last Thursday night at home against Barlow, the defending SWC champions. The Nighthawks played straight up with the talented Falcons in the first half and the first 40 minutes ended in a scoreless tie.

However, the second half was a different story as Barlow legends Alex Far and Ben Visnyei each scored goals.

“You try to take positives from a loss and from that game they showed me they can be one of the league’s best teams, even for as young as they are,” Neumeyer said.

The third-year coach has been praising the play of backs Andrew Smith and Jake Rouse, who have both played key roles in Newtown’s ability to shut down the opponent’s attack. Pachniuk is also putting together an all-league type of season.