Field Hockey Team Topples Masuk

By Andy Hutchison

Newtown High School’s field hockey team improved to 4-3 overall with a 4-1 win over visiting Masuk of Monroe on Tuesday night. The Nighthawks got two goals off the stick of Caroline Kingsley, and one each from Anna Grillo and Julia Diluoffo in the rain at Blue & Gold Stadium.

“It was very nice change of pace — we needed it,” Newtown Coach Amanda Hadgraft said of her team recording its most goals since a season-opening 7-0 triumph over first-year program Woodstock Academy back on September 11.

The Nighthawks were held to a goal in consecutive games, a 1-0 win over Weston on Saturday, September 29, and a 5-1 setback at New Milford two days later.

Hadgraft was pleased with the way her team moved the ball with stick to stick passing in the win over Masuk. “The last couple of weeks in practice we’ve been working on that,” the coach noted.

In the Masuk game, that teamwork led to assists for Kingsley and Diluoffo. Kelly O’Sullivan hit the back of the cage for the lone goal in the loss at New Milford, a game in which Hadgraft said her team members did not play up to their capabilities. Against Weston, one goal proved to be enough as Erica Thill, set up by Grillo, scored.

Hadgraft says she is looking for improvement from her players in one area or another, from game to game.

The Nighthawks visit Bethel in another South-West Conference matchup this Friday, October 5, then visit FCIAC foe Norwalk, last year’s Class L state tournament runners-up, the next night. Newtown returns home for two games next week.

Joel Barlow of Redding, which defeated the Hawks 2-0 earlier in the year, visits Blue & Gold Stadium for a 7 pm start on Tuesday, October 9.

Lauralton Hall of Milford comes to Blue & Gold the next afternoon for a game at 4.