Fast Starts Help Girls’ Soccer Team Remain Unbeaten Through First Nine Contests
After an impressive come-from-behind 3-2 victory over visiting Joel Barlow of Redding on September 27, Newtown High School’s girls’ soccer team, Coach Marc Kenney believed, needed to get out to faster starts to not flirt with the possibility of a loss.
The Nighthawks did just that in a 6-1 triumph over New Fairfield at Treadwell Park on October 3 and, in the process, remained unbeaten at 6-0-3 to start the season.
Newtown seized a 4-0 lead by halftime in the win over New Fairfield and cruised to victory behind Sydney Oltran’s hat-trick.
“We’ve really made a concerted effort to get after it from the start,” Kenney said. “It takes a lot of pressure off.”
Another advantage to putting a game away early is that more reserve players get a chance to be on the field for game action.
“Number one, it’s good for development,” said Kenney, adding that the added bonus is that starters/regulars get a breather and some time off to stay healthy and avoid possible injuries.
Sophomore defender Aashni Shetty and freshmen center midfielders Hannah Stowe and Taegan Waaler both came in off the bench and played well, Kenney said.
Skyler Howard was assisted by Riley Powers to open the scoring just 1:20 into the New Fairfield game. Powers was set up for a marker of her own, off a cross from Oltran just 4:25 later. Howard deposited a rebound to make it 3-0 before the midpoint of the opening half, and Hannah Snayd added a goal.
In the second half, Oltran completed her hat-trick with a blast just under the cross bar, assisted by Ella Morits, and a low shot set up by Lyla Kopp. New Fairfield broke up the shutout late in the second half, but Newtown made it eight of nine games surrendering one or no goals.
In a 3-0 win over New Milford at Blue & Gold Stadium on September 29, Oltran scored twice and Morits had a goal and assisted both of Oltran’s net-finders.
The Nighthawks, after visiting Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport on Thursday, host Stratford at Blue & Gold Stadium on Tuesday, October 11 at 6 pm.
Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.