Newtown High School Soccer And Field Hockey Teams Bounced From SWCs

By Andy Hutchison

The Newtown High School girls’ soccer and field hockey teams both fell short in solid efforts in opening round South-West Conference Tournament action on October 30. The NHS boys’ soccer team was knocked out of its SWC tourney in a tight battle on October 31.

Seeded sixth, the girls’ soccer team visited No. 3 Masuk in Monroe and overcame a 2-0 second half deficit to force overtime before falling 3-2 just 33 seconds into the second 10-minute OT.

In the field hockey tourney, the fourth-seeded Nighthawks could not come all the way back from a 2-0 hole and lost 2-1 to No. 5 Joel Barlow at Blue & Gold Stadium.

The boys’ soccer team, seeded sixth, lost in Redding against No. 3 Barlow 1-0 despite nine saves by Newtown goalkeeper Zach Dlouhy.

Girls Lose Heartbreaker

In the girls’ soccer game at Masuk, Newtown’s Melissa Buccino tied the game on a header set up by an Ally Modzelewski cross. Arianna Papaj got Newtown on the scoreboard on a goal assisted by Brittany Tolla.

“I think that giving up was never an option. When we were down two goals we were determined to come back. We weren’t going to stay down,” NHS senior captain Kristen Tanner said. “I think the outcome was unfortunate, but we all gave 150 percent.”

Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said he was proud of the team for coming back to tie the game and force overtime. With his team down 1-0 at halftime, Kenney told the girls about the importance of getting the next goal, but even after the Hawks fell behind by two the coach kept a positive attitude.

“I really never panicked. I really believed we were going to come back and we did. Obviously they fought like crazy and I couldn’t be prouder,” Kenney said.

The coach said he believes Masuk is the team to beat in the tourney, a testament to his team’s efforts.

“We played really, really well today and Masuk’s a great team,” Kenney said. “We gave them all they could handle.”

After a scoreless 10-minute extra session, Masuk’s Katie Giraffa scored off a cross from Kathleen Schneider to win the game just 33 seconds into the second OT.

Newtown lost to Masuk in the SWC championship a year ago. The Nighthawks won a regular season meeting between the teams this fall.

Field Hockey Falls Short

Newtown’s field hockey team, which met Barlow in the SWC tourney for the second year in a row, cut a 2-0 deficit to 2-1 on a goal by Hannah Koch, set up by Katie Canavan and Steph Sanchez. The Hawks put plenty of pressure on the Barlow cage only to come up short.

The Nighthawks, down 2-1 at the half, came out and dominated play, not allowing a shot on their goal in the second half, and finished the game with a 14-6 shots on goal advantage.

“They were back in it,” NHS Coach Amanda Hadgraft said of the Nighthawks getting back to within a goal before halftime. “We were working hard. We just couldn’t finish it.”

Hadgraft said that finishing scoring chances has been a problem for the team all season long. “That really sunk us today, unfortunately,” she said.

Last year, Newtown won the SWC title, topping Pomperaug in the pinnacle game, then fell early on the state tourney. So is this year’s early SWC tourney departure a sign that the Hawks will have better results in the upcoming state tourney?

“That’s the plan,” Hadgraft said with a laugh. “Last year we invested so much time and so much energy into trying to win SWCs and trying to beat Pomperaug, that when it came time for states we were out of steam. There was nothing left — the girls gave all they could.”

The NHS coach said her team should benefit from a week layoff before the start of states.

“We have time to recharge our batteries — really refocus,” she said.

Boys’ Booters Fall Late

In the boys’ soccer game, Barlow broke a scoreless tie with just 1:29 left in the game when Sean Basak Smith scored on a low shot from in close on the right side.

The game was chock full of hard slide tackles and physical play, but the officials did not hand out cards or call fouls on several occasions, much to the surprise of coaches and players.

Newtown dominated play in the first half but Barlow goalkeeper Anthony Caruso, who made 11 saves by the end of the game, kept the Nighthawks off the scoreboard.

The players and coaches were clearly upset with falling short to Barlow in the SWC playoffs for the second straight year.

“Its always disappointing to lose especially late in a game when I feel like we deserved to win after the first half that we had. Our players really put in the effort but not scoring is something that is really hurting us right now,” said NHS Coach Brian Neumeyer, whose team was shutout in four of its final five regular season games.

“We have had teams in the past who have not fared well in the conference tournament and done well in the states. This is what we are now shooting for. The group is disappointed over the turn that the season took but ready to try and take a game by game basis,” Neumeyer added.

Newtown was unbeaten in eight games to start the season and will look to get back to those winning ways in the upcoming state tourney.

“They’re a competitive group — they’re very athletic,” Barlow Coach Paul Winstanley said of the Nighthawks.