Girls’ Soccer Team Kicked Out Of States By Danbury

By Andy Hutchison

After sustaining a tough overtime defeat to Masuk in the conference playoffs, the Newtown High School girls’ soccer team set out to bounce back in the first round of the Class LL State Tournament. But 28th seeded Danbury dashed No. 5 Newtown’s hopes with a win in penalty kicks at Blue and Gold Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

Danbury fended off a hungry Newtown squad to keep the game scoreless through regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtimes before prevailing 1-0 (4-3 in kicks). Danbury (which went 6-9-1 in the tough FCIAC) advanced to Thursday’s second round. Newtown, a 13-win team in the regular season, will have to wait at least another year.

Last year, Newtown had similar fate. The team earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye only to lose to No. 15 Glastonbury on its home field in the second round of the state bracket.

“It’s the same old story and it’s frustrating,” NHS Head Coach Marc Kenney said.

A slow start to their state playoff game a year ago cost the team a chance to advance, Kenney said, and the coach added that his team did not play hard enough until the second half of this year’s state tournament opener.

“I’m very happy with the effort in the second half and in overtime,” Kenney said.

Newtown certainly came to life in the latter stages of the game. The scoring chances piled up but Danbury goalkeeper Stephanie Paynter (with some help from her defenders who blocked multiple shots apparently headed for the back of the net) made the necessary saves. So did her counterpart, Newtown senior Emily Kluga, who made a critical, sliding save late in the first overtime.

One of Newtown’s biggest scoring weapons, senior captain Kasey Schulz, was hampered by two banged up ankles, including one that is severely sprained. Even so, Schulz still managed to help generate some scoring chances. Newtown ended the game with a 15-12 shots advantage.

“We had the chances and we just didn’t score — and that’s luck,” Kenney said.

Make that bad luck for the Nighthawks.

“Once it goes to PKs its really a toss up at that point,” the coach said.

Newtown’s Brittany Papaj, Tania Domingos, and Ally Modzelewski all scored and Kluga made one diving save in penalty kicks.

Kenney said that, looking back, it was a good season. For now, at least, the sting of having it end this way mars the team’s efforts.