By Kim J. Harmon

The 2003 regular season ended for a few Newtown High School teams last week and ended in such spectacular fashion that expectations for the post-season were high. But circumstances – and not just the pounding rain that drenched the state earlier this week – served to put a damper on those expectations.

[In an overtime thriller, the girls’ soccer team stunned previously undefeated Masuk, 2-1, to earn the Colonial Division title and the No. 1 seed in the South-West Conference playoffs. Less than a week later, the Lady Nighthawks were bounced from the playoffs with a 1-0 loss to Immaculate.

[The volleyball team was on the verge of missing the SWC playoffs, but came out and blasted Lauralton Hall, 3-0, last Wednesday to earn the seventh seed (as well as a trip to the CIAC state tournament). Two days later, the Lady Nighthawks were eliminated from the playoffs with a 3-1 loss to No. 2 seed Bunnell.

Not all is lost, however. The boys’ soccer team – which had seen its semi-final contest with Brookfield postponed from Tuesday to Wednesday and then to Thursday – is still in line to defend its 2002 SWC championships while the undefeated swim team will be gunning for its own championship on Saturday at Foran High School in Milford.

Girls Soccer Stunned By

IHS in SWC Semis

All it took was one.

While the Newtown High School girls’ soccer team failed to capitalize on several scoring chances, Immaculate capitalized on its only scoring chance and earned a trip to the South-West Conference championship game with a 1-0 victory on Tuesday night in Monroe.

Nicole Sieber scored the lone goal with 6:42 left to play in the second half after gathering in a rebound off her own shot.

The goal came while Newtown’s top defender, Mary Anders, was on the sidelines being treated for a head injury suffered a few minutes before. While going up for a ball, Anders apparently slammed her face against the back of an Immaculate player’s head. According to reports, she suffered a fracture of her sinus cavity, but was treated at the hospital and released.

Anders had been a brick wall on defense through the better part of the game, scarcely giving the Lady Mustangs a chance to even approach the goal. But shortly before she was hurt, the Mustangs had really begun to challenge the Newtown defense more.

While the Mustangs had just three shots on goal, all came within the space of a few minutes in the second half and one of them resulted in the only score of the game.

Even despite the goal, the Newtown offense thoroughly dominated the game and managed 20 shots on the net. Chelsea Morin, Casey Frobey, Rachel Vontobel, Carrie Lipnick and Tara Gaston all had splendid games but no one was able to sneak a shot past Immaculate goaltender Nicole Weiss.

The victory allowed the Lady Mustangs to move on to the SWC championship against Masuk, which defeated Joel Barlow 5-0 in the other semi-final earlier in the day.

The Lady Nighthawks earned their trip to the SWC semi-finals with a 1-0 victory over Bethel last Saturday at Blue & Gold Stadium. For the second time in five days, the ‘Hawks had to figure out how to overcome a team that liked to load up the box and pack it in on defense to severely limit scoring opportunities (on both sides of the field).

There were less than a dozen shots in the game and all of those belonged to Newtown. Gaston scored the lone goal with about 20 minutes gone in the second half to basically seal the game and give the ‘Hawks a chance to move on.

That win came three days after the ‘Hawks stunned previously undefeated Masuk, 2-1, in overtime in the SWC regular season finale. Alex Helfer scored the first goal to put Newtown on top, 1-0, in the first half but the strong Masuk offense (which outshot Newtown, 20-11) eventually evened things up on a goal by Michelle Martinik in the second half. That sent the game into overtime and while the first passed without incident, Lipnick scored the game winner in the second overtime on a spectacular play.

Anders had taken a loose ball just inside the midfield stripe and lofted a perfect pass into the box, over the last line of defense. Morin and Masuk goaltender Erin Lillywhite reached the ball at basically the same moment and both fell to the ground, only Morin was still able to wrest the ball free and eased it over to Lipnick for the winning goal.

Newtown goaltender Kim Allen had a terrific game in net, making 19 saves.

Swimmers Looking

For First SWC

Championship

Undefeated.

Wow – that sure has a nice ring to it.

And the Newtown High School girls’ swim team got to enjoy the sound of it last week after it defeated Masuk, 106-78, to close out the dual meet season at 12-0. Abby Atkinson (200 individual medley and 100 breastroke) was a double winner while Kim Mayers (diving) and Carol Ann Smith (100 backstroke) also claimed first-place finishes.

And now it’s time for the next step.

The South-West Conference championships.

The diving portion of the event took place on Wednesday (after press time) and rest of the meet will follow on Saturday, November 1, at Foran. Despite finishing undefeated, the Lady Nighthawks will have to hold off a very strong Lauralton Hall team (which the ‘Hawks defeated back in September) in order to claim the title.

“I didn’t think we would beat Lauralton because they are always so good,” said head coach Mary Atkinson. “We thought we had a shot because we brought a change of clothes (for after the celebratory dip in the pool).”

While the ‘Hawks were without some key swimmers for that meet and probably could beat Lauralton Hall in another dual meet, things are much different in a conference meet format. There are a lot of ways the ‘Hawks can win the title … and a lot of ways they can’t.

“The bottom line is … the kids have to swim fast,” said coach Atkinson. “One of the things that might hurt us is we can only bring one relay and relays are our big points. Firsts are huge, too, and we didn’t take a lot of firsts against Lauralton (in the dual meet).”

Actually, the ‘Hawks had five first-place finishes and the Lady Crusaders had seven. Even with that slight discrepancy, where the ‘Hawks won that meet was in the seconds, thirds and fourths – in other words, the back end points.

Those kinds of points are equally as important at a conference meet, but throwing a bunch of other teams in the mix really changes things.

“It is so hard to tell in a meet like this,” said coach Atkinson.

The ‘Hawks will be taking some 30 swimmers and divers to the championships, however, and by sheer weight of numbers that gives the ‘Hawks an advantage.

Seniors who have qualified include – Diana Bowen (50 free), Lynn Cupero (100 free), Kate Hoolehan (50 free), Kaitlyn Murphy (50 free), Meghan O’Day (100 breast), Caitlin O’Keefe (50 free), Margaret Randall (200 IM, 100 free, 100 fly, 100 breast), and Megan Tredennick (50 free, 100 breast).

Juniors who have qualified include – Jackie Gutbrod (50 free), Sarah Hemingway (200 IM, 100 back), Lauren Kotwicki (50 free, 100 free, 100 breast), Liz O’Connell (50 free, 100 free), Jessica Remitz (100 breast), Amy Robinson (50 free, 100 free, 500 free), Tara Ryan (50 free) and Wendy Borst (diving), Kim Mayers (diving), Tierney Carey (diving) and Britta Cedergren (diving).

Sophomores who have qualified include – Abby Atkinson (200 IM, 50 free, 100 breast), Jenny Cupero (100 free), Liz Gugino (200 free, 50 free, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back), Alex Hoolehan (50 free), Sammi Howe (50 free, 100 fly, 100 free), Carol Ann Smith (200 IM, 100 free, 100 back) and Dana Taylor (200 free, 50 free, 100 free, 500 free).

And freshmen who have qualified include – Maricate Conlon (200 free, 200 IM, 100 fly, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back), Sarah Harmonay (200 free, 500 free), Maggie Hemingway (200 free, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back), Jen Iassogna (200 free, 50 free, 100 fly, 100 free, 500 free), Sally Tabler (200 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 100 free, 500 free), Sarah Truckle (50 free) and Nicole Borusso (diving).

Other members of the team who failed to qualify for the SWCs, but nevertheless contributed to the success of the team include seniors Kelly Bailey, Chrissy Glander (captain) and Floren Schertzer; juniors Caitlin Dalton, Emily Tomasiewicz and Jessica Yakush; sophomore Alex Isaacs; and freshmen Katie Sudbey, and Abby Radzminski.

The CIAC state trials will follow next weekend and the list of Newtown qualifiers gets considerably shorter, but the ‘Hawks will be sending Atkinson (200 IM, 50 free, 100 breast), Conlon (200 IM, 100 fly, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back), Jenny Cupero (100 fly), Gugino (200 free, 100 free, 100 back), Maggie Hemingway (200 free, 50 free, 100 free, 500 free, 100 back), Iassogna (100 fly), Randall (100 free, 100 breast), Robinson (50 free, 100 free, 500 free), Smith (200 IM, 100 back) and Tabler (200 free, 200 IM, 100 free, 500 free).

Boys Soccer Earns Its

Revenge On Pomperaug

 

Wow – it had to be done with mirrors.

The Newtown High School boys’ soccer team was so beaten up (Marcus Tracy, Ryan Keogler, Ryan Davies, Marc Doherty, Matt McFadden were all nursing injuries) that the prospect of finishing the regular season against undefeated Masuk and then opening the South-West Conference tournament against Pomperaug (the only team to beat the Nighthawks) was daunting to say the least.

But the ‘Hawks pulled it off.

Somehow.

Last week, the ‘Hawks defeated Masuk, 2-0, on goals from McFadden and Rodrigo DeSouza. The McFadden goal was critical, but it was the DeSouza goal – a 30-yard blast that caught the upper right hand corner of the net – that could make the all the ESPN highlight reels.

Mike Nastri recorded a pair of assists.

The ‘Hawks improved to 13-1-1 and earned the No. 2 seed in the SWC playoffs, but what that meant was a quarterfinal match up with Pomperaug – the team that defeated Newtown, 1-0, back on Tuesday, September 30.

Goals by Brian Conroy and Brian Miles helped the ‘Hawks exact a measure of revenge, however, and earn themselves a spot in the semifinals. The ‘Hawks put a lot of pressure on the Panthers goal, but were unable to break through until Conroy took a beautiful pass from Nastri and pushed it off his head and past Pomperaug goaltender Patrick Randolph.

About 10 minutes later, Miles unleashed a shot from 35 yards out that appeared as if it was going to hook past the right post and over the end line … only, somehow, it tucked itself in the upper right corner of the net for a goal.

The Newtown defense was so strong in this game that Newtown goaltender Andrew Fiscella was not forced to make any saves.

Newtown – with Tracy expected back in the lineup – was set to host Brookfield on Wednesday afternoon in the semi-finals. Newtown and Brookfield dueled to a 0-0 tie back on Friday, September 12, in the season opener.

Inspired Volleyball Girls

Reach SWC Tournament

The Newtown High School volleyball team appeared as if it was heading for a very quiet ending to the 2003 season.

The Lady Nighthawks – the defending South-West Conference champions – had stumbled to an 8-9 record and were ready to close out their schedule against 11-6 Lauralton Hall last Wednesday. With the way things had gone the previous week (a 3-2 win over Bethel that was way more difficult than it needed to be and a 3-2 loss to Foran that came after Newtown had a 2-1 lead), prospects were not good.

But the Lady Nighthawks – who have played very well at times and very poorly at others – hammered Hall last Wednesday to earn a spot in both the SWC and CIAC state tournaments. The ‘Hawks cruised past the Lady Crusaders 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-14) to give Senior Night a truly festive atmosphere.

Stephanie Logan (one of only two seniors … the other being Alia Kemsley) had another monster effort, registering 19 kills, 11 aces and four blocks. Lisa Morgan chipped in with 25 assists and six digs while Diana Grimaldi recorded nine kills.

The ‘Hawks needed the win to get into the CIAC tournament and needed a win to guarantee a spot in the SWC tournament, although they would have gotten in anyway by virtue of a Pomperaug loss (3-0 to Foran).

So the ‘Hawks snuck into the SWC tournament as the seventh seed and traveled to Stratford on Friday afternoon to take on 16-2 Bunnell. The ‘Hawks were out of sorts in the first two games and fell by counts of 25-15 and 25-12, but managed to stir the pot a little in Game #3 with a strong 25-21 effort. The Lady Bulldogs closed out the match in Game #4, however, 25-17.

Logan had 19 kills and eight digs while Morgan had 30 assists and six kills. Grimaldi chipped in with nine kills and a pair of blocks.

The ‘Hawks will enter the CIAC state tournament this weekend at a place and time to be determined.

Strong Finishes At CIACs

For X-C Teams

Fresh off their remarkable performances at the South-West Conference championships, the Newtown High School boys’ and girls’ cross country teams took the show on the road … to Wickham Park in Manchester for the CIAC Class L meets.

The boys, who finished runners-up to New Milford at the SWCs, took sixth overall with 162 points. Meanwhile the girls, who claimed their second consecutive SWC championship, finished fifth overall with 165 points.

Ahmed Haji of Conard won the boys’ race with a blistering time of 15:20, a full minute ahead of Jay Koloseus of Guilford. Peter Dittmar was the first Newtown finisher, coming in 10th overall at 16:54, just a couple of seconds ahead of Eric Garren of Bristol Eastern.

Phil Zencey was the second Newtown finisher, 27th overall at 17:31. He was followed in by Jay Schunter (30th at 17:38), Alister Ratcliff (37th at 17:47) and Chris DeRoo (58th at 18:16). John Sullivan (62nd at 18:20) and Charles Baldour (76th at 18:29) finished out of the scoring.

Betsy Boucher of Fitch won the girls’ race, coming in at 15:38 – better than 30 seconds ahead of Leah Rosenfeld of Ridgefield. Sadie Ball was the first Newtown finisher, coming in sixth overall at 16:36.

Carolyn Brennan was the second Newtown finisher and 15th overall at 16:56. She was followed in by Laura Reid (24th at 17:14), Caitlin Thursland (58th at 18:22) and Leah Herity (62nd at 18:26). Moira Collier (65th at 18:31) and Caitlin Weber (95th at 19:26) finished out of the scoring.

The CIAC State Open meets will be held Friday, October 31, at Wickham Park in Manchester.

Field Hockey Team

Earns Fourth Win

 

Just a couple of days after being trampled by undefeated Pomperaug last Thursday, the Newtown High School field hockey team responded with a 2-1 win over Masuk in a game rescheduled from earlier in the week.

Lindsey Coyle and Meg Regnery scored the goals to lift Newtown to the win.

It was in the first half that Newtown staged a 4-on-1 breakaway with Regnery slipping through the Newtown defense. Amanda Hadgraft broke away from her defender out on the wing and converged on the cage as Regnery sent the ball in. The Masuk goaltender – sprawled out, with Hadgraft on her – attempted to clear the ball but sent it to Coyle.

Coyle then unleashed a bullet that rattled around inside the cage and gave the Lady Nighthawks a 1-0 lead. Masuk tied the score up in the second half when it was awarded a penalty stroke, but Regnery scored the game-winner with less than nine minutes left to play.

“These kids have played with a lot of heart,” said head coach Kathy Davey. “I thought they could have folded up after the Pomperaug game, but they didn’t. Our record is not a reflection on how well we have played this year.”

Masuk needed at least a tie to qualify for the CIAC state tournament.

Regnery and Hadgraft scored the Newtown goals in a 7-2 loss to Pomperaug last Thursday. The last time the two teams met (at Blue & Gold Stadium), the Lady Nighthawks put up a valiant effort and lost 3-0 (with the last goal coming in the final two seconds of the game). Last Thursday, the Lady Panthers improved to 16-0 while unleashing 20 shots on Newtown goaltender Jenny Urfer, who made 11 saves.

A game against Shepaug on Thursday (on the turf in Danbury) closed out the regular season.

Little Rally Falls Short

On Football Field

Brendan O’Connor made the finest catch of the season, Brett Eastman made another interception and Matt Wheeler recovered two fumbles, but the Newtown High School football team could not extricate itself from the first-period hole it fell into against Immaculate last Friday night at Blue & Gold Stadium.

The Mustangs, who boast a strong passing game behind quarterback Kerry Palmer, scored two early touchdowns against the Nighthawks and appeared on the verge of cruising through the South-West Conference tilt.

But the ‘Hawks – who continued to have trouble moving the football (just 82 yards of total offense) – knuckled down on defense and kept the Mustangs out of the end zone the rest of the way. John Collins had a hit that caused a fumble and later intercepted a pass and Ross Coates had a big quarterback sack.

Efforts like those gave the ‘Hawks a chance to make a little run in the fourth quarter.

On a halfback option pass, Collins tossed a seam pass to O’Connor – who had to extend himself full out to grab it for a 27-yard gain. Not too long after, Josh Rouse punched his way into the end zone from two yards out for the Nighthawks’ only score.

Although the ‘Hawks continued to keep the Mustangs pinned down, the visitors came up with a 30-yard run on a third down play with 6:37 left to play to bring themselves deep into Newtown territory. But on fourth down, with 2:06 left, Coates sacked Palmer for a 10-yard loss and handed the ball over to the Newtown offense on the 35.

On the first play, though, Rouse had a pass picked off and the game was, save for a couple of kneel downs, over.

Collins rushed for 35 yards on 10 carries while Ben Bagaglio picked up 13 yards five carries to lead the rushing attack. In the air, Rouse was 3-for-13 for 23 yards as O’Connor grabbed two balls for 36 yards.

The ‘Hawks dropped to 1-5-1 on the year and will travel to Milford to take on an 0-6 Jonathan Law team that has scored 59 points while allowing 264 – the most in the South-West Conference.