Newtown Laxmen Solid All Around In Early Going

By Andy Hutchison

So far, so good for the Newtown High School boys’ lacrosse team. The Nighthawks went on the road and blanked Bunnell of Stratford 16-0 in the season opener on April 5, then toppled host Norwalk 17-5 two days later. On Monday, the Nighthawks had their first tough test of the campaign when one of the team’s strongest South-West Conference opponents, New Fairfield, visited Blue & Gold Stadium. The Nighthawks overcame a late deficit to pull out an 11-10 win to stay perfect in the early going.

Against Bunnell, Graham Derrickson, Jake Ball, and Matt Vavrek all scored three times; Brendan McNamara, Justin Brophy, and Dan Hebert all scored twice; and setup man Trey Trudell had a goal to go along with his seven assists.

In the triumph over Norwalk, McNamara and Brophy both had six goals, and Fisher scored twice. Trudell notched a goal and added six more helpers. One of Brophy’s goals came on a creative, flashy behind the back release from the right side and several yards away from the goal.

The Nighthawks nearly made it six straight quarters without allowing a goal to begin the year. Norwalk, after falling behind 7-0, finally solved Newtown goaltender Evan Isaacs with 19 seconds left in the first half. The Nighthawks never let the Bears get into the game thanks, in part, to Isaacs, who compiled 14 saves — including nice diving stop.

Isaacs, accustomed to scoring goals for the Newtown hockey team, had been preventing them on the junior varsity lacrosse team. This is his first week of game action at the varsity level, and the senior has impressed Newtown Coach Glenn Adams. “This is the first time he saw some real, live action here — and he did great,” said Adams, adding that the defense came up with some good clears to relieve and prevent pressure.

Adams, who played lacrosse at Norwalk High as a midfielder and graduated in 2002, described returning to his old stomping grounds but being on the other side as being surreal.

Newtown and New Fairfield, teams that met in last year’s SWC title game won by the Nighthawks, played a tightly contested battle in the Newtown’s home opener. The Nighthawks trailed 4-3 at the half and 8-7 heading to the fourth quarter before outscoring their foes 4-2 in the final period.

Trudell was the only Nighthawk with multiple assists in this game, with two, but took on a different role in this contest with a three-goal effort. Trudell had the game-tying and winning tally to lead NHS back from a 10-8 deficit. Hebert also had a trio of net-finders, McNamara and Ball both scored twice, and Derrickson added a tally. McNamara scooped a team-high 14 of Newtown’s 42 ground ball pickups. Isaacs made nine stops between the pipes, including a game-saver inside the final minute.

The Nighthawks were scheduled to host Weston on Thursday (after The Bee went to press) and will entertain Conard on Saturday, April 14. Game time is 5 pm at Blue & Gold Stadium.