BOYS U14 PREMIER

State Indoor Tournament

 

The Strikers represented the Northwest district against the best representatives from five other districts, in the U-14 State Indoor Tournament. After three preliminary matches, the Strikers advanced onto and won the final game against the South Central rep, Guilford 1-0.

Represented along with Newtown and Guilford were Danbury PAL, East Hampton, WAM (Willimantic, Andover, Mansfield) and Groton. The groups of six teams were divided into two divisions of three with a winner advancing from each division to the final.

Newtown faced off first against East Hampton and with Brian Smith and Matthew McFadden both scoring goals in each of the respective halves, the Strikers took the two goals on to a 2-0 win. Nathan Walzer prowled the net and Derek Miles, Jeremy Barczak and Ryan Keogler provided an impenetrable defense for Newtown. Peter Dittmar and David Anderson contributed offensive pressure throughout the match.

Newtown then meet Danbury PAL and even though the Strikers managed to control the ball and pace of the match Danbury was able to hold the Strikers attack at bay. Danbury scored a lone goal on a breakaway through the middle of the field in the first half and even with Mathew Miller, Patrick Kiely and Mike Bonsignore pushing the offense Newtown failed to find the net and fell 1-0..

In their final division game the Strikers destiny to advance was in their control and strong Groton team proved to match up well against the Strikers. McFadden, Barczak and Keogler all aided goalie Walzer in shutting down the Groton onset of offense. The Strikers lone goal came from the foot of Miles who laced a direct kick from Groton’s side of the field, into the upper corner of the net. Dittmar and Anderson gave strong offensive efforts as the Strikers advanced to the final with the 1-0 victory.

Two teams within the other bracket were tied at the end of division play and five rounds of PK’s determined that Guilford would face Newtown. Guilford had lost to the Strikers in the U-12 Spring State Cup final, in 1998 and their desire to win was evident.

The match began, as most anticipated, with both teams pushing forward and testing the goalies with shots from every angle. Walzer was again superb for the Strikers in goal and he confidently handled everything the Guilford could offer. The first half ended with neither team on the scoreboard but the momentum soon swung towards Newtown as Smith, in midfield found Bonsignore, on the right wing. Bonsignore pushed past the defender and sprinted towards the net. With a clear look at the goalie, Bonsignore surprised everyone and crossed a strong roller, through the box, that Miller touched into the far post.  After the Striker took the lead McFadden and Barczak settled in and held onto the shutout with convincing defense and Kiely and Keogler both kept the offense alive with energetic minutes.

With both the U-12 State Indoor title (1998) and the current U-14 State title the Newtown Strikers join only a select few who have dominated the Indoor Tournaments in both years.

GIRLS U14 TRAVEL

State Indoor Tournament

 

At Canterbury School, the Newtown_Nightmare finally found the one elusive title they have sought for four years.

With outdoor state titles won as U12 and U13 teams, the Nightmare captured the U14 indoor state championship with a 4-0 win over Norwich.

The Nightmare opened the tournament with a 5-1 win over a Northeast District opponent. Chelsea Morin scored three goals and Alex Helfer added a pair.

In a 1-1 tie with Guilford Premier, Helfer’s direct kick from 10 years out tied the game. Helfer and Morin displayed some sharp passing skills while Kelly Collier and Becky_Corrigan were tenacious on defense.

In a 3-1 win over Milford, Carrie Lipnick scored twice and Caroline Kunkel added a left-footed blast from 15 yards out. Allison Frobey was strong on defense.

In the final, Lipnick opened the scoring and was followed by_Morin (2 goals) and Helfer as the Nightmare recorded the 4-0 win.

Ali Smith was solid in goal throughout the tournament and recorded the shutout.

BOYS U13 TRAVEL

 

UNITED 13, REDDING 2: Luke Magill scored six goals and Ryan Davies added four to lead the United to the easy win. Billy Mantz added a pair of goals and Brian Miles had one. Scott Shpunt and Derek Miles had solid games as Adam Drummond held down the nets.

BROOKFIELD 8, UNITED 4: Luke Magill scored a pair of goals while Brian Miles and Ryan Davies added one goal apiece in the loss. Ryan Bigham, Scott Shpunt, Russ Cinicolo and Billy Mantz all had fine games.

 

BOYS U10

Oakwood Indoor

 

VIPERS 15, CHESHIRE (IV) ITALIA 6: The Newtown Vipers, who clinched the first place Oakwood U-10 Indoor Division Title with last weeks win, continued with their success in their final match against Cheshire’s Italia team. The seventh victory, 15-4, for the Vipers within the division, was the pinnacle of their undefeated season. The Vipers have compiled 111 goals in 7 matches, while allowing only 49.

The match against Italia took off with the Vipers limiting the number of goals allowed by each of the Newtown substitution squads to 2 each. The first half ended with Newtown up 5-1. Italia came back in the second half and netted 5 balls, but the Vipers countered every Cheshire attack with 2 of their own and placed 10 in the net. In the 15-6 Newtown win, 10 of the 12 Vipers present scored and 3 players shared the goal tending duties.