By Kim J. Harmon

NEW FAIRFIELD – The New Fairfield girls’ lacrosse team certainly looked it would provide a tough test for Newtown last Thursday in a South-West Conference matchup.

The Lady Rebels had big numbers and seemed to be drilled well.

But when the opening whistle blew, it was clear that the Nighthawks were the more talented team . . . and the 11-1 final score pretty much backed that up.  The Rebels – one of the new teams in the burgeoning SWC – had trouble trying to hold off a ferocious, first-half onslaught that saw the ‘Hawks score 10 unanswered goals.

First it was Morgan Pacheco scoring off an assist from Ellie Champagne and then Erin McDonald off a shooting space penalty, Megan Anderson followed with her first goal (off another Champagne assist) and Pacheco – after the ensuing face off – came back with her second goal.

Only a few minutes had passed in the game and the ‘Hawks had taken a 4-0 lead.

But it was far from over. The Newtown offense worked from side to side, passing the ball well, finding the seams in the New Fairfield defense, and tirelessly attacking the cage.

Champagne took a pass, stepped out in front of the net and shot for her first goal of the game. McDonald followed with a goal that she scored while immersed in a sea of bodies and Champagne came back with her second goal of the game, acquired on a rush from behind the net.

The ‘Hawks led 7-0 at that point.

Off the ensuing face off, Mary Bell rushed straight through the New Fairfield defense and put the ‘Hawks ahead, 9-0, on a low shot. Champagne then came up with two consecutive goals – her third and fourth of the game – and just like that the ‘Hawks were ahead, 10-0.

Things settled down considerably in the second half. The ‘Hawks weren’t so intent on attacking the cage anymore and instead worked on their motion offense (still, the New Fairfield goaltender did stop five quality shots by Newtown).

And the Nighthawk defense – led by goaltender Diane McNamara – had a chance to make a statement in the game. McNamara made two great saves in the first half but came up with the best one of the game in the second half when she stopped a clear, point-blank shot on the cage.

Nevertheless, with six minutes left to play in the game the Lady Rebels got their only goal of the game to trim the Newtown lead to 10-1. With 50 seconds left, McDonald answered that goal with her third of the game to arrive at the 11-1 final.

The win boosted Newtown’s record to 5-4 overall, 4-1 in the SWC.

The ‘Hawks had a further chance to enhance that record last Saturday when they traveled down to Ridgefield but a 10-9 loss to the Tigers put a stop to that.

Ridgefield had taken a 7-3 lead in the first half, but the ‘Hawks rallied back with six goals in the second half to get within one. Bell scored four times for Newtown while Erin McDonald added three goals. Champagne and Anderson scored one apiece.

Pacheco was credited with an assist.

The ‘Hawks – now 5-5 overall, 4-1 in the SWC – traveled to Joel Barlow on Thursday (after press time) and are tentatively scheduled to host New Milford on Friday. The girls will then head to Masuk on Tuesday, May 15, and then return home to host New Fairfield on Thursday, May 17.

GOAL SCORING

 

 

Players       Goals

Ellie Champagne       25

Erin McDonald         23

Mary Bell      14

Morgan Pacheco       11

Kelly Shpunt  4

Meg Anderson         4

Jen Chuddy    2

Sarah Whalley 1

Meg Johnson  1

Alison Boyle  1

Angela Shannon        1

Elissa Boushell         1