Soccer Girls Shake Off Doldrums, Nail Down Three Wins

By Kim J. Harmon

Time was running out on the regular season this past week yet – thanks to the seemingly never ending rain – Newtown High School still had a lot of games to squeeze in before the South-West Conference tournaments opened this weekend.

Amazingly, the tough schedule in no way hampered the Nighthawks.

Sure, both the field hockey and boys’ soccer teams had to play four games in six days as the girls’ soccer team compressed three games in six days and – coupled with the efforts of the volleyball and swim teams (unaffected by the rain, of course) and the football team – there were 17 contests over the last week.

That’s a lot.

But Newtown still earned 15 wins in those 17 contests.

Talk about momentum heading into the playoffs.

GIRLS SOCCER

Newtown 4, Pomperaug 2; Newtown 3, Joel Barlow 0; Newtown 4, Weston 0

This being the season of ghosts and goblins, one could figure head coach Rupert de los Reyes must have invoked some sort of supernatural mumbo-jumbo after the Newtown High School girls’ soccer team fell behind, 2-0, in listless and uninspired first half against Pomperaug last week.

A halftime speech filled with spells and incantations? It’s possible, because all the Lady Nighthawks did was explode for four second-half goals against Pomperaug (winning that game 4-2) and then three first-half goals against a team, Joel Barlow, that hadn’t lost to Newtown in 11 years and had only lost once in 2005.

Spells.

Incantations.

What else could it have been?

“Lately we’ve been turned the switch off and then on,” said coach de los Reyes. “I didn’t lose my composure. I just told them, it’s on them. They were unconscious (against Pomperaug) and it was time to do something about it.”

Senior co-captain Tara Gaston – after reveling in the win over Joel Barlow on Friday night – said, “He hardly said anything (at halftime of the Pomperaug game). We knew what we had to do and, sometimes, it takes on person to get it all started.”

For two weeks the ‘Hawks had been in a rut, struggling to a 3-2 win over Bethel, getting blanked 2-0 by arch-rival Masuk, somehow squeaking out a 1-1 tie with Immaculate, and then falling behind, 2-0, in the first half at Pomperaug.

“We were ready for a change,” said Gaston. “We couldn’t keep going on like we were.”

And when freshman Tania Domingos scored to open the second half, things changed just like that. The ‘Hawks went from listless and – yes – unconscious to fully conscious and explosive. Pomperaug goaltender CJ Phillips had had a quiet first half, but in the second half she was bombarded with shot after shot as the ‘Hawks simply overwhelmed the Lady Panthers.

Senior co-captain Casey Frobey scored to tie the game, freshman Kasey Schulz scored to give the ‘Hawks the lead, and Domingos scored again to provide the 4-2 advantage. And all that scoring doesn’t even take into account the two balls that slammed off the crossbar early in the half.

Lauren Ciccomascolo got the start for Newtown in the goal and recorded eight saves.

The momentum from that win carried the ‘Hawks smoothly into a Friday night showdown with Joel Barlow, which was 6-1-3 at the time and had not lost to Newtown since 1994. But Tara Fiscella got the locals started early, just 11:30 into the first half, by taking a ball down the left field and crossing to Alex Konneker for an easy one-touch goal and a 1-0 lead.

Eight minutes later, on virtually an identical sequence, Schulz came down the wing and crossed to Frobey to put the ‘Hawks on top, 3-0. And eight minutes after that, Konneker, Schulz and Domingos linked up for Newtown’s third goal of the half.

“We had said Pomperaug would be our fresh start,” said Gaston, “but it didn’t quite turn out that way. This was our fresh start.”

And it continued with a 4-0 win over Weston on Monday afternoon in the regular season finale. The win pushed the ‘Hawks to 12-2-1 (and currently ranked them fifth in CIAC Class LL behind Masuk, Trumbull, Cheshire and Amity) and set the stage for the South-West Conference tournament this weekend.

In the win, Frobey had two goals and an assist while Konneker had a goal and an assist. Kyla Miles scored while Schulz provided a pair of assists.

Newtown 4, Pomperaug 2

GOALS: Newtown – Tania Domingos 2, Casey Frobey, Kasey Schulz; Pomperaug – Jillian Cipriano 2. ASSISTS: Pomperaug – Lisa Farina. SHOTS: Newtown – 12; Pomperaug – 9. SAVES: Newtown – Lauren Ciccomascolo 8; Pomperaug – CJ Phillips (P) 14. CORNER KICKS: Newtown – 3; Pomperaug – 1.

Newtown 3, Joel Barlow 0

GOALS: Newtown – Alex Konneker, Casey Frobey, Tania Domingos. ASSISTS: Newtown – Darcy Fiscella, Kasey Schulz, Tania Domingos. SHOTS: Joel Barlow – 4; Newtown – 15. SAVES: Joel Barlow – Kara Davis 9; Newtown – Jessica Halloran 4. CORNER KICKS: Joel Barlow – 2; Newtown – 4.

Newtown 4, Weston 0

GOALS: Newtown – Casey Frobey 2, Alex Konneker, Kyla Miles. ASSISTS: Newtown – Kasey Schulz 2, Casey Frobey, Alex Konneker. SHOTS: Newtown – 30; Weston – 5.

FIELD HOCKEY

Pomperaug 3, Newtown 0; Newtown 1, Watertown 0; Newtown 0, New Milford 0; Newtown 1, Immaculate 0

There are still a pair of challenging games left on the schedule, but with wins over Watertown and Immaculate and a scoreless draw with New Milford the Newtown High School field hockey team is poised for a nice run in the South-West Conference tournament.

With a 1-0 win over Immaculate on Monday, the Lady Nighthawks improved to 7-2-2-1.

“We’ve had one of our most successful seasons and we’re feeling really good about our chances in the playoffs,” said co-captain Erin Clark, who scored the lone goal – off a penalty shot – in a 1-0 win over non-league opponent Watertown last week.

Right now, it would appear that the ‘Hawks would be seeded fourth in the six-team playoffs with Pomperaug earning the top seed and New Milford and Brookfield vying for the No. 2 seed and the first-round bye.

A fourth-seed would earn the ‘Hawks a home field in the quarterfinals – against an opponent still to be determined – on Saturday.

Last week, the locals have a five-game unbeaten streak snapped with a 3-0 loss to Pomperaug in Southbury. Not to be deterred, the ‘Hawks rebounded the following afternoon with a 1-0 win over Watertown in Watertown.

“We had a tough game (against Pomperaug),” said Clark, “and expect a tough game (against New Milford) and today was the day we wanted to go out, talk, and play as a team and I think we did that.”

Clark scored the lone goal of the game on a penalty shot at the 26:19 mark of the second half. Watertown goaltender Kaycee Borkowski, while trying to make a kick save, fell on the ball and Clark was awarded the penalty shot.

Oddly enough, Borkowski also fell on a ball in the first half but no penalty shot was awarded.

Newtown dominated the action on the field and got off nine shots on the cage, but Borkowski was agile in the circle and made up for a slightly porous defense. The ‘Hawks had numerous chances but often could not even uncork a shot.

“We spent the whole game down there (on offense),” said Clark, “and we couldn’t get the ball in and we started to worry a little bit. But we kept pushing.”

Until, finally, the goal came.

There was no goal the following afternoon – for either side – in a 0-0 draw with New Milford. The ‘Hawks, who had lost to the Green Wave, 3-0, on opening day managed four shots. Goaltender Alissa Gross earned the shutout, her fifth of the year.

On Monday, the ‘Hawks slipped past Immaculate, 1-0, on a first-half goal by senior Rita Magliocco. Sophomore Hannah Tenenbaum provided the assist and senior goaltender Katie Ebert earned the shutout.

The ‘Hawks still have a lot to do before the SWC tournament opens on Saturday. They visited Shepaug Valley on Wednesday and Brookfield on Thursday and will return home on Friday to face Joel Barlow (previously scheduled for Tuesday).

Pomperaug 3, Newtown 0

GOALS: Pomperaug – Haley McBride 2, Lizzie Dunbar, ASSISTS: Pomperaug – Jamie Orrico. SHOTS: Newtown – 2; Pomperaug – 11. SAVES: Pomperaug – Sara Shaban 2; Newtown – Alissa Gross 6. PENALTY CORNERS: Pomperaug – 8; Newtown – 0.

Newtown 1, Watertown 0

GOALS: Newtown – Erin Clark (penalty shot). SHOTS: Newtown – 9; Watertown – 2. SAVES: Newtown – Alissa Gross 2; Watertown – Kaycee Borkowski 8. PENALTY CORNERS: Newtown – 8; Watertown – 3.

Newtown 0, New Milford 0

SHOTS: Newtown – 4; New Milford – 3. SAVES: Newtown – Alissa Gross 3; New Milford – Ashley Hinz 4. PENALTY CORNERS: Newtown – 3; New Milford – 5.

Newtown 1, Immaculate 0

GOALS: Newtown – Rita Magliocco. ASSISTS: Newtown – Hannah Tenenbaum.

SWIMMING

Newtown 98, Bunnell 79; Newtown 96, Masuk 82

The final hurdle has been, um, hurdled and the Newtown High School swim team is heading to the South-West Conference championships after securing its third consecutive undefeated dual meet season.

With a 98-79 win over Bunnell last Friday and a 96-82 win over Masuk on Tuesday, the Lady Nighthawks finished 10-0 and extended their unbeaten dual meet streak to 32. And as they head into the championships, they head in as the clear favorites to win a second consecutive title.

In the win over Bunnell, Abby Atkinson (100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley) and Sally Tabler (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) were double winners as Jaclyn Van Waalwijk (50 freestyle), Melissa Metzger (diving), Dana Gnerre (100 freestyle) and Maricate Conlon (100 breaststroke) all captured solo wins.

All three Newtown relays earned first-place finishes.

In the win over Masuk (incidentally, the last team to beat Newtown) Atkinson (100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley) and Gnerre (50, 100 freestyle) were double winners. Tabler earned first in the 100 butterfly as Metzger earned first in diving.

Metzger had a stellar night on the board, finishing with 190.75 points while Shannon Kennedy finished a close second with 186.50 points.

In both meets, the ‘Hawks swam the final three events unofficially.

Newtown 96, Masuk 82

200 medley relay – 1. Newtown (Conlon, Atkinson, Tabler, Gnerre) 2:02.65, 2. Masuk, 3. Newtown. 200 freestyle – 1. Honrath (M) 2:08.99, 2. Kroon (N) 2:12.26, 3. Iassogna (N) 2:15.00, 4. Harmonay (N) 2:17.56. 200 individual medley – 1. Atkinson (N) 2:13.93, 2.Donlan (M), 3. Tabler (N) 2:23.07, 4. Long (M), 5. E. Atkinson (N) 2:28.61.50 freestyle – 1. Gnerre (N) 26.16, 2. Van Waalwijk (N) 27.16, 3. Gugino (N), 4. Lang (M). Diving – 1. Metzger (N) 190.75 points, 2. Kennedy (N) 186.50, 4. Djonne (N) 134.85. 100 butterfly – 1. Tabler (N) 1:05.32, 2. Conlon (N) 1:05.93, 3. Lang (M), 4. John (M), 5. Taylor (N) 1:14.38. 100 freestyle – 1. Gnerre (N) 59.19, 2. Van Waalwijk (N) 1:00.51, 3. Gugino (N) 1:01.88, 4. Malysayk (M). 500 freestyle – 1. Honrath (M) 5:35.55, 2. Iassogna (N) 5:52.25, 3. Harmonay (N) 6:04.58. 200 freestyle relay – 1. Newtown (E. Atkinson, Gugino, Van Waalwijk, Gnerre) 1:52.39, 2. Masuk, 3. Newtown (Legros, Hoolehan, Taylor, Hull) 2:00.83. 100 backstroke – Conlon (N) 1:04.23, Kroon (N) 1:08.76, Smith (N) 1:10.23. 100 breaststroke – Atkinson (N) 1:10.38, 2. E. Atkinson (N) 1:17.81, 3. Remitz (N) 1:21.59. 400 freestyle relay – Newtown (Tabler, Van Waalwijk, Conlon, Atkinson) 4:03.55, Newtown (Legros, Iassogna, Hull, Gugino).

BOYS SOCCER

Newtown 5, Pomperaug 0; Newtown 1, Joel Barlow 0; Newtown 5, Notre Dame 0; Newtown 3, Weston 0

No one could blame the Newtown High School boys’ soccer team if it were just a little bit weary heading into the South-West Conference playoffs.

Thanks to incessant rains that pounded the state throughout October (not to mention five other days in which competition ceased due to religious deference), the Nighthawks put in an extremely busy week in order to finish off the 2005 regular season.

Four games in six days.

It started with Pomperaug last Wednesday and finished with Weston on Monday and despite the brutal schedule the locals recorded four more shutouts (they have allowed just six goals all year) and pushed their record to 12-0-1.

Due to the tough schedule and to the approach of the SWC playoffs, a previously-scheduled match against Masuk on Wednesday was cancelled outright.

On Monday, the ‘Hawks got a pair of goals from Tony Magliocco and another from Chris Hoagland to defeat Weston, 3-0, and extend their unbeaten streak to 26 games. Louis Ritzinger made two saves and recorded his eighth shutout of the season.

The ‘Hawks have not allowed a goal since an 8-1 win over Kolbe-Cathedral back on October 1.

Last Friday, the ‘Hawks did not allow a goal to arch-rival Joel Barlow, either, but it took them 68 minutes to get one of their own. Brian Conroy got his head on a direct kick by Marc Doherty and snuck it past Barlow goaltender Cody Hickok for the only goal of the game.

The ‘Hawks out-shot the Falcons, 22-3.

On Saturday, the ‘Hawks pounded Notre Dame, 5-0, in a game suspended after the first half. Nick Sando had a goal and an assist while Hoagland, Matt Norris and Doherty had goals. Conroy, Alex Meisel and Noah Kugielsky all provided assists. The game was suspended due to field conditions, but maybe also because the ‘Hawks had already unleashed 39 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes of action while the Lancers had unleashed none.

Dan Smith and Kyle DiNicola shared time in the net against Notre Dame.

Newtown 5, Pomperaug 0

GOALS: Newtown – Chris Hoagland 2, Tony Magliocco, Alex Meisel, Mike Klein. ASSISTS: Newtown – Noah Kugielsky, Justin Miller, Marc Doherty, Nick Sando. SHOTS: Pomperaug – 4; Newtown – 24. SAVES: Pomperaug – Dan Deblasio 9; Newtown – Louis Ritzinger 3. CORNER KICKS: Pomperaug – 0; Newtown – 11.

Newtown 1, Joel Barlow 0

GOALS: Newtown – Brian Conroy. ASSISTS: Newtown – Marc Doherty. SHOTS: Newtown – 22; Joel Barlow – 8. SAVES: Newtown – Louis Ritzinger 1; Joel Barlow – Cody Hickok 7.

Newtown 3, Weston 0

GOALS: Newtown – Tony Magliocco 2, Chris Hoagland. ASSISTS: Newtown -  Noah Kugielsky, Alex Meisel, Brian Conroy. SHOTS: Weston – 5; Newtown – 21. SAVES: Weston – Mark Shaw 9; Newtown – Louis Ritzinger 2. CORNER KICKS: Weston – 0; Newtown – 7.

Junior Varsity

The junior varsity soccer team remained undefeated and unscored upon with a 9-0 win over Stratford and a 1-0 win over Pomperaug.

In the win over Stratford, Ryan Hudock, John Gouveia, Matt Yakush and Sean Ryan scored two goals apiece while Matt Wright had one. Andrew Domingos had two assists and Gareth Jones and Cody Cullens each added an assist. Kyle DiNicola and Dan Smith shared the goalkeeper position.

In the win over Pomperaug, Blake Barreto scored the lone goal four minutes into the first half. Andrew Meisel had the assist. DiNicola and Smith registered the shutout.

VOLLEYBALL

Newtown 3, Bethel 1; Newtown 3, Kolbe 0; Newtown 3, Weston 0

Ever since its star middle hitter suffered a dislocated shoulder back on October 6, the Newtown High School volleyball team has reeled off eight straight wins.

Make no mistake about it, though, the Lady Nighthawks were glad to welcome Diana Grimaldi back on to the floor on Monday night and with a 25-13, 25-20, 25-23 sweep of Weston extended their winning streak to 10 matches and pushed their record to 13-3.

Except for a tightly-wrapped left shoulder, Grimaldi looked none the worse for wear and registered eight kills and eight service aces with a brutal serve that lost none of its vicious top spin. Becky Huot and Jenna Van Waalwijk have carried much of the slack at the net in Grimaldi’s absence and on Monday combined for 14 kills.

Huot and Van Waalwijk also registered five digs apiece.

In the 25-13, 25-13, 25-15 win over Kolbe Cathedral last Thursday, Huot and Van Waalwijk combined for 14 kills and five aces. And in the 25-15, 25-19, 26-28, 25-17 win over Bethel last Wednesday the floor work of Miranda Rucinski (10 digs), Christie Iwanicki (11 assists, eight digs, four kills) and Jill Logan (16 assists, five digs, four service aces) made the difference.

The ‘Hawks closed out the regular season on Wednesday against New Milford and could garner the third seed for the SWC tournament this weekend. And with Bunnell and Joel Barlow at the top (not to mention Masuk), the competition will be stiff.

FOOTBALL

Newtown 35, New Fairfield 10

Chris Potter rushed for 116 yards and a pair of touchdowns as the Newtown High School football team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 35-10 win over New Fairfield on a rainy Saturday afternoon in New Fairfield.

Lousy weather has been a thorn in the side of the Nighthawks all season long, but on Saturday they were able to overcome the rain – and a 3-0 deficit – to pound the Rebels and improve to 3-3 overall. Potter, who rushed for 111 yards in the first half alone, did most of the damage for the locals.

It was a wild and woolly second period, alright.

After the James Purtle put the Rebels on top with a 24-yard field goal about five minutes into the second period, the ‘Hawks went to work. Just 15 seconds of clock time later, Potter bolted upfield for a 53-yard touchdown to put the ‘Hawks ahead, 7-3. And just 25 seconds of clock time after that, Sean Macey surged upfield for a 66-yard touchdown that put the Rebels back on top, 10-7.

After that, though, it was all Newtown.

Marc Ingerman scored from one yard out with 3:07 left to play in the half that gave Newtown the lead for good, 13-10. Potter added a five-yard run with 1:09 left in the half to send the ‘Hawks (who earned the two-point conversion on a pass from Tucker Kass to Ingerman) into the locker room with a 21-10 lead.

Junior wideout Joe DeVellis, who had his hands on the ball just four times on offense, got into the act in the fourth period. He scored on a three-yard run with almost 10 minutes left to play and then followed up with a five-yard touchdown reception from Kass with 2:55 left.

The Rebels were out-scored by 25 points, but amassed 277 yards of total offense … 83 more than the Nighthawks. Kass was 3-for-9 for 51 yards through the air while the ground game (Potter, Ingerman and DeVellis) accounted for 143 yards.

After losses to Brookfield, Joel Barlow and Bunnell sunk Newtown’s hopes of qualifying for the CIAC state playoffs, the win over New Fairfield boosted its record to 3-3 overall. On Friday, the locals will host Darien.

Newtown 35, New Fairfield 10

SCORING

Second Quarter: NF – Purtle 24 kick; N –Potter 53 run (Nelson kick); NF – Macey 66 run (Purtle kick); N – Ingerman 1 run (kick failed); N – Potter 5 run (Kass pass to Ingerman). Fourth Quarter: N – DeVellis 3 run (Nelson kick); N – DeVellis 5 pass from Kass (Nelson kick).

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

Rushing: Newtown – Chris Potter 19-116, Marc Ingerman 8-14, Joe Devellis 3-13 (TOTALS: 30-143); New Fairfield – Sean Macey 15-105, Chris Munson 11-64 (TOTALS: 26-169). Passing: Newtown – Tucker Kass 3-9-0 for 51 yards; New Fairfield – David Elser 9-26-2 for 108 yards. Receiving: Newtown – Gary Andrews 1-20, Joe Bowen 1-25, Joe Devellis 1-6; New Fairfield – Sean Macey 2-42, Tom Ford 3-38, Paul Prokopchuk 4-28.