Girls Lacrosse Fights to Keep Green Wave at Bay

The six-time defending South-West Conference champion Newtown girls lacrosse team knows it has the proverbial target on its back every time players take the field.

As Head Coach Maura Fletcher watched her team come out with a quick 3-0 lead in the first eight minutes of play at New Milford Thursday, she warned her charges not to feel like that target had grown any smaller or less burdensome. 

Lacrosse is a game of momentum, and teams have to treat three-goal leads like a fleeting memory instead of a comfortable cushion. After falling behind, the Green Wave called a time out and regrouped confidently enough score two quick goals to get right back in the game. 

The rest of the game ended up as a goal-for-goal slugfest. The score at the half was 8-6 in favor of the visiting Nighthawks. Fletcher summed up her frustrations with her team's performance in the first half by lamenting Newtown's inability to control the ball.

"In the first half we just couldn't come up with the draw, and in girls lax it's all about possession," she said.  

In the second half, Newtown got squared away in the draw circle, and led by Kaitlin Brophy's two quick goals, increased their lead — but not enough to suit Fletcher.

Fortunately, even as new Milford kept scoring, Newtown kept pace — and control of the ball.
 
"Emma Kingsley came up with four consecutive draw possessions for us, which was huge," Fletcher said. "That got the momentum going in our direction."

The hustle of the Green Wavers' game led to several uncharacteristic Newtown turnovers on both ends of the field. New Milford scored 10 of its 11 goals unassisted, pointing towards a lack of disciplined defense for the young Nighthawk back line.

But in the end, the Nighthawks prevailed — the final score, 13-11.

The scoring for Newtown was led by Brophy with four goals and one assist. Sophomore Erin Kenning scored three goals and chipped in with an assist. Kingsley added to her impressive performance at the draw with two goals of her own.

Single tallies were marked by Meghan Carney, Kristie VosWinkel, and Meredith Bridges. Two assists were made by Carney, one by VosWinkel and one by Caroline Kingsley.

For New Milford, Kelsey Heaton scored five goals. Chantal Barksdale had four goals, and Kaitlyn Palumbo scored twice and assisted on another Green Wave score.  

Newtown's junior goalie Celeste Cheung was forced to make 18 saves, and sophomore keeper Katie Leier stopped 11 shots for New Milford.  

The 2-2 Green Wave play at Ridgefield High School's Tiger Hollow Stadium at noon, Saturday, while the 3-0 Nighthawks host Lauralton Hall at Treadwell Park, Monday at 4pm.