Girls Soccer Are Optimistic About Their Season

Equaling or bettering last year's record is the goal for the Newtown girls soccer team.

Newtown was 10-3-4 overall after losing to Masuk in the first round of the South-West Conference playoffs in overtime and its season ended in the second round of the Class LL playoffs with a loss to Shelton.

The Nighthawks lost five quality players to graduation, starting with center back Ally Modzelewski, who is playing for UMass-Boston, and center midfielder Taylor Smith, who is playing Lasell College and is great at distributing the ball.

They will also miss goalkeeper Kate Pessin, forward Kristen Tanner and defender Meghan Bridges. Although none of the three are playing college soccer, they are all athletic, and Bridges is playing college lacrosse at the University of New Hampshire.

"I'm looking forward to the season," said Newtown Coach Mark Kenney. "This is a phenomenal group and most hard-working group I had in my years here. We have great leadership from the upperclassmen and we have underclassmen who can play."

Nighthawks senior quad-captain Lauren Meyer said, "I'm optimistic we'll do well and I think we'll have a good season. It's a matter of us playing as a team."

Meyer will start at center midfield on a team that has 12 seniors. Senior quad-captains Sarah Altanasio and Ali Korchman start at midfield and defense, respectively. The fourth senior quad-captain, Kelly-Anne Brophy, tore her ACL and will be out the whole year but will still act like a leader towards the team.

Classmate Kelly O'Connor brings her speed to the backfield and senior Casey Ratter appears to be the favorite to take over the goalkeeping duties from Pessin.

Three All-SWC players from last year have improved their games are expected to be difference-makers for Newtown. Junior Maddie Keene is a top defender and sophomores Brittany Tola and Amy Martin received top honors from the league at forward and midfield, respectively.

"Our goal is always the same, which is to win SWCs and States," Kenney said. "I don't know if it will happen but it is always the goal. With the chemistry we have, the season will be successful and hopefully the wins and losses will take care of themselves."

The Nighthawks are confident but are determined not to get cocky.

"Everyone wants to win everything but we'll go game-by-game and see how far we'll go," Meyer said. "Winning SWCs and States would be nice but I don't want to look too far ahead because if you do, your season is over before you know it."