Field Hockey Season Opens with a 2-2 Tie with New Fairfield

A sunny afternoon was marred only slightly by the performance of the Pomperaug field hockey team, which opened the 2010 season with a 2-2 tie with New Fairfield in a game played Tuesday at the Panthers Edward Arum Athletic Field.

The Panthers let two one goal leads slip away as the Rebels fought back to tie. A ten minute sudden death overtime was played, but no goals were scored, so the game ended 2-2.

Panthers veteran coach Linda Dirga, who has led the team since 1985, said the team "has to go to the ball a little quicker. We were waiting for the ball to come to us and they were cutting in between."

Jamie Silverman scored the first Panthers goal less than five minutes into the game. But the team scored only one more goal in the final 55 minutes at the 24:20 mark of the second half, when Abby Dwyer knocked in a shot. The Rebels scored a goal with a minute to go in the first half and another at the 8:10 mark of the second half, the last goal of the game.

Coach Dirga is looking to lead the Panthers to a Southwest Conference title and possibly a state championship. They made it to the state finals last year and lost to Greenwich and have won seven state championships during Coach Dirga's tenure.

"The first game is a learning experience and New Fairfield's not a bad team," she said. "We had the edge and should have won. We'll play hard and get them the next time."

Next up for the Panthers is a game against Newtown, Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at Treadwell Town Park.