Newington baseball closed out their regular season on a high note, defeating Wethersfield 11-4 at WHS last Monday night to capture the CCC-North Colonial Divisional title.

The win was the Indians sixth straight, ending the regular season with a division best 14-6 mark.

“I believe baseball is a big-time momentum game and right now we have momentum on our side. We look for spots in-game to steal momentum, we look for spots during the season to steal momentum,” said Newington head coach Ben Alaimo, “This is our second six game winning streak of the season, so we have the ability to go on a run.”

Cooper Johnson had a stellar day from the plate, connecting on two hits and driving in two. Fellow senior Jay Vereneau also had two hits and an RBI.

“Early in the season you’re trying to find what you’ve got and you’re moving guys around,” added Alaimo, whose team was 6-4 entering the month of May, “All year we’ve had great pitching and defensively I think we’ve figured a few things out in the second half of the season. Prior to today our last five victories we gave up a total of five runs. That’s phenomenal pitching but more importantly we saw some great defense and as you noticed today we put 11 runs on the board against a very good Wethersfield team, which I’m really excited about because if you can put all three phases of the game together you’ve got a good shot to win.”

Senior ace Joey Zawisza earned another win from the mound, his sixth of the season. The hard-throwing righty tossed five solid innings before giving way to Josh LeClair, who closed it out.

“He’s been our #1 for three years. This will be his third year pitching in the state tournament and I think that experience will serve him well,” Alaimo said of Zawisza, “He’s able to handle hitters who are very good. He locates the fast ball extremely well, can locate the curve ball and throw the change-up. He can keep hitters off balance. He’s got a bulldog mentality and was able to battle through, and a couple of times he had bases loaded with no out and I think we gave up one in those spots. We bend but don’t break. That mentality in baseball can take you far.”

Zawisza got himself out of a base loaded jam with no outs in the third inning, surrendering only one run, and polished off his night in the fifth when he struck out a pair of batters and forced a ground out after Wethersfield had narrowed the margin to 8-3.

The Eagles got as close as 8-4 in the sixth when Jimmy Sullivan, who is headed to the University of Virginia, smacked a double to the gap, driving in Roan Moran. But that was as close at the home team would get the rest of the way.

Newington officially put a stamp of the three hour game in the seventh inning when they scored a trio of runs. Ethan Errera was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, sending home John Kelley, and Gunner Johnson was walked, sending home LeClair. Errera then crossed the plate following a wild pitch.

The win was Newington’s second of the season over their rivals, also defeating the Eagles 4-0 at NHS on May 2.

“We talk about not having to coach effort, energy, attitude, and motivation. That stuff should come from the kids, but anytime that you’re playing Wethersfield the kids get excited about it. I tell them to treat it like any other game and continue to stay focused with laser intensity for seven innings and today we did that and capitalized on some of their mistakes which is something that we need to be able to do if we want to extend into the postseason,” stated Alaimo, whose team earned the #10-seed in Class LL.

During the recent six-game winning streak, the Indians also defeated Rocky Hill 11-0 in sixth innings on May 17. LeClair pitched a complete game, allowing only two hits, and Zawisza did the most damaged from the plate, connecting on three hits (two doubles) and driving in two.

”The mentality to the team, they have tremendous chemistry right now. They’re playing well at the right time,” Alaimo said of the team’s mindset, “We talked earlier in the year about climbing the ladder and continually climbing the ladder throughout the season and we’re starting to see us get to that top rung. We have room to go. One of our goals was to get into the tournament and one of our goals was to have an opportunity to win the division.”
​
Wethersfield ended the regular season with a 6-4 victory over Maloney last Thursday in their home finale. The Eagles finished 13-7, giving them the #11-seed in Class L.

​
​Terriers Softball Wins Division

Rocky Hill softball won the CCC North Colonial Division after defeating New Britain 7-1 last Monday night. The Terriers were celebrating Senior Night and needed the win to secure the division championship; otherwise the Golden Hurricane of New Britain would have been crowned champs. Senior Rachel Roncaioli pitched a complete game, striking out five, and sophomore Megan Khanna drove in two runs and scored another. Pictured is Roncaioli (#3) with fellow seniors #6 Gina Genovese, #1 Sophie Kurdziel, #4 Kiana Lebron-Rivera, #9 Maddi Santo, #2 Melanie Tejeda, #18 Yineirie Tejeda

​No lead is safe at Elm Ridge Park in Rocky Hill.

Wethersfield softball found that out the hard way after the Eagles jumped out to a 6-0 lead before eventually falling to Rocky Hill, 9-6, last Monday night.

Just a few days prior the Terriers overcame an 8-1 deficit and defeated East Hartford 9-8 at the same venue, now known to opponents as ‘A Nightmare at Elm Ridge’.

“You feel a little pressure but you have to stay even-keeled because there’s a lot of game left,” head coach Tyler Catlin said of the comebacks, “The kids get the ball in play and chip away and if we keep zeros up on the board on defense, anything can happen.”

This is nothing new for Catlin and his team, who posted the largest rally in school history a season ago, overcoming a 12-run deficit to defeat Berlin 16-15 on April 18, 2017---also at the hollowed grounds of Elm Ridge.

“It comes down to where we put our energy, because we know that we can hit when we’re focused but not overthinking. We overthink a lot and dwell on our mistakes, but we can come above that and improve on what we did,” said senior catcher Maddi Santo, “It’s about making contact with the ball, that’s what we focus on. We don’t want to think about homeruns, just anything to get on base.”

Santo is a captain, along with pitcher Rachel Roncaioli and shortstop Sophie Kurdziel.

Roncaioli shook off a five-run first inning (only two earned) and found her rhythm, allowing only one run the rest of the way.

“When I’m pitching and we’re down I know I just need to throw a strike and get my head in the game,” said Roncaioli, who struck out three, “Even if there’s a runner on first I know we can get the double-play or we can get the lead runner out. I’m confident in who is backing me up.”

Roncaioli helped her own cause from the plate, making contact in the third inning, which drove in Kiana Lebron-Rivera and Kurdziel.

The next at-bat, freshman Nicole DesRoches tripled, driving in Roncaioli and cutting Wethersfield’s lead in half.

“When I’m up to bat I don’t think of the pitcher position, I just want to get a runs in,” added Roncaioli “I try my best and a lot of my hits are to the infield, but I know if I’m hustling to the bag I can make it.”

Catlin praised his senior ace for her development and maturity.

“She’s the most intense player on this field,” the third-year coach said of Roncaioli, “She’s passionate, she’s emotional, she’s intense, and she brings it every day. She holds her teammates accountable and can also hug them. She’s a really good kid. These qualities that she’s developed on the mound will take her far in life.”

The Terriers added three more runs in the fourth. Kurdziel drew a walk with the bases load, sending home Melanie Tejeda. Roncaioli then singled, which drove in Megan Khanna and Lauren Pattison, tying the game at six.

Despite the early six run deficit, the mood in Rocky Hill’s dugout never wavered.

“We can’t get ourselves down because we’ve done it before. We played East Hartford the other day and we were down (8-1) and we always talk about the Berlin game last year,” recalled Kurdziel, “In the first inning we had a few errors, but after that inning we were able to bounce back from that but we have to be able to do that quicker and sooner so the lead doesn’t get too big. When we have an error, we have to move on.”

Khanna tripled in the fifth, driving home Tejeda, and crossed the plate later in the inning.

In the sixth, Santo doubled which sent home Roncaioli for an insurance run. Kurdziel then preserved the victory by scooping up a grounder in the seventh before firing it over to first for the game’s final out.

It was only fitting that the three senior captains put the finishing touches on yet another incredible comeback.

“They’re independent, they’re self-starters,” Catlin said of his captains as he adjusted his now trademarked bucket hat, “They are full of positive energy, good vibes, and when things are going awry in the field we have Sophie to put a smile on somebodies face. Maddi has been a brick house behind home plate and Rachel has been a fighter the last two years.”

The three have a connection as friends off the field, and Santo and Roncaioli have an extra special relationship as pitcher and catcher on the field.

“It’s good being friends pretty much all of our life because it’s not awkward if we tell each other that we need to do something different or pick yourself up,” said Santo, who had to come out to the mound a couple of times during the team’s slow start.

“I don’t love mound visits, I just want to keep going and she knows that but she also knows that she has to put me in my place and tell me to take a breath and relax,” stated Roncaioli, “Even today when she came up to the mound she knows what I’m feeling before I even say anything and I know the same for her.”

Catlin added that the duo has a great rapport with assistant coach Erin Weber, who also rocks a fashionable bucket hat.

“We give Maddi some of that freedom and Coach Weber has been calling a lot of the pitches. They all have a good little dynamic and it’s a good system they’ve got going. They have a lot of trust with each other.”

Behind the seniors is a solid cast of younger players, who have shined this season.

DesRoches has become a consistent power hitter, connecting on a three-run shot to ignite the comeback over East Hartford, and is slated to be the team’s starting pitcher next spring.

Pattison made the play of the night in the field against Wethersfield when she made an acrobatic over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory in the sixth inning.

“Lauren has really been a staple for us these last couple of season, especially defensively. I’ve started to see her develop leadership qualities and she’s starting to swing the bat a lot better lately,” stated Catlin.

Catlin and his team closed last week with a 7-6 victory over Newington, earning their tenth win of the season. Next up is the wide-open Class M tourney, which starts Tuesday, May 29.

Lilah Devine, Lordina Orleans-Onyina, Victoria Bower, Audrey Nelson-Mbiah, and Elizabeth Stockman are breaking records and leading the way for Rocky Hill Track & Field

Track & field doesn’t normally get the buzz that some of the other high school sports receive, but the indoor and outdoor teams at Rocky Hill are beginning to receive some overdue and well-deserved recognition.

This winter the girls finished as the runner-up in the Class M Indoor Championship and now the blossoming team is poised to have another successful conclusion to the outdoor season.

“It was the best indoor team that we’ve ever had hands down,” head coach Austin Bobrow said of the second-place finish in February, “It’s cool for them because that is something that will never get taken away. They earned it.”

Most of the athletes that excelled indoors are now competing outdoors and the team is stacked with talent and versatility.
Sophomore sensation Elizabeth Stockman has taken her distance running to a new level this year after flashing as a freshman a year ago.

Stockman won the Class M cross country finals in the fall prior to winning both the 1600 and 3200 meters during the indoor season.

“It’s crazy,” Stockman said of her sophomore campaign, “It’s really cool because I am doing this with my teammates and we’re all in it together. Watching my teammates do well really motivates me because I want to see other people improve. When I see my own times improve I just want to keep working hard and keep getting faster.”

It was a little over a year ago that Stockman discovered her devotion for long distance running, but her rise to the top has been rapid thanks to a her extraordinary dedication.

“She’s got all of the intangibles. She’s smart, she wants to succeed, she’s not afraid to put the work in, and she’s dedicated, consistent, and disciplined. You put all that together and now she has experience to add to that.  It’s just incredible,” Bobrow said of Stockman, “She set a goal last June at the end of outdoor season that she wanted to run every single day and compete at the state meet and be all-state. She got up at 5:30 in the morning on a lot of days in the summer and the results have been amazing. She trains smart, she does all the little things and that’s the difference maker, especially in distance running because you’re putting in all the miles. She’s gotten more competitive and more consistent and now she steps on the track and is ready to go.”

The admiration is mutual, as Stockman credits her improvements to the guidance she receives from the coaching staff.

“My coaches have helped me a lot. They push me and I trust the training that they tell me to do. They've helped me get more confident so that when I step on the track I know I can run fast.”

Stockman is literally following in the footsteps of junior teammate Lilah Devine, another long distance dynamo.

Devine is back after winning the 1600 meters at the Class M outdoor championships as a sophomore. She continues to train harder than ever and is relishing her expanded role as mentor to the younger girls.

“One of my really big goals is to be the best team leader that I can be and help these girls out as much as I can. They are really important to me and it’s been a challenge and a learning experience. My role has changed and I hope that it continues to change and grow bigger,” stated Devine, who is happy to have Stockman by her side, “It’s definitely been eye-opening to see someone excel as much as she has and it’s a great reminder of how well the program works if you just trust the coaches and follow what they say and put your heart into it. It’s really been inspiring to have her on the team and to watch her be so successful and it also makes me really proud as a Rocky Hill athlete to have her with us. She’s pushed me a ton to do better.”

Normally track athletes excel in either short or long distant events, but Devine is a chameleon and has added sprinting to her expanding resume, recently joining the team’s record-breaking relay teams.

“It’s a huge asset. She absolutely puts in the work and the versatility is huge,” Bobrow said of Devine’s adaptability, “It’s pretty rare. She’s all-state in cross country and she’s on our school record 4x1 outdoor relay team and school record 4x2 indoor. She really can go across the board. She can run the mile and run a relay.”

Devine’s relay partners are Victoria Bower, Lordina Orleans-Onyina, and Audrey Nelson-Mbiah. The foursome recently broke the school record in the 4x100 at the Middletown Invitational on May 5th.

Bower is one of two seniors, along with Anna Grant, and is the team’s vocal and inspirational leader.

“I feel a lot closer to the girls this year. I like being a leader and a model for them because I want them to be great and do their best,” said Bower, “We’re a very confident group, especially because we have Ms. Lilah who is a new addition to our 4x1 and she’s killing it. We’re doing really, really awesome.”

“She’s really been a leader since her time as a freshman. She’s taken that role seriously and really pushed the younger girls and you can see the results of that in Lordina and Audrey, who both came in naturally athletic but raw,” Bobrow said of Bower’s tutelage, “It’s great for the girls, especially for the younger girls, to have her here not only as a vocal leader but also as an example setter. They watch her practice and she’s working hard. No one slacks when we have a hard workout day, it’s all business. It’s hard to replace someone like that and she’s going to be missed so much.”

Orleans-Onyina is a confident junior, who loves the competitiveness and comradery that comes with the relays.

“A lot of it is trusting each other. If we don’t, that’s where all of our doubt comes in and if we don’t have the faith in each other and we don’t push ourselves that’s where we could fail,” said Orleans-Onyina, “Chemistry is so important because a lot of it is mental. You have to focus on your teammates and know when the handoff is coming and known when you have to take off because if you don’t that’s what kills it all.”

Sophomore Nelson-Mbiah is the youngest of the four and admits that she still gets jittery before the gun sounds.

“Last year was a very terrifying experience. I literally start shaking the minute I get to the starting line, but I feel like the nerves definitely help because of the adrenaline and when you get the baton it’s like ‘wow’,” said Nelson-Mbiah, who said her relay partners have helped settle down her nerves this season, “We like to crack a lot of jokes. We got close this year and bonded a lot so it has helped us as a team. We like push ourselves and see what our limits are and want to try to be the best.”

All the athletes are following the lead of a well-rounded and knowledgeable coaching staff at Rocky Hill. Bobrow handles the head coaching duties for the girls and Brian Graca is officially the head coach of the boys, but both are very influential with both squads.

“We’re grateful that coach Graca is a wonderful distance coach. He’s coached a lot of very good runners before and has been doing this a long time. He’s a brilliant track mind and has been a mentor to me,” stated Bobrow, who is in his fifth year with the program, “We have a tremendous coaching staff and we train together, the boys and girls. It’s a very close relationship.”

Bobrow and Graca are joined by assistants Sarah Hansen, Mike Cipollone, Craig Kelly, Peter Foxen, and Dave Dubos.

“I’ve known {coach} Graca since I was little and I always ran when I was younger, but when I came into the program he told me that if you follow the program then you will improve. As a freshman I was hitting times that I didn’t actually know I could run and as a junior I am still improving those times. It’s about following the program and having the dedication and having trust in our coaches,” said Orleans-Onyina.

On the boys’ side, jumpers David Abadom and Riley Donovan will be spotlighted in the conference and state tourneys. Sprinter Caleb Cronin and returning all-conference runners Ethan Arcata and Seth Walerysiak will also be in the mix.

For both the girls and boys, the results on the track and in the field are the reward but all of it is possible because of the tireless work in the weight room.

“It’s incredibly important,” Bobrow said of the emphasis on weight training, “We’ve really made lifting a focal point of ours in the past few years. Elizabeth and our sprinters are great examples of working hard in the weight room. Everyone is going to do the running, but if you put that extra work in the weight room and you do it right the difference is unbelievable and you can see it on the track. Lilah won the outdoor mile last year at Class M and I’d say her lifting last year was perfect.”

Up next for the teams are the CCC finals and Class M championships later this month.

The conference and class finals are the ultimate payoff for all the preparation and hard work the athletes have put in all year.

“Later in the season when we approach the championship portion we’re still working hard but scaling back a little bit,” said Bobrow, “We want them running fresh so they can put out their best effort at the end of the season.”

For the athletes, the championships signify another chance to compete with those you they have shared their blood, sweat, and tears with.

“Even on the really hard workouts or on really cold days we’re all there to support each other and we’re in it together,” added Stockman, “When it comes to the meets there always members of the team cheering us on even through the hardest moment.”

The next chance to see the teams compete is the CCC Division Meet at Willowbrook Park in New Britain on May 22. The conference championships begin at 3:45 p.m.

Cromwell's Tyler Baldwin hurries back to first base to beat the tag from Sheehan's Kevin Vining

Cromwell baseball entered the 2018 season following consecutive Shoreline Conference titles and this year they have the tools and experience to make it a three-peat…and possibly more.

Entering the week the Panthers are 9-6, including a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Sheehan on Fran Monnes Field at CHS last Monday.

“It was nice to see us compete. Going down three runs we showed some resiliency, which I really liked,” said head coach Lewis Pappariella, “I feel like we’re starting to jell a little bit and if we keep getting everyone hitting and playing good defense we should be fine.”

Jack Dooley doubled, driving in Noah Budzik for the go-ahead run in the fifth inning.

“I was proud of the guys today because we were aggressive. We talked about being aggressive when guys are on base and I liked the way that we swung the bat with men in scoring position,” added Pappariella, “That was a big step in the right direction. I feel like we’ve been a little bit hesitant and looking for somebody else to do it and today we had guys that wanted to swing in those spots. It’s encouraging to see.”

Pitcher Tyler Baldwin polished off the rally with a strikeout. The sophomore earned the win after relieving starting pitcher Nick Polizonis on the mound

“He did a great job coming in against a tough team when the margin of error was limited. He came in and showed a lot of toughness and I’m proud of him. That was one of his first chances on the mound this year and he really saved us today,” Pappariella said of Baldwin, who has assumed a large role this season, “He’s a leadoff batter, a guy that comes in spots when the game is close and he’s able to pitch. He’s improved leaps and bounds in the way that he believes in himself and the confidence he has.”

Sheehan came to Cromwell winning only one game in their first dozens tries but gave the Panthers everything they could handle, taking a three-run lead early and holding a 5-4 advantage in the fifth inning. 

Jared Valentin scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth and two batters later Dooley sent home Budzik for the eventual game-winner.

“They did a great job early on,” Pappariella said of the Wallingford-based Titans, “I think sometimes our approach to the game is a little laissez-faire, a little flat but we have to be inspired to come out and win every game. We’re back-to-back Shoreline champions and it feels sometimes that we’re just waiting to play in bigger games later in the season instead of attacking every single opportunity to get better and get a win.”

The victory over Sheehan snapped a two-game losing skid for Cromwell, who started the season winning their first five games thanks to a strong pitching rotation. The Panthers returned all their pitching talent from a season ago. Budzik has led the experienced group, which includes Dooley, Valentin, Baldwin, Austin Roy, and Zach Lombardo.

“Lately we haven’t been ourselves defending. We’re not fielding the ball as good as we normally do and we’re giving teams some extra outs and it hurt us against Old Saybrook,” stated Pappariella, referring to a 4-3 loss at Old Saybrook on April 29, “But today we came out and played pretty clean defensively.”

Next up is a home game against rival Morgan on Fri, May 11 at 3:45 p.m.

Cromwell easily defeated the Huskies by ten runs in Clinton in mid-April and the rematch will be one of the last tune-ups before Pappariella and his Panthers defend their conference title and before the Class S tourney begins later in May.

“We have to be hungry every time out because our league is good and it’s deep. Anybody can beat anybody and we have to be ready to play every single time out.”

Boys Basketball
Middletown - DeAaron Lawrence 
Rocky Hill - Andrew DiMatteo        
Wethersfield - Michael Mozzicato, James Sullivan 

Girls Basketball
Middletown - Amanda Fudge, Dominique Highsmith  
Newington - Ashanti Frazier
Rocky Hill - Grace Fisher Nicole Lukens
Wethersfield - Nicole Gwynn, Isabella Samse, Cheyenne-Monè Smith          

Cheerleading
Middletown - Morgan Resnisky
Newington - Reyna Blair, Kendall Gallinoto
Rocky Hill - Anna Grant, Renee Kraft, Emma LeVie
Wethersfield - Sara Puglielli, Kaitlyn Sargis, Triniti White, Olivia Zurzola

Gymnastics
Wethersfield - Madison Bradbury, Erin Nargi, Abigail Sullivan
Ice Hockey
Newington Coop - Kyle Bucher, David Mix, Ethan Ranger
WMRP - Ben Mroczka, Cam Partridge, Jake Peckrul, Trevor Piecewicz

Boys Indoor Track
Middletown - Garrett Dandridge, Matt Lecky

Girls Indoor Track
Middletown - Nasharie Davis
Rocky Hill - Lilah Devine, Elizabeth Stockman

​Wrestling
Middletown - Eli Cyr, TJ Pawlack, Tino Pusz, Kalil Shabazz
Newington - Wyatt Bernard, Matthew Buslewicz, Jacob Zotti
Rocky Hill - Tommy DiMatteo, Joseph Ferreira, Kamari Grant
Wethersfield - Alec Arnold, Bryce Arnold, Alex Bielak, Michelangelo Bolorin, Ben Cholewa, Austin Harnish, Matt Laurie, Mason Torres                   

Newington's Mindy Tran battles Rocky Hill's Mia Valente / Terriers Katherine Stockman looks for an opening on the offensive end

The Newington and Rocky Hill girls’ lacrosse programs changed direction this past offseason.

And for both, the direction is pointing upwards.

Following identical 3-13 finishes in 2017, the teams entered the 2018 season with fresh starts and new head coaches. The new-look squads were on display last Monday night as the Indians rallied to defeat the Terriers 9-8 in overtime at RHHS.

Reagan Pelton scored the game-winner with 1:16 left in overtime, earning Newington their third victory of the season.

“It was so important,” Newington head coach Allison Hoffman said of the victory, “I said to them before the game that not only is this a conference game, but it was a game in general that we needed especially because we’ve had a few tough losses in a row against some really tough teams. We needed it, not only to get the win, but to also keep the morale up. We needed a good, intense, strong game like this to keep us going.”

Hoffman is very familiar with the program, taking over the head coaching responsibilities after four seasons serving as an assistant coach and also having starred on the local fields as a player at Newington High. 

“It’s special to know a program, to love a program. I saw where the program was and where it could. I’ve been here through the years and I really don’t think anyone could care more than me to get this program back to be where it was and where it should be,” added Hoffman, who graduated from NHS in 2013, “This was the best part of my experience in high school, so that’s what I’m trying to give to them too. To give them the best possible experience and let them have a sport where they can enjoy it and work hard every day.”

It’s a different story across the field for Megan Borman, who is starting with a clean slate in Rocky Hill.

“I really knew nothing about the team. I just knew what other people had told me and I knew that we a good group of seniors with good leadership and good potential,” said Borman, who was a three-time collegiate All-American player at Gettysburg College and has extensive high school coaching experience, “I knew I had a good group of athletes and a good size freshman class. I just needed to get to know the girls and I think we’re still learning. I know that the program has gotten better and developed over the years and I’m just trying to keep it on an uptick as much as possible.”

Borman’s team came out firing in the first half, taking a 6-3 advantage into halftime.

“In the first half I thought our attack was moving really well. We put in some new motions, which they did awesome with,” stated Borman, who also praised her team’s defense and goalie Kasia Drozdzal for the strong start, “Our goalie is awesome. Kasia is always solid and she did a great job tonight.”

Drozdzal stopped seven of ten shots in the first half but faced a fierce Newington attack early in the second half.

The Indians scored three goals in the first three minutes following the break. Two of those goals came courtesy of Kaylee Allen, whose second goal tied the game at six.

“They knew we needed to come out strong in the second half. We stressed to them not come out sloppy and to just stay in control and play their game,” Hoffman said of the team’s mindset following halftime, “We needed to be the first person to every single ball and to play good body defense and not get fouls.”

The teams traded the next two goals before Newington’s freshman goalie Kali Lessard put her stamp on the game with three consecutive saves on three separate Rocky Hill attacks.

Lessard is exceling in net after being thrust into the position this season due to an injury.

“At first she felt a little intimidated stepping into varsity. It was a lot of handle, but once she had that shining game her confidence went up and that helped her,” Hoffman said of her young goaltender, who posted back-to-back wins against Hamden and RHAM earlier in April, “It wasn’t the plan to have her start but she keeps growing every single game and she’s been a huge part of the reason why we are able to have games like this.”

At the 7:15 mark, senior Grace Bielesz provided the visitors an 8-7 lead.

It look as if Bielesz’ goal would be the game-winner but Dani Castanho knotted things up with a dramatic goal in the waning seconds regulation, sending the game into the extra session.

Castanho fired the shot to the bottom right corner, sneaking the ball past Lessard with only 11 seconds to play. The goal was Castanho’s third of the game.

“It was a good shot. She has a good, tenacious drive to the goal and she’s very hungry for it. She was a great person to have the ball in that circumstance because I knew that she was going to have the intensity behind what she was trying to do physically,” Borman said of Castanho’s equalizer.

The home Terriers had the first scoring opportunity in overtime, but they were unable to capitalize.

Newington took possession and Pelton’s second goal of the night ended a very entertaining back and forth battle at McVicar Field.

“We said if we don’t get the draw that we’re going to pressure the ball and not foul. We’re just wanted to play good defense and not take risks and hopefully catch them in a mistake and capitalize on that mistake,” said Hoffman.

Hoffman added that she was proud of her team’s ability to shake off the last-second goal in regulation and refocus before the overtime period.

 “That’s what we’ve been trying to instill in them because we have had a tendency when things are going wrong to let it get in our heads. I said before the game that we have to stay positive and we can’t let any mistake get us down. We have to keep playing our game. If you make a mistake just fix it for the next time and don’t worry about what just happened.”

Maya Gajowiak, who scored a team-high four goals in the victory, again led Newington on the offensive end.

“It’s amazing to have someone like Maya, not only because she has all of the skills that she does but she put everyone else at ease. She’s that person that when people are panicking we get the ball to her and we trust that she is going to settle it and know when to make a move,” Hoffman said of all-conference captain, who tallied seven goals in a 12-5 win over Hamden on April 6, “She’s usually crucial for us goal wise but today she had just as many assists than she had goals and that’s so important that she can see where the ball needs to go.”

Returning all-conference player Emily Zarrilli scored three goals, while Mia Valente and Katherine Stockman each tallied a goal in the loss, which dropped the Terriers to 1-4.

“We won in overtime against Griswold a couple of weeks ago so we’ve been on the other end of sudden death,” said Borman, referring to an 8-7 win over Griswold when Valente scored the game-winner in overtime, “I feel like in this game we actually played the best we have the entire season, but I also think it was combined with not great play in certain spurts. It just happened to coincide with them playing well. It was just that we got scored on and then we have a couple of turnovers and they scored again, so I think that just sort of snowballed into not the greatest start to the second half.”

Next up for the Terriers is a home date with East Catholic, May 4 a 7 p.m.

“We have the potential to beat teams when everything is clicking. I think it comes down to keeping it up for the whole game,” added Borman, “We have so many winnable games ahead and obviously this one is disappointing because I think we could have won this game, but there is so much potential going forward. It’s about playing together and doing the basics of the game. We need to work on the little things and it’s always hard to get a new coach no matter what. It always takes a little time to adjust but I think they are doing a good job with that and now we can progress to other things.”

Following the win Hoffman said that her team needs to keep working on their offensive transitions and getting the ball up the field quicker but she’s happy where the team is headed.

Newington now turns their attention to Bristol, who they host Friday, May 4 at 4 p.m.