Category Archives: Sports

SPORTS: Football Team Picks Up First Win, Looks For More

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960x540By Emily LaLuna – Sports Editor

The new-look Jonathan Law football team is finally on the scoreboard.

After a tough stretch of games to begin the season, the Lawmen, in their first season under new head coach Derrick Lewis, picked up their first win of the year on October 10 with a 38-8 road victory over East Haven.

The Lawmen are now 1-4 with six games left to play this season.

Senior Max German led the team to victory against East Haven with four touchdowns and over 200 yards rushing.

The Lawmen started out the season with a tough schedule and are easing back into the second half of their schedule which features many winnable games. Law has games remaining against Sheehan, Guilford, Branford, Lyman Hall, East Lyme, and Foran.

“We have the potential to win the next few games,” senior captain Giovanni Marzullo said. “This would put us in a good place for the Thanksgiving day game against Foran.”

The team is staying focused week-to-week, but they are also thinking ahead to their Thanksgiving Day game against the rival Lions. They believe a win is possible if they stay on the path they are on now.

Senior Night is also right around the corner for the team. The Lawmen host Lyman Hall for Senior Night on November 15 at 7 p.m.

On Senior Night, the team’s underclassmen will honor this year’s senior class for all the hard work and effort that they have put in over the years.

“(Senior Night) is very sad to think about,” senior captain Drew Carolan said, “It makes the rest of the seniors and I work harder every day at practice.”

(Photo courtesy ctpost.com)

SPORTS: Law Volleyball Seniors Look To Finish On High Note

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CDL_2704By Darby Hudd – Sports Editor

While it has been a rebuilding year for the Law volleyball team, the seniors have stepped up and motivated the team to keep fighting.

Despite having just one win on the year, the seniors say that their record doesn’t represent the hard work they have put into this season.

“We don’t stop giving up,” senior Kayla Patrick said. “We’ve had some pretty big comebacks this season.”

Law’s one win came against Hillhouse. Another big accomplishment for the team was winning a set against Cheshire.

“It was a necessary win against Hillhouse and really important to the season,” Patrick said. “It really helped us work together as a team on the court.”

For the varsity team, juniors Kailee Frank, Molly Vargo, Heather Sherrick, and Renee Lynch have all been solid contributors.

This year, the team added 10 new freshmen to their JV team, and all the sophomores were put on varsity.

Seniors said that the freshmen really had to step up because they were the only ones on JV. They had to learn quickly since they were such a young team.

“The freshmen have adjusted well, they have been improving so much since their first game,” senior Martha Smith said.

In past years, volleyball has done several “Dig Pink” games to support breast cancer awareness. This year, the team decided on something new.

On their Senior Night on October 22, the team is dedicating the game to Maren Sanchez.

“The Dig Purple game is just honoring Maren; she had such large impact on our lives and school and we will never forget her,” Patrick said.

The team encourages everyone to come to the game and wear purple.

“I’m really excited to see the intensity of the game and the outcome because it is against Foran,” senior Megan Gritz said.

Everyone on the team is really excited for the big game and is ready to beat Foran.

“It’s bittersweet because it’s going to be a really fun game but knowing that it’s the last time I’ll play in that gym as a senior is sad,” Patrick said.

All of the senior agree that they are going to miss this team and all the fun they’ve had throughout the years.

“I’m going to miss the girls, we play so well together,” Gritz said. “They are all like family to me.”

Some memories that the seniors remember are all their pasta parties and especially the bus rides home from away games, with all the obnoxious singing.

“I’m going to miss saying the cheers after every point made on the court,” Smith said.

Patrick said she is going to miss her teammates on and off the court.

“I wish the team the best of luck next year,” Patrick said. “It’s going to be so sad saying good-bye. I’m going to miss this team and they bond we’ve all had.”

(Photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)

SPORTS: Law Boys, Girls XC Teams Race To Finish Line

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CDL_5671By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

At the beginning of the season, both the Law girls and boys cross country teams said their seasons would be difficult.

Their schedules have proven to be tough, but there have also been some bright spots along the way. As of October 14, the boys have a record of 5-10 and the girls have a record of 7-10.

The girls’ wins include Sheehan and Foran. The boys’ wins include a victory over Notre Dame of West Haven, which marked the first Law had defeated Notre Dame since the 1980s.

For the girls, senior captain Marissa Prizio finished 10th at a meet in Wallingford.

Senior captain Jeremy Doucette won first place in the boys race against Hillhouse, where he also set his personal best time. He took second place against Foran, losing by a mere three seconds, and also received an award for placing in the Windham Invitational.

Some of the losses for the girls team have due to an incredible amount of team injuries and illness.

“Unfortunately, our team has been facing a lot of injuries so not everyone is competing right now,” senior captain Haley Palmer said. “But overall everyone had a successful season.”

At the beginning of the season, both teams said they wanted to try to improve their times each race – a goal which has been met according to the captains.

“Most everyone has dropped time and has worked hard each practice,” Doucette said. “And that’s all the captains, including myself, and coach can ask for.”

Every year, the top runners from each team go to states. This year, Doucette, Thomas Gambardella, Matthew Zancewics, and Matthew Paulus are heading to states, leaving four spots still open. The spots can go to anyone on the team, according to the captains.

The girls team has not made decisions on who will go to states as of yet.

(Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

SPORTS: Boys, Girls Soccer Teams Eye States (UPDATE: The Boys Team Qualifies!)

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CDL_2343

UPDATE: The boys soccer team officially qualified for states with a 6-1 win over East Haven on Wednesday, October 15. Their first round game will be played during the first week of November.

By Kayla Patrick – Sports Editor

Law’s boys and girls soccer teams are hoping to kick it into states this fall.

Boys soccer has the best record of any Law fall sports team this year. The team is one point away from qualifying for states for the first time in 13 years.

As of October 14, the boys have a record of 5-5-2.

The Lawmen are coached by Donato Piselli and has been led this season by senior captains Craig Calderone, Herbie Pritchard, Mike Chodziutko, Jon Costa, and junior Antonio Gjuraj.

“As a captain I try to lead by an example on the field always giving 100%,” Calderone said.

The boys’ game against Hamden was a big win as it was their first road win of the year. The Lawmen also won tough games against Hillhouse, East Haven, and most importantly, Foran.

“It felt amazing to beat Foran after all the times they beat us,” Pritchard said. “I was happy to represent Law with that important win.”

Many of the boys mentioned how the Foran game was very high intensity and emotional. They also said their mission to make states is their top priority right now.

“It’d be a dream come true to makes states especially after four years of not winning any games it’d be a big step,” Costa said. “We will try harder every day to improve as a team and I’ll be very vocal in the midfield.”

Pritchard agreed and said he hope the team would win at least one game in states if they qualify.

“If we make states our new goal is to do our best in the tournament and try to advance as far as possible,” Pritchard said. “As a captain I’m going to encourage the team to work as hard as we can to achieve our goal.”

Some other key players for the Lawmen this season have been the five captains, freshman Kevin Linn, and junior Taylan Altin.

“If we make states it would be one of the biggest accomplishments, but we won’t stop there,” Calderone said. “This will be a stepping stone for seasons to come.”

The boys’ Senior Night is October 22 against West Haven.

“I’m definitely excited to give it my all one last time on the Law field,” Calderone said.

Boys soccer has eight graduating seniors – Calderone, Costa, Pritchard, Chodziutko, Josh Kucewicz, Amar Almidani, Tyler Thammavongsa, and Max Slusky.

“It’s going to be a very emotional game,” Costa said. “I’m going to miss the atmosphere on game day as well as the players and coach.”

smithMeanwhile, the girls soccer team is coached by Mr. Rhode. This year’s senior captains are Amanda Leone, Cori Kalafus, and Emily LaLuna.

“Being captain is a very important and stressful role but having such a great relationship with the girls on the team made it much easier and a lot of fun,” Leone said. “Also, being a goalie made the role of being captain a lot easier because a goalie is someone who takes charge on the field and the position helped me lead my team.”

So far this season, the girls have two wins. Both came in thrilling victories over rival Foran.

“It felt awesome to win against Foran twice because it’s such a big rivalry and we beat them both times last year so we’re 4-0 against them,” Laluna said.

The second game was intense, with Law winning 2-1 on a late header by sophomore Cassidy White. That victory kept the team alive for the state tournament. They will qualify if they win all of their remaining games.

“Beating Foran was unbelievable,” Leone said. “Unfortunately we cannot make states this year, but coming out of the season with our two wins against our town rival is an incredible feeling.”

Senior night was said to be “unforgettable” by some of the senior players. Although it was a lot of fun, the seniors mentioned how upsetting it was to know it was their last time playing on their home turf.

“I am going to miss being with my teammates,” Kalafus said.

Girls soccer has five seniors graduating this year – LaLuna, Leone, Kalafus, Erica Velky, and Shannon Williams.

“My teammates were literally my second family and I made such a great relationship with every single person on the team,” Leone said. “Practices and games were always a lot of fun and I am going to miss these memories the most.”

(Photos courtesy Rostrum Yearbook and newstimes.com)

SPORTS: Law Cheerleaders Ready To Compete

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IMG_1664By Emily Carroll – Staff Reporter

The Jonathan Law cheerleading team is asking for support to help raise money for future competitions.

On September 29, at Texas Roadhouse, money will for music and new signs. Guests who bring the flyer will donate ten percent of their check to the team.

Other fundraisers, including a Yankee Candle sale, will be held to raise money.

“We come up with fundraising ideas as a group, like if someone has a good idea we’ll try it,” senior captain Darby Hudd said.

The girls have already started choreography and went away to a two day camp this summer to start preparing.

“I really want our team to place first at NECA again because we’ve won first for the past two years,” Hudd said.

States and NECA are the cheerleaders’ two biggest competitions. NECA is the New England Cheer Association which hosts the All-Star Classic cheerleading championship which the cheerleaders will start training for in February.

If they place first, second, or third they will go into the U.S. finals.

With 20 new girls on the team, the captains have been getting together to help the team become one.

“We help them when they need it,” senior captain Maggie Williams said. “We try to create a family atmosphere because that’s what our team becomes.”

Juniors on the team that have been there since their freshman year are ready to show the new cheerleaders and everyone else how successful they can be.

“I want to take the time to talk to the new girls,” junior Monica Lomme said.

The juniors are also excited for the season and are doing what they can to prepare to become captain.

“I want to improve on my tumbling and stunting skills,” junior Courtney Tanski said. “Another thing I want to achieve is improving my leadership skills this year because my ultimate goal is to show my coach and team that I want to be captain next year.”

The cheerleading coaches both agree that the team works well together and that they are a great group of athletes.

“If at each practice, game, and competition they know they have done all they can do than it’s a successful season,” assistant coach Miss Williston said.

The cheerleaders are always being challenged, whether it’s trying to get fit or trying to perfect one of their routines.

“I know they are going to hit solid, clean routines in competition this season,” head coach Mrs. Etense said.

SPORTS: Girls Swim Team Dives Into Fall Season

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photoBy Morgan Hessessey – Columns Editor

Jonathan Law’s girls swimming and diving team is leaping into the season with high spirits and a myriad of goals.

Senior captains Angelica Loma, Melissa Hanania, Kelsey Kopazna, and Phoebe Herbert will lead the 40 member team this season.

“It exposes more girls to the sport, teaches them commitment and dedication, hard work and it’s a great workout too,” head coach Ms. Paolini said. “Our girls are a family and it is important for everyone to have a safe place to go and people they can turn to, our team provides all of that and more.”

Paolini is encouraging the girls to qualify for states and to improve from last year’s swim season.

The team ended last season with four new school records last and they hope to break those records and then some this year.

Members of the team all work to help better each other’s performance with aim to reach those goals. The team achieved many personal bests in their season-opening meet last week against Mercy.

“I tried to swim very hard in that meet,” senior Elizabeth Jenkins said. “Seeing the other girls swim in the lanes during the relay pushed me even harder.”

Jenkins won the team’s Most Valuable Player award for the Mercy meet. She hopes to qualify for SCCs for the first time this year. Hannah Savoie was the MVP for their second meet against Sacred Heart.

All team members are excited that meets have started and they are determined to reach their personal and team goals.

“My goal this season is to beat the school record for the 50 meter freestyle,” Herbert said.

A goal for the entire team is for them to beat rival team Foran at the end of the season.

“As a team captain, I hope to make everyone on the team beat their personal records and school records,” Hanania said.

Hanania swims the 200 meter relay, and sometimes the 100 meter exhibition.

“My favorite thing about swim team is how everyone is one big happy family, we all support each other and we all just love each other,” Hanania said.

The teammates enjoy the quality time they spend with one another at their daily practices and all their pasta parties.

“We get to meet new people and we learn new things everyday,” junior Maria Finitsis said.

SPORTS: Law Soccer Teams Kick Off New Season

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MJD_0172By Kayla Patrick – Sports Editor

Law’s boys and girls soccer teams are working hard for a great season this year.

The goal for both boys and girls varsity soccer teams is to make it to the state tournament.

To qualify for this, girls need eight points. A win equals two points and a tie is one point.

“It would be awesome if we can make states this year,” senior captain Emily LaLuna said. “We were one game short last year so I think we can accomplish it this year.”

The girls soccer captains are seniors Cori Kalafus, LaLuna, and Amanda Leone. The team is coached by Mr. Rhode.

“As a captain I’ve been leading the warm ups and communicating on the field during the game,” Kalafus said. “Off the field, I am friends with all the girls and I try my best to be there for them to my best ability even if it doesn’t involve soccer.”

Girls soccer is an overall experienced team. The key players on the team this year are sophomores Kristen Passaro (center defender), Colleen Rice (midfielder), and freshman Taylor Kandrach (midfielder).

The team has got off to a difficult start this season battling illnesses and injuries to some of their key players, including freshman Madison Butts, sophomores Bethany Edwards, Cassidy White, and Catie Rice, and senior LaLuna.

So far the girls team is 0-3-1 on the season. They tied Wilbur Cross, and their three losses came against Sheehan, Notre Dame, and Hamden.

Girls soccer team is still readjusting from the loss of nine seniors last year. The team is improving by taking more shots during the game, increasing their chances of getting more goals.

“We have a lot of work to do but we all have the potential to win a majority of our games,” Kalafus said.

CDL_2417Meanwhile, Law’s boys soccer team is off to a great start this season. This seasons record starts off 1-2-1.

The team is coached by Donato Piselli. The captains are seniors Jon Costa, Herbie Pritchard, Craig Calderone, Michael Chodziutko, and junior Antonio Gjuraj.

In their win against East Haven, Law was down 1-0 at the half, but in the second half they tied the game on a penalty kick by Gjuraj. The eventual game-winning goal was scored by Pritchard.

“Our captains are great,” junior Brandon Macey said. “All our captains show true leadership and work their hardest.”

The team is focusing on improving by training hard and working on strategies that will give them more an advantage over their opponents. The whole team contributes in different ways on the field.

“Our season has had some ups and downs but we are on track to make states,” Costa said. “We have the players to do it and we hope to achieve that goal.”

(Photos courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)

 

SPORTS: Volleyball Sets Goal Of Making States

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CDL_2666By Taylor Loughlin – Entertainment Editor

The Jonathan Law volleyball team is ready for a big year in 2014.

The team is off to an 0-4 start, but the new senior leaders and coaches have high hopes for the team and the rest of the year.

The Senior Leaders for this year are Kayla Patrick, Megan Gritz, and Martha Smith.

“Kayla, Megan, and I worked very hard to earn our titles,” said Smith.

The team has many key players this year such as juniors Heather Sherrick, Tori Nabors, Molly Vargo, Kailee Frank, and Renee Lynch and sophomores Cassidy Boath, Anna Lynch, and Angela Scuito.

“If we all work together and communicate we can have a great season,” Nabors said.

In order for the team to qualify for states, they need to win eight games. The girls believe with enough hard work and practice, they’ll be able to make it with no problem.

“Our biggest goal this year is to make states but it will be a struggle with this year’s schedule,” Patrick said

The girls have been working a lot harder during practices and are really determined on making it to states.

“Our team needs to work hard to improve on the court and focus on winning,” Gritz said

This year, Ms. Martinich is the new assistant coach for varsity and is the head coach for JV. She coached at Guilford for two years prior to coming to Law.

The loss of six seniors from last year’s team has really impacted the Eagles this season, but they’re starting to learn how to adjust without them.

“We’ve had to change the way we play with fewer girls and we’ve been working together a lot more.” Sherrick said.

The team’s most challenging opponents this year will likely be Cheshire, Amity, and Foran.

“We’re really excited for the rest of the season,” Smith said. “We know we can beat all of these teams.”

Looking ahead, the Eagles have many winnable games left on their schedule. Some of the upcoming games include Guilford today and Foran next Wednesday.

(Photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS: Boys, Girls Cross Country Hit Ground Running

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By Nicole Macchio – Entertainment Editor

Law’s girls and boys cross country teams are hitting the streets running.

Team captains and seniors Jeremy Doucette, Sean Berg, HaCDL_5850ley Palmer, Marissa Prizio, and Destiny Jennings believe this is a promising year.

“We have some really good new runners,” said Palmer, “there are some really good freshmen and sophomores on varsity this year.”

The coaches for each team, Mr. Schulte and Mr. Phillips, are expecting their teams to go far. Each practice is run in the hopes of improving each individual in endurance and stamina.

“We have a lot of potential,” said Phillips. “I want them to try to get better everyday.”

Being so early in the season, both teams aren’t sure how the season is going to go; however, they believe that they will be able to do well. They practice everyday, training, pushing each other to improve at each step.

CDL_5670A major team goal is to get each member to run the 3.1 miles in under 20 minutes. As always, team members strive to be able to go to states. To place in states, they must be in the top 7 teams at the SCC meet.

This year’s top runners include Doucette, Berg, Jordan Betts, Jennings, Palmer, Prizio, and some more promising underclassmen. The work they have to put in is hard and can often be tiring, but the team always has good spirits.

“Our goal for this season is to get everyone under 20 minutes,” said Berg. “ That’s why we work so hard in our practices.”

Practice isn’t just about running their personal bests; there is also friendly competition to help motivate them. Many of the runner’s personal goals is to try to outrun another one of their teammates.

“My goal is to beat Jeremy Doucette,” junior Matt Paulus said.

One of the most anticipated meets for the team is against Foran, and Doucette believes it will be a tough but fun event.

“Foran is going to be difficult, they have really good runners this year,” Doucette said. “We’ll do our best to compete with them.”

The team has incredibly good moral and are constantly trying to make each other do better.

It isn’t just the running that keeps these kids coming to practice, but the bonds they form. The teams get together often to partake in pasta parties that really bring them closer together, and make them work that much harder as a team.

“Our team is like a family,” sophomore Ashley Boehm said.

The teams are working their way up to a fantastic season, and their motto “no XCuses” helps the team to work hard and bring their best to the table everyday.

(Photo courtesy Rostrum Yearbook)

SPORTS: New Era Begins For Law Football Team

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MM-SPTS-Law-FB-18By Emily LaLuna – Sports Editor

The Jonathan Law football team opened up its fall season last week with a bright outlook.

The team’s new motto is “Why Wait?” meaning the Lawmen plan on getting better everyday.

“You can get better today,” senior captain Giovanni Marzullo said. “Don’t put off what can be done today until tomorrow.”

This off-season brought a lot of changes to the football program, headlined by a change in coaches. Mr. Robinson stepped aside after 13 years and was replaced by former Bassick head coach Derrick Lewis.

The Lawmen began the 2014 season last Wednesday with a loss at home against Harding. The team plans on redeeming themselves at Friday’s home game against Wilbur Cross.

“This year I’m looking forward to finally getting some wins in,” senior captain Sean Rice said.

The goal of the season is to get at least eight wins, getting these wins would put them in the state playoffs.

“It would be great to achieve that during my senior year,” senior Timothy Edson said.

Members of the team had high praise for Lewis, who they believe has made a big impact in a short period of time.

“He understands all aspects of the game,” Edson said. “Having a coach with as much experience as he does makes it that much better.”

To achieve the winning record they want to end the season with, the Lawmen know they will have to overcome many obstacles, including a tough SCC schedule to start the season.

“We need to work to work on communication the most,” Marzullo said. “We also don’t want to play down to teams when we could play to our full potential.”

Most teams have a few key players but the Lawmen believe that this year’s team is different. They plan on utilizing every player they have on the roster, making the team more universal for substitutions.

The young Lawmen will be led by a small group of seniors, and they will rely heavily on juniors and underclassmen.

“One of our best juniors would have to be Logan Danville,” said senior running back and linebacker Max German. “He’s a tough, fast, hard- hitting player.”

Even though it is more than two months away, the team is already excited about this year’s Thanksgiving Day game against rival Foran.

“The Thanksgiving Day game is what I’m excited for this season,” Marzullo said. “Although it is far away I’m just looking forward to that being a great game.”

German said that if the team keeps working hard, a victory against the Lions is possible.

“We have a good chance of winning the game this year,” German said. “We have improved a lot this season already and have a lot more time to improve more.”

(Photo courtesy milfordmirror.com)

SPORTS: My Super Bowl Experience

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super bowlBy Ben Buczek – Entertainment Editor

The Super Bowl is known as the most important event in sports and entertainment.

Once a year, we see two of the best football teams brawl it out to see who the champion of the NFL is. Of course, those two teams earn their spot in the Super Bowl by winning through the playoffs. In a night filled with $4 million commercials and halftime shows featuring the world’s most prominent musicians, it’s no wonder why it’s the most watched event on television.

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SPORTS: Girls Swimming Wraps Up Successful Season

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girls swimmingBy Morgan Hennessey – Staff Reporter

Swimming and diving season has come to a successful end for the Law girls after a long season of striving toward their personal and team goals.

Five teammates qualified for states this year: Elizabeth Gregorio, Angelica Jamie Loma, and Phoebe Herbert in their individual events and a relay team including sophomores Kelly Scianna, Haley McNulty.

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SPORTS: Girls Basketball Upsets Amity For First Win

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IMG_5833By Kyle Kandetzki (@kkandetzki) – Editor-in-Chief

A game between an 0-8 team and a  7-1 team might seem like a mismatch in most situations, but the Law girls basketball team proved that the record didn’t tell the full story.

Law defeated Amity at home on Tuesday 51-47 to earn their first win of the year. Law not only gave Amity their second loss of the year, but took revenge for a loss earlier this season. Read more

SPORTS: Law Girls Soccer Ties Foran On Senior Night

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By Tarah Kelly – Columns Editor

The Jonathan Law girls soccer team played a fierce game against Foran on their Senior Night.

Down 2-1 with only two minutes left, senior Janessa Soucy tied the game, and in the process, took away Foran’s hope for the state tournament.

Foran scored the first goal of the game just before halftime, but Law battled back soon after.

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SPORTS: Indians’ Season Ends With Quarterfinal Loss

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By Kevin Langan – Sports Editor

The opening round of the state playoffs posed a serious challenge for the Milford Indians.

The team, made up of students from Law, Foran, and Platt Tech, took on the Newtown Nighthawks on Tuesday, March 6, at the Milford Ice Pavilion.

The Indians jumped out to a quick two-goal lead as Milford goalie Matt White was stopping every puck that came his way.

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