By Ken Morse, Citizen’s News
After months without high school sports, but plenty of uncertainty over whether teams would get to play, the 2020 fall season kicked off Oct. 1.
Naugatuck and Woodland players retuned to the soccer pitch and the volleyball court Oct. 1 as the abridged season got underway.
BOYS SOCCER
Naugatuck 7, Wolcott 1: Mateus Filho had three goals and Daniel Davy added two goals for the Greyhounds as the defending NVL champions opened the season with a victory at Wolcott.
Chris Akinduro and Ryan Galiette also scored for Naugatuck (1-0). Pedro Crivella, Jay Barth and Simon Diaz had assists.
Jon Almeida and Danny Anderson combined for three saves in goal.
Woodland 8, Derby 1: The Hawks used a high-powered offense and an equally stingy defense to win the season opener at home in Beacon Falls.
Luca Cambra scored three goals to lead the Hawks (1-0). Alex Farr added two goals assisted by Nathaniel Smith and Cambra. Sean Swanson scored a goal assisted by Jack Schwartz and Sean Hussey added an unassisted goal for Woodland.
D.J. Mulligan made one save for the Hawks.
GIRLS SOCCER
Naugatuck 3, Seymour 2: Aaliyah Henry scored two goals to lead Naugatuck to a season-opening win at home.
Noelle Jacobi had one goal and Emma Sonski added an assist for the Greyhounds (1-0) against the Wildcats.
Saige Winslow made four saves for Naugatuck.
Woodland 9, Derby 0: The Hawks came out with a purpose and picked up a resounding win at Derby to open the year.
Holly Plasky sparked Woodland (1-0) with two goals. Aries Bell, Nina Daponte, Ava DeLucia, Paige Letourneau, Abby Bunk, Sara Alessio and Casey Mulligan each added a goal for the Hawks. Bell, Mulligan and Daponte also had an assist each.
Isabela Mejias and Casey Mulligan split the duties in goal to preserve the shutout.
VOLLEYBALL
Naugatuck 3, Wolcott 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-11): The defending NVL champion Greyhounds made quick work of Wolcott in the season opener at Naugatuck High.
After a tight first game, Naugatuck (1-0) got some separation in game two, and by game three Naugy was running on all cylinders.
Samantha Mullin had 17 points and three aces to lead the charge. Lindsey Walsh had 11 points and 11 assists.
Cara Bergin had eight kills, Kendall Allen scored eight points, two aces and two kills, and Kaylee Jackson had five points, seven kills and three blocks. Nadia Cestari added seven points and five assists, Alyssa Roberts had four kills, Mia Grella had three kills, and Felicia Salvati added two kills.