Overtime with Kyle Brennan

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Round of Applause

Kyle Brennan

Local teams have been incredibly successful to start off this fall season. We still have a number of undefeated squads still in play. Naugatuck football improved to 2-0 with a late-minute win over Derby while both the Greyhounds cross country teams are also perfect. Neither of Woodland’s soccer teams has yet lost in dominating their opponents, while the Hawks’ swimming and volleyball teams are also unbeaten. It looks like it might be a pretty darned good year to be in our area with how well these teams have played so far.

Chorus of Boos

Mother Nature needs to get it together. Does she realize it’s fall? It’s not supposed to be 75 degrees and humid. There are few things I hate worse than sweating while watching a football game. I would so much rather be freezing my butt off and have my finger frozen to my phone’s keyboard (well, not so much on the latter). Please, Mother Nature, stop the madness and get your seasons straight. I feel like I gripe about you all the time in Overtime. Heck, I even praised you last week and then you turn around and do this? Enough is enough.

Word from the Woods

Volleyball

Woodland remained perfect on the season with three victories over the last week, only dropping one game in the three matches to improve to 6-0. Last Thursday, Woodland shut out Ansonia, 3-0. The Hawks were led by Adriana Ambari (15 kills, two aces), Tayler Boncal (four kills, four aces), Sam Edwon (four kills), and Emily Wirsing (18 assists, six digs, two aces). On Friday, the Hawks dropped a game to St. Paul but managed a 3-1 victory. Ambari recorded 15 kills and six aces in the match to help Woodland to the win. The Hawks also shut out Crosby on Tuesday night to keep its unblemished record. This week, Woodland travels to Northwestern for a nonconference match before returning home for a three-game homestand against Wilby on Friday, Kennedy on Tuesday, and Holy Cross on Oct. 6.

Naugy Notes

Boys Soccer

Naugatuck got back on track this week this a pair of victories and a tie to bring its record to 3-2-1. Last Wednesday, the ‘Hounds defeated Wolcott, 3-1, thanks to Josh Corbo (goal, assist), Matt Schumacher (goal), and Adam Branco (goal). Anthony Pohorilak made four saves for Naugy. The Greyhounds’ finest offensive output of the season came Monday in a 9-2 win over Crosby. Jason Goja and Nolan Kinne both netted hat tricks while Adam Branco had a goal and four assists. Schumacher had a goal and an assist, Fernando Branco scored, and Dan Silva, Dave DeOlivera, and Ygor Silva all had assists. Perhaps Naugy’s most impressive result of the week was a 4-4 tie with Watertown on Tuesday. Naugy went up 3-2 on two goals by Kinne and another by Goja. Adam Branco scored first in the overtime to give Naugy a 4-3 lead but Watertown came back to secure the tie. Naugatuck will host Holy Cross on Friday night before facing Wilby at Municipal Stadium on Monday night.

CN Athletes of the Week

Kenny Mo

It was no secret coming into the football season that the Greyhounds needed someone to step up and lead the way after losing a bulk of their team to graduation following a drive to the NVL title. Naugy’s Jake Yourison has shown the ability to be that go-to guy this season, showed by his leading the ‘Hounds to a 2-0 start, including a 14-13 win over Derby on Saturday.

Yourison who rumbled for 191 yards and scored both touchdowns, including the game-winner with just 54 seconds left, after Zac Mercer hauled in a sensational one-handed grab of a 35-yard pass from Yourison. Yourision has consistently put the team on his back, rushing for 362 yards and four touchdowns so far. He’s my athlete of the week for the final week of September.

Kyle

Both of Woodland’s soccer teams have been among the best in the NVL so far this season. Among the reasons why is that each team has so many playmakers. My athlete of week is Woodland’s Steph Dumond after her hat trick against Derby on Tuesday. She tallied her three goals in just about 20 minutes of play in the first half before she and some of the other starters earned a rest.

Dumond has been the leading scorer on a team that has outscored its first five opponents, 24-1. She also added a goal in each of Woodland’s wins last week against Torrington and Ansonia. With so many weapons, Dumond doesn’t have to pour in as many goals as she has—but it sure doesn’t hurt.