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Naugy girls win five straight

Naugatuck’s Sofia Marques (2) defends against St. Paul’s Kendall Davis (14) Sept. 25 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won the game, 2-1, in overtime. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Sofia Marques (2) defends against St. Paul’s Kendall Davis (14) Sept. 25 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won the game, 2-1, in overtime. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

NAUGATUCK — The Greyhounds made it five straight victories Tuesday with a 6-0 win over Derby.

Goalies Sophie Boucher and Cassidy Baranowski combined for the shutout, the third in the last five games for Naugatuck.

The defense is led by Sophia Marques, Jasmine Grey and Catarina Rego. Kyla Magalhaes, Nicole Crowley, Leigha Molligi and Alyana Sosa battle for possession over the middle of the field and the stout defense has given the Greyhounds a 16-2 edge in scoring over the five-game winning streak.

“The defense is really coming along nicely,” Naugatuck head coach Lisa Mariano said. “Last year they were playing four in the back prior to me coming here and now we are playing three in the back, and they are doing quite well.”

Sara Marques sparked the offense early versus Derby with two goals in the first 5 minutes on assists from Magalhaes.

Naugatuck’s Alyana Sosa (37) fends off St. Paul’s Josslyn Zaldivar (7) Sept. 25 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won the game, 2-1, in overtime. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI
Naugatuck’s Alyana Sosa (37) fends off St. Paul’s Josslyn Zaldivar (7) Sept. 25 in Naugatuck. Naugatuck won the game, 2-1, in overtime. –ELIO GUGLIOTTI

Hailey Boulanger sent one to the back of the net off an assist from Melissa Goja to increase the lead at 3-0 just 6 minutes into the game, and the Greyhounds were in full control.

Naugatuck (5-1) also got goals from Goja, Mia Rotatori and Abigail Pruchnicki. The goals were assisted Rotatori, Boulanger and Andrea Mercer.

“We still have a lot to work on offensively,” Mariano said. “But what we have been working on is starting to show up on the field and our offense has been putting points on the board.”

The Greyhounds scored a pair of big goals Sept. 25 in a 2-1 overtime win against St. Paul. Boucher made 13 saves in the net to keep the winning streak going.

“It was a good lesson for us because we came out in overtime and regained the momentum. Sophie (Boucher) has been tremendous, she is the hub of our defense,” Mariano said. “She sees everything and tells the girls where to go. We would be lost without here.”

Hannah Lauer and Magalhaes scored the goals for the Greyhounds, who were without their go-to scorer Sara Marques due to an injury.

“Some of these other girls have really stepped into the flow of the offense and that helped us pull out the win against St. Paul,” Mariano said.

The hill gets a little steeper for the Greyhounds. They are set to face Watertown Friday before visiting Pomperaug Saturday at 7 p.m. Naugatuck returns home Monday to face Woodland at 6 p.m.