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It could be premature to label the Green Wave a state title threat. Perhaps not.

The New Milford High School boys' soccer side certainly has established itself in the past three weeks as one of the best teams in Connecticut.

Coach Antony Howard's Green Wave overmatched perennial power Newtown 4-0 Tuesday on the Nighthawks' pitch at Treadwell Park.

Adam Llerena turned aside nine Nighthawk shots to earn the shutout in net and was amply supported by an attack featuring two goals from Adrian Lekaj and single tallies from Spencer Ranno and Jack Walsh.

The victory improved the NMHS booters' ledger to 7-0-1 at midseason.

Such has been the Green Wave's edge on its cumulative foes that it has built a 19-3 goals for/against cushion.

Only Masuk, Pomperaug and Joel Barlow, the latter during a 1-1 draw last Saturday at NMHS, have been able to score against Howard's side.

The first priority for the Green Wave will be to set itself up for the South-West Conference playoffs, which will start in late October.

  • Getting their kicks The New Milford High School boys' soccer side has built a 5-0 ledger through its early-season matches in the South-West Conference. Coach Antony Howard's Green Wave had surrendered just three goals through five matches thanks to the efforts of goalkeeper Adam Llerena and a staunch defensive corps. Above, NMHS' Jack Walsh demonstrates a fair share of agility Saturday, Sept. 20 to gain possession of the ball during a 2-1 triumph over visiting Pomperaug. For the story and more photos, as well as other high school sports coverage, see the Oct. 3 edition of The Spectrum and check updates at www.newmilfordspectrum.com. Photo: Norm Cummings / The News-Times
    Getting their kicks The New Milford High School boys' soccer side has built a 5-0 ledger through its early-season matches in the South-West Conference. Coach Antony Howard's Green Wave had surrendered just three goals through five matches thanks to the efforts of goalkeeper Adam Llerena and a staunch defensive corps. Above, NMHS' Jack Walsh demonstrates a fair share of agility Saturday, Sept. 20 to gain possession of the ball during a 2-1 triumph over visiting Pomperaug. For the story and more photos, as well as other high school sports coverage, see the Oct. 3 edition of The Spectrum and check updates at www.newmilfordspectrum.com. less
    Getting their kicks The New Milford High School boys' soccer side has built a 5-0 ledger through its early-season matches in the South-West Conference. Coach Antony Howard's Green Wave had surrendered just ... more
    Photo: Norm Cummings
Photo: Norm Cummings
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Getting their kicks The New Milford High School boys' soccer side has built a 5-0 ledger through its early-season matches in the South-West Conference. Coach Antony Howard's Green Wave had surrendered just three goals through five matches thanks to the efforts of goalkeeper Adam Llerena and a staunch defensive corps. Above, NMHS' Jack Walsh demonstrates a fair share of agility Saturday, Sept. 20 to gain possession of the ball during a 2-1 triumph over visiting Pomperaug. For the story and more photos, as well as other high school sports coverage, see the Oct. 3 edition of The Spectrum and check updates at www.newmilfordspectrum.com. less
Getting their kicks The New Milford High School boys' soccer side has built a 5-0 ledger through its early-season matches in the South-West Conference. Coach Antony Howard's Green Wave had surrendered just ... more
Photo: Norm Cummings

NMHS boys' soccer has never won a league title, either the current SWC or its predecessor, the Western Connecticut Conference, dating back to the roots of the program in the early 1970s.

And then there would be the state Class LL tournament, for which coach Howard and Co. would surely be primed for a run.

First, however, there remain eight regular-season matches, starting Friday, Oct. 3, with Stratford arriving at NMHS for a 3:45 p.m. match.

For more photos, visit www.newmilfordspectrum.com.

Norm Cummings

Photography by Norm Cummings