Despite layoff, Lewis Mills looks sharp in dominating win over Oxford

Lewis Mills’ Gianna Gomes, left, tries to get past Oxford defender Emily Zulali during Tuesday’s Class S tournament game at Nassahegan Field. (Photo courtesy Steve Barlow)

By STEVE BARLOW
Special to The Collinsville Press
BURLINGTON, Nov. 10, 2026 – Some teams, like some cars, can get rusty when they’re not used for a long spell.

Not so for the Lewis Mills girls soccer team. Like a finely tuned, precision automobile, the Spartans roared back to life following a 15-day layoff to spank Oxford, 6-2, in the second round of the Class S state tournament Tuesday evening at Nassahegan Field.

After not qualifying for the Central Connecticut Conference playoffs and getting a first-round bye for states, Mills hadn’t played since beating Northwest Catholic in the regular season finale back on Oct. 26. There was a scrimmage against Granby in the interim, but no formal competition for more than two weeks.

No matter. The No. 2-seeded Spartans (11-4-2) were firing on all cylinders against No. 15 Oxford (11-5-2) while scoring their most goals in one game this season, except for an 8-0 disposal of winless Bloomfield.

“Our training really helps us prepare and we had good practices. We recover well after games,” said freshman Mya Nardi, who had two goals and two assists. “I think it was very good we were able to come out like this after 15 days off, but it’s no surprise.”

Mills will host a quarterfinal match against former Berkshire League foe Housatonic, the seventh seed, at Nassahegan on Friday at a time to be determined.

“We did have a scrimmage last week, which was good. It was also good to have some recovery time,” said Mills coach Quentin Lux. “(15 days) is a long time without an official game, but I’m glad we came out, got an early goal and got into it right away.”

The game wasn’t even eight minutes old when Mills struck first. Nardi took a throw-in by Sadie Aston, made a run down the right side and crossed to Olivia Brunetti, who booted the ball past Oxford keeper Sophia Bouchard.

“I knew Liv would be there. She always makes the perfect runs,” Nardi said. “I played it to her, and she had the perfect finish.”

“We know each other’s movements, our plays,” said Brunetti, a sophomore, who’s been playing with Nardi since youth soccer. “We know where each other is without even looking. We’ve got each other’s backs.”

With about 17½ minutes left in the first half, Nardi scored her first goal, booming a shot from 30 yards out that was bobbled by Bouchard into the goal. Two minutes later, Addie Wheeler intercepted a pass and scored for the Wolverines, but with about 7½ minutes left Nardi’s corner kick was headed in by Alexis Baltrush for a 3-1 halftime score.

Oxford pulled within a goal only 3½ minutes into the second half. Mills keeper Liza Putnam, Aston and Wheeler all collided, and the ball squirted loose to Kyla DeCrescenzo, who booted it into the open net.

But the Spartans simply had too much firepower. Brunetti bagged her second goal by heading in a corner kick off the foot of Natalie Urso. Nardi kicked in her second goal off a pass from London Meadows. And Taylor Hatt finished the scoring with 10½ minutes left off an assist by Addie Kane.

“Our wingers are very fast. We definitely exploited that. They were able to take them down the lines and cut back in a bunch of times,” Nardi explained.

“We were able to adapt and get right into it, which is big for our team,” Brunetti said. “We’re always able to adapt and make the best of things.”

Bouchard made eight saves in goal for Oxford, while Putnam had three for Mills.

“Six goals is awesome,” Lux said. “I’m really happy with that. We had a plan coming in tonight. We were looking to get after it, and I’m happy with all the goals we got.”

Lewis Mills 6, Oxford 2
At Burlington
Oxford (11-5-2)          1   1 – 2
Lewis Mills (11-4-2)  3  3 – 6
Goals: LM – Olivia Brunetti 2, Mya Nardi 2, Alexis Baltrush 1, Taylor Hatt 1. O – Addie Wheeler 1, Kyla DeCrescenzo 1. Assists: LM – Nardi 2, Brunetti 1, Natalie Urso 1, London Meadows 1, Addie Kane 1. O – Wheeler. Saves: LM – Liza Putnam 3. O – Sophia Bouchard 8.