BRIDGEPORT — Newtown High School’s Mia Paltauf and Newtown’s Rinei Hawke, who attends Lauralton Hall in Milford, helped the Masuk High co-op girls’ hockey team to its first win of the season with a 4-3 win over Fairfield, at Wonderland Of Ice, on January 8.

The Panthers were on the penalty kill for the last two-plus minutes of action but fended off Fairfield.

“They kept the intensity up and that’s all we could ask for,” Masuk Coach Ally D’Aurio said.

After Fairfield took a 1-0 lead, Alexis D’Angelo tied things and it was a 1-1 game after one period of play. The Masuk team went ahead when Maya Komorowski scored unassisted for a 2-1 advantage and Caroline Raymond, assisted by Hawke and D’Angelo, made it a 3-1 game after two periods.

Fairfield scored just over a minute into the third to cut the lead to 3-2 but the Panthers responded only 2:10 later when Caroline Saussy was assisted by Maria Davison. Fairfield pulled to within a goal and pulled its goaltender for the extra attacker, creating a 6-on-4 advantage because of late penalties. Masuk’s defense stood tall to hang on.

D’Aurio is hopeful the win serves as a confidence booster for her squad. Masuk fell 5-1 on the road to the East Catholic co-op the next night. The Panthers dropped their first four games, including a pair of 4-3 nail-biters, one of which was in overtime.

Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.