MONROE — Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team went on the road, overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-2, reeled off five straight goals, and held on to defeat the host Masuk Panthers 8-7 on April 17.

The Nighthawks were within 4-3 at the half and Marcus Gerace — who registered his 100th career point in the game — scored his second of four tallies to tie things less than three minutes into the third quarter. Gerace scored again just 1:30 later, giving the visitors a lead they would not relinquish. Owen Hannah finished a pretty passing sequence when he scored Newtown’s third goal in a span of just 2:15 and the Hawks carried a 6-4 advantage into the fourth.

Gerace netted his final goal of the night just 36 seconds into the fourth after the Hawks worked feverishly to gain possession of the loose ball off the draw.

Masuk stopped the bleeding with a goal with 7:29 to go. Luke Stewart answered when he whipped one off the far post just 1:05 later. That insurance tally proved to be the difference as the Panthers scored the next two, getting to within 8-6 with 1:13 left and tallying again with only 28 seconds showing on the clock. The Panthers got possession off the ensuing faceoff but Newtown fended off the Panthers’ last try.

“I think those three goals were a huge wakeup call for us,” Newtown Coach Tony Fitti said of his team’s bounce-back from an early deficit. Newtown played a great game thereafter, the coach noted. “Our effort and our energy were through the roof.”

Getting to ground balls was crucial in the outcome of this game and the Hawks rode well — pressuring Masuk when the Panthers had the possession, and cleared the ball effectively to alleviate pressure on the defensive end.

“We were able to match their energy and execute at the right time,” Fitti said.

Marty Dunn and Nate Pickard both had a goal and two assists, Stewart logged a goal and one helper, and Charlie Massett registered a net-finder. Graham Spencer finished with five ground ball scoops; Brady Brosius, Asher Williams, Charlie Dunn, and Pickard all had four ground balls, Nick Stockwell, C.J. Manfredonia, and Hannah each recorded three grounders, and Gerace and Stewart both had two grounders. The defense was strong and Andrew Faircloth made a trio of saves.

Newtown picked up another win with an 11-9 victory over visiting Weston on April 19. In similar fashion, the Hawks fell behind, pulled ahead, and hung on — this time overcoming a 2-0 Weston lead and going up 11-7.

Massett had three goals and a trio of assists, Stockwell had two goals and four assists, Pickard recorded four goals, Gerace had two net-finders, and Marty Dunn added two assists. Andrew Corey, Spencer, and Williams each had six ground balls and Stewart had three grounders in the win. Faircloth was busy in and around the cage with 11 saves to go along with three ground ball pickups.

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