By Kim J. Harmon

BROOKFIELD – The Nighthawks went into this week with the idea of somehow getting out of the slide that saw them drop four consecutive matches . . . this after the ‘Hawks opened the season at 4-0.

The slide reached its apex last Thursday with a 158-165 loss to Joel Barlow at the Newtown Country Club and the prospects of climbing out of that slide have been a little tougher than coach Jim Casagrande would have hoped.

Newtown fell to 5-5 with a 171-176 loss to Brookfield at Sunset Hills on Tuesday. And after a brief respite at the Stigberg Tournament in Wolcott, the ‘Hawks had to travel to Heritage Village in Southbury to take on Pomperaug in another tough match.

The good news is, despite a match against Immaculate coming up next Wednesday, there are opportunities for wins coming up against Stratford (at Oronoque Orchards), Masuk (at Whitney Farms), and Bunnell (at the Newtown Country Club), giving the ‘Hawks the chance of finishing the season on the high side of .500.

Last Thursday, the ‘Hawks shot very well on their home course, but Barlow shot just a little bit better. Mike Rostafin came in with a 5-over-par 39 for the the ‘Hawks, with Mark Werbeck carding a 41, Taylor Gunn a 42, and Joe Ziemann a 43.

Alex Migel and Jesse Cone also shot 39s for the Falcons, who got a pair of 40s from Mark McDonald and Scott Stevens.

In the loss to Brookfield, Tom Ragusa was the low man for the ‘Hawks with a 5-over-par 40. Ziemann finished at 41 with Gunn coming in at 45 and Adam Bagger finishing at 50. Joe Arconti of Brookfield earned medalist honors with a 39. Ryan O’Leary followed with a 41.