Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team turned a three-goal lead at the half into a commanding nine-goal spread late in the second half before cruising to an 11-4 win over visiting Bunnell-Stratford, at Blue & Gold Stadium, on May 4.

Leading 5-2 at the half, the Nighthawks added to their lead just past the midpoint of the third quarter when Colby Harrell found the net. Marcus Gerace scored 33 seconds later and it was 7-2 with 3:55 left to play in the third. Newtown carried that advantage into the fourth and added to it quickly with Harrell striking again just 1:12 into the final stanza. The goals kept coming.

Harrell finished with four goals, Gerace netted a hat-trick and matched that in feat in the assist category with a trio of helpers, Sam Steare scored twice and had two assists, and Kyle Ruddy and Gavin Doyle also scored and each recorded one assist. Charlie Massett had two assists and Luke Stewart added an assist.

Newtown, led by Fisher Stites, won 15 of 17 faceoffs; Stites had 13 ground ball scoops, and 16 other Nighthawks combined to collect 23 ground balls.

“I think we just played a team game across the board — we stayed unselfish,” Coach Anthony Fitti said. “We won faceoffs and won ground balls.”

The Nighthawks got back to action on Tuesday, May 9, with a visit to Pomperaug of Southbury, and came out on top 5-4. Newtown built a 5-2 lead and hung on. Stites scored twice, including what proved to be the game winner. Harrell, Cole Stockwell, and Gerace also hit the net. Harrell had two assists and Gerace added one. Stites had five ground ball scoops and Asher Williams recorded four. Goaltender Reilly Nydell made ten saves.

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