By Kim J. Harmon

Just when it looked as if the Newtown High School girls’ lacrosse team had something going, rival Masuk put a stop to it.

The Lady Nighthawks sloughed off a 0-5 start to win three consecutive games – a 14-1 decision over Notre Dame of Fairfield, a much more impressive 10-7 win over Brookfield, and another 14-1 decision over Notre Dame.

But Masuk put a stop to the winning streak with an 8-4 win on Tuesday night. That was the first part of a home-and-home series that concluded Wednesday night (after press time) in Monroe.

The ‘Hawks got started with a tidy 14-1 win over Notre Dame last week in which Sarah Whalley scored four goals and Megan Regnery scored three more. Karli Beitel and Kelly Collier scored two goals apiece.

But the win over Brookfield last Thursday was even more impressive.

The ‘Hawks jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Kelly Rodden and Heidi Ekstrom, but watched as the Lady Bobcats (5-2 at the time) quickly tied the score. The ‘Hawks (off a shot by Robin Pacheco) and ‘Cats traded goals, but the ‘Hawks finished the first half on a four-goal tear as Brittany Boyle, Collier and Regnery (twice) hit the back of the net to give the locals a 7-3 lead.

Becca Foy (six goals) was nearly unstoppable and even though she hit the cage four times in the second half, the ‘Hawks were able to hold the Lady Bobcats off with goals from Ekstrom, Whalley and Regnery. Whalley also provided an assist.

At that point 2-5, the ‘Hawks slapped another 14-1 defeat on Notre Dame Monday as Regnery (27 goals on the year) scored four times. Jessica Budnick chipped in with a pair of goals. Pacheco, Ekstrom, Rodden, Whalley, Katherine McDonald and Kate Fenton all scored. Collier dished off a couple of assists while Ekstrom, Beitel and Amanda Molden chipped in with one assist apiece.

The three-game winning streak came to an end on Tuesday. Masuk held a slim, 4-3 lead at the end of the first half but scored four times in the second half to earn the 8-4 win. Amanda Williams scored four times and Jill Hautala scored twice to lead the Lady Panthers.

For the ‘Hawks, Regnery had two goals and an assist while Collier and Rodden had goals and Beitel had an assist. Goaltender Jenny Urfer made 11 saves.