By Kim J. Harmon

It would be easy to say that the Nighthawk’s 21-9 win over East Lyme on Tuesday at Bruce Jenner Stadium was their best performance of the season. After all, it was the most goals the ‘Hawks had put on the board all year.

It would be too easy.

But as coach Brian Henricksen would be quick to point out, the reason the ‘Hawks were able to put 21 goals on the board was a simply beautiful passing attack that made the entire offense run as smooth as silk.

“That was what we’ve been trying to work on so hard,” said coach Henricksen. “We want to become more of a transition team.”

Erik Martenson’s catch-and-shoot on the run was just one goal of 21 but it was also the best one the ‘Hawks have scored all season. Ben Kunkel fired a pass from about midfield down to a streaking Martenson, who caught the ball and quickly shot even as his angle on the cage went from bad to worse.

That goal put Newtown ahead, 10-5, and was the third of four unanswered goals the ‘Hawks scored once the Vikings pulled as close at 7-5 in the first half. From that moment on, it was virtually all Newtown.

“That was probably our funnest home game,” said coach Henricksen, “because we’re here in the stadium and it’s Senior Night. We are definitely in the midst of changing for the positive.”

With the win, the ‘Hawks moved to 6-7 on the season and clinched a spot in the CIAC Division II state tournament. And on another stellar note, Sean Raby scored four goals on the night – his 97th, 98th, 99th and 100th career goals (see related story, right), becoming only the second boys’ lacrosse player to ever reach the century mark (Charlie Heinzer was the first, finishing with 121).

John Conlon had a terrific night himself, scoring six goals. Martenson chipped in with three while Pete Yemc, Brian Hamilton, Matt Sullivan and Spencer D’Agostino scored two goals apiece. Hamilton had five assists and Raby finished with four. Kunkel finished with three, Casey Kirch had two, and Martenson chipped in with one. Shawn Gleason and Brad Bernstein combined to make just four saves.

The win followed a 15-2 win over New Milford on Saturday in which Conlon finished with four goals and Hamilton and Raby finished with three apiece. Martenson, Dan Maley, Kirch, Kunkel and Matt Sullivan had one goal each.

In a 13-8 loss to Somers last Friday, Raby scored five times while Matt Saunders, Hamilton and Kirch scored one time each.

The ‘Hawks will travel to Ridgefield on Wednesday and then down to Norwalk next Friday to complete the regular season.