The graduation of a dozen players and most of the previous year's starting lineup means, for many teams, a rebuilding process with some growing pains. Brian Neumeyer, coach of Newtown High School's boys' soccer team, who lost eight starters to graduation, however, has the goal of going deeper into the South-West Conference and state tournaments this season.

Last year, the Nighthawks posted a 12-2-2 regular-season record before falling in the SWC semifinals then losing 2-1 (5-4 in penalty kicks following overtime) to Simsbury in the first round of the Class LL state tournament.

Captains are midfielder Shane Gattey, defender Jack Lavelle, midfielder/forward Elliott Bennett, and defender Mike Meyer.

Neumeyer says he has a very deep team, which he describes as a lineup full of above-average players with many battling for playing time.

"They can collectively be great. We just have to figure out how we work that," the coach said during preseason last week. "The great thing about high school soccer, it's a reshuffling of the deck. We've just got to figure out what combination we're going to lay out."

With a roster full of very good players, "practices will be a lot more competitive because kids will be looking to internally challenge each other," Neumeyer said.

This could be viewed as a good situation for any team, given the chance of teammates bringing out the best in each other as they compete for playing time.

"We have to turn it into a positive because it's a situation we have," the coach said.

Neumeyer describes this year's overall team characteristic is being a polar opposite to that of last year's squad. An athletic and fast team a year ago, Newtown will lean more on its tactical skills more this campaign.

"We're going to dictate the play a little bit more - last year we relied on our athleticism," the coach said.

Tough teams in the SWC, as always, include Joel Barlow of Redding and rival Masuk of Monroe. Brookfield is also a strong team, and Newtown's first opponent, Notre Dame-Fairfield, could be among the best in the SWC given the Lancers went 12-4 last year with a lineup chock-full of underclassmen, Neumeyer notes. The Nighthawks visit Notre Dame on Friday, September 9, beginning at 4 pm.

Newtown hopes to be playing challenging opponents deep into October and beyond.

"I think it's a fair goal," Neumeyer said of striving to win the SWC title. "If they come together they should be able to accomplish that."