In a rematch of last year’s South-West Conference girls’ soccer title game, won by Newtown, the host Nighthawks and Pomperaug of Southbury Panthers finished in a 1-1 tie under the lights at Blue & Gold Stadium on September 12.

Newtown fell behind 1-0 early in the second half and saw a chance to even the score go by the boards when a blast by Katie Rowan, made possible following a series of nice moves by Kaley Meisenheimer, clanked off the crossbar with 15-plus minutes remaining.

Newtown goaltender Julianna Stavola made a charge-out sliding save and diving stop about two minutes apart to keep the Pomperaug lead at a goal.

Just two minutes after Stavola’s couple of impressive saves, the Nighthawks tied things. Erin Phaneuf deposited a rebound of Karsen Pirone’s 40-yard free kick to even the score with 9:44 left. Pomperaug goalkeeper Samantha Grayson made a save on the free kick, but Phaneuf was there to clean up.

“It always feels good to come back in a game,” Stavola said.

This game was physical at times, and the Panthers were carded and had to work a player down for a bit in the second half.

“I thought it was reminiscent of the SWC final from last year,” said Kenney, whose team won 1-0 in last year’s hard-fought pinnacle battle.

“It’s always a more competitive game with Newtown. We always like to play each other because it’s always a good soccer game,” said Pomperaug Coach Jillian Cipriano, whose team was scheduled to get another look at the Nighthawks in a home game on Thursday at 7 pm.

The first meeting counts only in the state standings, and the rematch outcome goes toward the SWC standings and playoff seedings.

In the first meeting, the Nighthawks had several chances to score in the first half.

“I thought we should have been up 3-0 at the half,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said. “We missed too many chances. That, to me, is something we have to work on going forward.”

The coach did like his team’s competitiveness and approach.

“We fought and we kept our cool when it got a little messy. I think they fought and battled,” he said. “We talked a bit before the game about finding our identity, and this goes a long way toward doing that.”

Perhaps that never-give-up effort was a product of the theme of the night. Newtown’s uniforms featured purple in recognition of the team’s annual March of Dimes fundraiser.

Newtown visited Portsmouth, R.I., in their annual meeting on September 14, and the Nighthawks again left the field following a 1-1 draw. Newtown hosted New Milford on September 17 and won 5-0.

Pirone scored in the Portsmouth game. Goalkeeping duties were shared by Stavola and Alyssa Bailey who combined for six saves.

In the win over New Milford, Pirone scored twice and had two assists, Phaneuf and Sophia Guevera both had goals, and Katie Rowan had a goal and an assist.

After the second Pomperaug game, Joel Barlow of Redding visits Blue & Gold for a Saturday, September 21, matchup at 6 pm. NHS hosts Stratford at Treadwell Park beginning at 4 pm on September 23.