Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team has had quite an impressive start to the campaign. The Nighthawks, following a season-starting 1-1 tie with Newington, rattled off three straight wins heading into Thursday’s scheduled visit to Pomperaug of Southbury.

The Nighthawks beat Joel Barlow of Redding 5-2 on September 12 and topped Bunnell of Stratford 3-1 on September 14 in a pair of road tilts, then had their way with South-West Conference opponent Weston 7-2 in the home opener, at Blue & Gold Stadium on September 19.

Coach Ryan Lyddy got the equivalent of three lineups into the Weston game as 30 players saw the field. The Nighthawks built a 6-0 lead by halftime and tacked on another in the first minute of the second half before making wholesale substitutions to get everybody some runs and touches, and quality minutes of varsity play.

“Everyone’s playing hard — we’re pretty deep at the JV and varsity levels. The program’s growing,” Lyddy said.

Further possible bad news for the opposition is that the Nighthawks have not fully reached their potential. It is, after all, early in the slate.

“Once we get in a rhythm it’s going to be hard to beat us,” said Lyddy, noting that the Nighthawks can improve on winning more 50-50 balls, one-two touch passes, good shot selections, and set pieces.

Still, plenty of reasons to be pleased with this start.

“I think the kids are willing to buy into what we’re preaching. We’re a coaching staff that’s willing to adjust to the players we have,” said Lyddy, adding that this group is versatile, thus allowing the opportunity to mix and match formations to create chances. “We can switch on the fly at any given time.

“They’re willing to learn; they get along,” the coach added.

In the win at Bunnell, Josh Prudhomme, Kyle Ruddy, and Curtis Verdi all hit the back of the net.

Against Weston, the scoring barrage started with Luke Kellerman assisting Johnny Celli less than nine minutes in. The floodgates began to open just before the midpoint of the opening 40 minutes. Verdi set up Ruddy, then assisted Prudhomme four minutes and change later for a 3-0 Nighthawk cushion with 19:10 to go in the half. Gabe Petertonjes scored the first of his two, just 6:23 apart, assisted by Elias Brady with 10:27 left. Connor Muir found the net on a penalty kick with 8:53 to go. Gjin Abazi assisted Petertonjes with 4:04 showing on the scoreboard clock.

Muir added the seventh goal, only 37 seconds out of the halftime break, after taking a nice through-ball feed from Verdi up the right wing, and depositing a hard low shot.

The Nighthawks, beginning with nonconference team Naugatuck’s visit to Blue & Gold Saturday, September 23 at 6 pm, are scheduled to play four consecutive home games. SWC foes Bethel (September 26) and New Fairfield (September 28), along with nonconference team Xavier of Middletown (September 30) all come to town for 6 pm matchups.

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