By Kim J. Hamon

SOUTHBURY - After a 1-1 tie with New Milford and a 3-0 win over Masuk, the Nighthawks found themselves at 2-1-1 and moving up into the high-rent district of the South-West Conference.

But on Monday afternoon in Southbury, under a somber autumn sky, the ‘Hawks received a fresh reminder on who COLLECTS the rent in that district.

Pomperaug.

The last couple of years, the Nighthawks have played the Panthers awfully tough. Even last year, as the ‘Hawks recovered from a 1-6-3 start, they fought - as it is said - tooth and nail (holding the lead for a good portion of the game) and only succumbed 3-1 in a situation that begged to be blamed on the officials.

Another tough battle - with the ‘Hawks displaying so much talent across the field - was expected when Newtown took the short ride up to exit 16 off I-84 East.

Only, it didn’t quite happen.

No, the Panthers - under legendary coach Linda Dirga - once again flexed their almost mythic field hockey might with a 10-1 win over the Nighthawks which put the Panthers’ record at 5-0 while, at the same time, dropping the ‘Hawks to 2-2-1.

Despite the lopsided score, the ‘Hawks were not such an easy mark for the Panthers . . . at least in the first half. With Morgan Pacheco (3 goals this year) and Rachael Bolmer (4 goals this year) working the wings and players like Lauren Bass, Kathleen Scharf, and Mary Bell aiding the offensive push, the ‘Hawks did put pressure on the Pomperaug cage.

But the Panthers are oh so good and can sure put a righteous charge into the ball. Abby Reynolds and Jessica Omasta - indeed, the entire defense right back to goaltender Heather Morgan - found themselves, from time to time, under a relentless assault on the cage and could only do so much to hold off Pomperaug.

The Panthers scored their first goal just moments after Morgan stoned them three straight times on hard, hard shots from three different points within the circle. It was the least difficult shot, though, which snuck past Morgan and eluded her diving attempt at a clear.

Next, Pomperaug went up 2-0 when Morgan came off the endline to make a kick save, only to see the ball misdirected past her into the cage. And then, late in the first half, Pomperaug extended its lead to 3-0 after Newtown turned the ball over on a dangerous hit.

Soon the half was over, but the damage was done.

In the second half, the Panthers unloaded on Newtown and added seven more goals to the final tally. Bolmer scored the lone goal for Newtown.

Morgan made 17 saves on the afternoon.

The loss came four days after a convincing 3-0 win over Masuk at the Stadium last Thursday. In that game, Pacheco scored a pair of goals and Bolmer added one of her own (she actually scored two, but one was disallowed) as the ‘Hawks blanked the Pantherettes.

Bolmer scored first, snapping a 0-0 tie with 27:20 remaining in the second half. Pacheco followed just about six minutes later with her first goal of the game, extending the Newtown lead to 2-0. With 6:55 left to play, Pacheco hit the back of the cage again for her third goal of the season.

The Nighthawks were hoping to ride the wave of that win into a rare Saturday night contest with New Fairfield, but rainy weather forced the postponement of that contest. The ‘Hawks were set to host Joel Barlow on Thursday and will travel to Immaculate on Tuesday for a 3:30 pm game.