Newtown High School boys’ soccer team followed up a scoreless draw with visiting Masuk of Monroe on October 20 with a 2-0 win over visiting New Milford two days later; both games were held at Blue & Gold Stadium.

After the Masuk game, Newtown Coach Charley Amblo said his team was about 35 percent of the way toward where it can be in terms of performance. It might sound like a pretty mediocre score, but Amblo noted that he expected his team to be at about the 50 percent mark at that juncture. He expects a lot of the players and anticipates accelerated progress as the days go by.

Following the win over New Milford, Amblo’s rating inched up to 38 percent.

Progress is progress.

Amblo said the team (two wins, two losses, and two ties to begin things) is striving to pass with more efficiency and accuracy than has been displayed, but his group’s overall play is improving. A former player and coach throughout the states and in Europe and at a variety of levels — from youth to professional, collegiate soccer included — Amblo is seeking to change the style of play from a long-ball kick and run game to the shorter (and quicker) pass game that is more in keeping with the flow of play found overseas.

“He coaches soccer the right way. He cares about the kids, and you can see it in the way they play,” said Masuk Coach and Newtown resident Antonio Viscuso, who finds special meaning in the matchup with Newtown each time.

“It’s nice to drive just up the street for the game,” for one thing, the Masuk coach said. “I root for Newtown for every game except for one.”

All ended well for rooting purposes after 80 minutes of scoreless action. Both coaches would have preferred a win, of course.

In Newtown’s victory over New Milford, Bryce Benson, assisted by Jalen Minter, opened the scoring. Rilind Limani, assisted by Jack Peterson, accounted for the other goal.

In addition to consistently-solid play from Owen Baillargeon, fellow midfielder Thomas Briscoe has been steady for the Nighthawks.

“The worst he’s had has been an excellent game,” Amblo said.

The defense continues to be strong with goalkeeper Cam Trivers playing well in net.

The Nighthawks stood to have their toughest test of the season on September 25, but Joel Barlow of Redding’s visit to Blue & Gold got washed out by rain. The makeup contest with Barlow, on Monday, October 1, at 4 pm at Blue & Gold, along with a Friday, October 5 visit to Weston at 7 pm, and a Tuesday, October 16 visit to Brookfield, also at 7 pm, stand to be among the more challenging tilts of Newtown’s campaign.

Barlow, last year’s South-West Conference champion, has just one loss — that coming to unbeaten Weston — and Brookfield was also unbeaten heading into the middle of the week.

First things first, after a visit to Notre Dame-Fairfield on Thursday, the Hawks have a rematch with New Milford (3-2 overall heading into Thursday’s scheduled clash with Brookfield); the teams will meet in New Milford on Saturday, September 29, at 2 pm.

“Analytically, I’m really excited to see it. I’m excited to see how they respond to that situation,” Amblo said of the rematch, adding that his team did not play its best game but needs to enter into the matchup with a fresh slate given New Milford may also not have been at its best.

It will be interesting to see what percentage score the Newtown players get from their coach; Amblo noted that rematches are tough, especially for a the victor. But, win, lose, or draw, if the Hawk booters continue to make strides with their style of play, Amblo is sure to take away some level of satisfaction.

His hope is that the progress the players make pays dividends both as the season unfolds and as they pursue soccer at higher levels down the road, should that opportunity present itself to some of the players. Amblo said he is appreciative of the support from the administration as he focuses on developing, teaching, and nurturing these student-athletes in something that is an extracurricular activity.

Amblo was a teacher, including of English in Poland, and continues to contribute as a paraeducator in the special education classroom of Newtown Middle School.

“I like to teach, and I like to develop,” Amblo said.

And his team members are developing a different style of play as they learn a new approach to soccer.