By Kim J. Harmon

NEW FAIRFIELD - It was a drought, plain and simple.

Through two halves against Joel Barlow and one half against New Fairfield, the Nighthawks continually beat a path to the cage but time after time came away with nothing. It was a particularly frustrating drought because the ‘Hawks were so close on many different occasions to the one thing - a goal - that would slake their thirst.

Sure, a 0-0 tie with Joel Barlow is okay in the sense that it’s a tie and it counts as a point towards a CIAC state tournament berth, but coach Kathy Davey knows her team should have won that game.

The drought didn’t last, however. After battling New Fairfield to a 0-0 first half draw on Monday, Morgan Pacheco and Britney Rayzor scored second-half goals and led the ‘Hawks to a 2-0 win.

Newtown out shot New Fairfield, 16-8, but was out-cornered by the Rebels, 14-5. It was a testament to the defense - most notably, Jessica Omasta - that the ‘Hawks were able to weather so many corners (at one point, six in a row) without giving up a goal.

Heather Morgan made eight saves in the cage.

Luckily, the offense continued the scored goals when Newtown traveled down to Danbury on Tuesday to battle Immaculate. Pacheco scored three goals (her fifth, sixth and seventh of the season) to lead the ‘Hawks to a 3-0 win.

Newtown is now 4-2-2.

Last week against Barlow, the ‘Hawks idled their way through a 35-minute delay (bus problems held up the Falcons), but the offense was nevertheless ready to do. Mary Bell had a clear opportunity early in the first half off a penalty corner. Rachael Bolmer passed in to Lauren Bass, who centered for a hard smash on the goal. The Barlow goaltender made a hard save, but the ball rebounded left. Bell was there with an open look at the cage, but the ball bounced high off the Fairfield Hills turf and bounced off her chest.

The ‘Hawls continued to pressure the goal, but came away empty despite a couple of golden opportunities (two balls actually made it inside the cage, but both were disallowed as goals for being hit too high).

Right at the start of the second half, the ‘Hawks continued to pressure the goal.

Still . . . nothing.

But that changed in the second half against New Fairfield. It took one half, though, of watching Kristen McGrath blast a shot on the cage that forced Rebel goaltender Jen Kessler to make a brilliant kick save and then watching McGrath take a penalty stroke with just seconds remaining in the half that Kessler turned away with a brilliant stick save.

It also took a half of watching New Fairfield take one penalty corner after another. Omasta was brilliant, though, with her up-the-middle defense on those corners. Abby Reynolds also did a fine job of clearing balls down the wing.

The defense kept it up in the second half, but Pacheco and Rayzor made it all worthwhile with their goals.

McGrath assisted on Pacheco’s goal (actually taking the shot that Pacheco deflected)_and Champagne assisted on Rayzor’s goal.

Against Immaculate, Pacheco scored once in the first half (on an assist from Ellie Champagne) and twice in the second half (with one assist from McGrath). Newtown outshot Immaculate, 8-7.