By Kim J. Harmon

It was the BIG ONE – Newtown versus Bethel – and not only because Bethel came into the game with a 5-1-3 record and a well-deserved reputation as one of the premier teams in the South-West Conference.

No, it was also a BIG ONE because, even though the Nighthawks had a 6-1-0 record, a win over Bethel – their fiercest arch-rival – would lend some serious validation of their talent.

“We had to come in with a different mindset,” said co-captain Colleen Davis, who helped spearhead a dramatic 4-0 win on Tuesday night in front of 100 shivering fans. “We stepped it up and went out there to win some balls.”

The Nighthawks won more than a few loose balls. In all phases of the game – passing, shooting, defense and the physical man-to-man stuff – the ‘Hawks all but imposed their will on this game.

“We haven’t beaten them since I’ve been here,” said Davis, who scored a goal and assisted on another, “and we wanted it.”

As well as the ‘Hawks did on the attack (the passing was phenomenal), it was perhaps the midfield and defensive domination that was so surprising.

After all, Bethel didn’t get to be 5-1-3 by accident.

“I was a little surprised,” said co-captain and goaltender Kate Bouteiller. “I was expecting a few more shots to test me and our defense. But (the backs) stayed on their man, took everything I said to heart, and gave their heart and soul to this game.”

Kelley Haines, Allison Frobey, Kristen Smith – they led a defensive domination that stretched right into the midfield where Cara Delvecchio, Kim Helfer, Kendall Zimmerman, Morgan Haines, Erin McDonald, Erin Doyle and just about anyone else out there all but prevented the Wildcats from even crossing into their half of the field.

With those girls doing such a bang up job, it was almost as if forwards Shannon Rouse, Colleen Davis, Jessica Oswald, and Chelsea Morin had easy pickings.

Oswald – who had to leave the game in the second half with a knee injury suffered in a non-contact situation (she was reaching for a pass) – started the scoring with 26:43 left in the first half. Rouse had a shot on goal that struck the Bethel goaltender, Leah Ann Berte, and came right back at Oswald. Oswald quickly pushed the ball to find some open space and drilled a shot to the lower right corner for a 1-0 Newtown lead.

Even though that score remained up on the board for a while, it was clear that the Nighthawks were controlling the game.

And it wasn’t long before that control paid off.

“I know it was 1-0 there for awhile,” said Davis, “but the momentum just carried us.”

With 34:38 left in the second half, Davis put Newtown ahead 2-0 when she chipped a shot over the Bethel defense that deflected off the goaltender’s fingertips and into the net. Oswald got the assist on the goal which, in this type of game, was the backbreaker.

Four minutes later, Oswald was down and the ‘Hawks had to carry on without her.

Later on in the half, Davis got another ball through the Bethel defense, brought it to the end line to the left of the goal, and centered to Carrie Lipnick, who whipped a shot to the right post for a 3-0 Newtown lead.

Then, with 2:15 remaining, Delvecchio took a header on a corner and knocked it over the Bethel defense and over the surprised goaltender for the final score of the game.

Now at 7-1, the Nighthawks can place themselves solidly in the upper-half of the South-West Conference . . . with the eight-team conference playoffs just 15 days away.

Last week the ‘Hawks – who had had a little trouble putting away New Milford, a team that isn’t on the same level as Newtown this year – had no trouble with Notre Dame and came away with an 8-0 win at the stadium.

Morin and Zimmerman scored two goals apiece in the win while Oswald and Rouse each had a goal and two assists. Lipnick and Doyle added goals and Delvecchio chipped in with an assist.

The Nighthawks were on their way to Bunnell on Thursday for another pretty big SWC battle and then will travel to Jonathan Law on Saturday for a 2 pm contest. The girls will be return home for a Tuesday game against Foran.