Sometimes a team can benefit more from a defeat than a victory. Such was arguably the case with a pair of opposite ends of the spectrum outcomes, a 7-0 triumph over host and undermanned Immaculate of Danbury on October 5 and a 3-1 setback to visiting Brookfield, at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 10.

Winless Immaculate had just ten, sometimes only nine players on the field to counter the standard 11. Ella Morits and Sara Premus both scored twice, and Kenzie Del Pozo, Ana Morris, and Nicole Temoche also scored. Del Pozo logged two assists, and Jamie Rowan, Hannah Stowe, Lola Kessler, and Lyla Kopp also had helpers.

Brookfield came in with a record of 7-3, all three defeats by a single goal (2-1 outcomes). Newtown struck in the first half when Sydney Oltran deposited a rebound of a Morits shot on goal. The Hawks fended off the Bobcats until the midpoint of the second half. Two goals in a span of less than ten minutes put the visitors on top and a late goal sealed the Brookfield win.

Newtown Coach Adam Bourret was pleased with the way his team competed out of the gate with strong defense from Aashini Shetty, Izzy Caron, Hannah Stowe, and Ana Morris. Stowe helped keep the Nighthawks in front for the time being with a header save on a shot that appeared destined for the back of the goal early on in the second half. NHS goalkeeper Grace Newsom then stopped a putback attempt.

The Hawks had strong midfield play from Teagan Waaler and Kenzie Del Pozo. But Del Pozo was injured early in the second half and left the game. “That left us with a big hole because she’s so important for us,” Bourret said.

The game was up for grabs until late. “The levee finally broke there in the end,” Bourret said. “I’m proud of our girls’ fight, I’m proud of the girls’ energy and their intensity.”

Despite the outcome, Newtown’s coach is hopeful his team can build off of how well it played. The Nighthawks fell to 6-4-1 heading into the final five games of the regular season.

“We’ve got to match this intensity every game,” Bourret said.

For the Brookfield matchup, NHS players wore special pink uniforms in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

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