MONROE — Locked in a middle-of-the-pack battle for a first-round South-West Conference Tournament home game, Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team earned a 1-1 tie at Masuk of Monroe on October 15.

Curtis Verdi, set up by Jeff Prout, got the Nighthawks on the board early in the second half. Masuk answered with a rebound of a shot that deflected off the goal post midway through the second.

Masuk (3-5-3 in SWC play and in eighth place) is battling to stay in the hunt for an SWC playoff spot and Newtown left the field at 6-2-2 and in fifth, just one point out of third place and two points out of second heading into the last two games of the regular season. The top four of eight qualifying teams earn quarterfinal home tilts.

Newtown Coach Kyle Lyddy was pleased with the play of Prout and defender Matt Yermolin in particular, and said his team’s effort was strong.

“We saw the energy, we saw some grit, we saw the ball movement — that was great,” said Lyddy, adding that his Nighthawks had the better of the chances but had trouble finishing those opportunities.

The Nighthawks, after hosting Notre Dame-Fairfield (2-7-2) on Thursday, October 17 at 6 pm, will entertain Bunnell of Stratford (6-0-4 and in second place) Saturday, October 19, at Blue & Gold Stadium at noon.

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