After settling for a pair of ties and enduring two hard-fought 1-0 setbacks to begin the slate, the new-look Newtown High School girls’ soccer team got its first taste of victory this fall with a 3-1 triumph at New Fairfield on October 15. The team bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Immaculate of Danbury at Treadwell Park on October 19 with a 1-0 triumph over visiting Masuk of Monroe, at Blue & Gold Stadium, the next afternoon.

Skylar Howard scored twice, and Erin Phaneuf added a net-finder in the 3-1 win over the Rebels.

“I think we played great. We were outstanding. ...We matched their physicality,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said of his team’s efforts at New Fairfield.

Against Immaculate, the mostly young Nighthawks ran into a more experienced opponent. But the Hawks took little time to get back into the win column thanks to Riley Powers connecting after taking a cross from Katie Rowan and the defense, along with goalkeeping of Julianna Stavola, making the lone tally stand up against Masuk.—

“I like our ability to figure out a way to win,” Kenney said. “It feels good. I think with this group it’s going to be a work in progress.”

Kenney and the two-time South-West Conference champions set out to give the seniors — Stavola, fellow goalkeeper Alyssa Bailey, and defender Emma Magazu — a great experience while developing for the future during this truncated season. Following the Masuk game, the Hawks had five tilts left in this slate, shortened to a dozen games due to the impact of the coronavirus. The team is hoping for more opportunity to compete in November, with a possible postseason experience contingent on COVID-19 metrics and schools remaining open.