Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team capped off its regular season with a hard-fought 3-2 loss to visiting Bunnell of Stratford on October 19. Newtown nearly handed the South-West Conference’s No. 2 seed its only second in-conference defeat of the campaign, jumping out to a 2-0 lead before seeing the Bulldogs battle back and get the game-winner on a penalty kick, following a foul in the 18-yard box, late in regulation.

Given not just the Nighthawk effort in and close score of this contest but also the season the Nighthawks had on the whole — posting an SWC record of 7-3-2 and finishing fourth — Coach Ryan Lyddy went into the conference playoffs with plenty of reason for optimism.

“I don’t think they’re afraid of anybody,” Lyddy said of his players who will host No. 5 Brookfield in the Wednesday, October 23, SWC Tournament quarterfinals at 6 pm.

The Nighthawks defeated Brookfield 4-0 in the regular season and finished only three points (or a win) behind both second-place Bunnell and third-place Pomperaug of Southbury; NHS defeated Pomperaug 3-2 back on opening night in early September.

Noah Kooper was assisted by Erik Arpi and Josh Prudhomme was set up by Eli Brady in the Bunnell game.

Newtown was coming off a 7-1 Senior Night win over Notre Dame-Fairfield two nights earlier. Prudhomme scored twice and Brendan McAnaspie, Jeff Prout, Kooper, Aiden Jennings, and Manuel Guinea-Oviedo also scored. Ryan Payne had three assists, Libero had two assists, and Jonah Kaiser, and Curtis Verdi had assists.

Lyddy said the team’s nine seniors have been tremendous leaders.

“They’ve been the backbone of this whole program — top to bottom,” the coach said.

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